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MP3 - Streaming Audio and Internet Radio

© Ewan Arnolda

Streaming audio is played as it arrives; there is no need for the audio file to completely download before starting to play. Instead of saving to your hard disk the audio is played in real time and then discarded. There are two forms of streaming audio. On-demand streaming audio and Broadcast streaming audio.

On-demand streaming audio This type of streaming audio is controlled by the listener. The listener can start and stop the streaming at their convenience. Streaming audio can be played through a MP3 player. While surfing the net you can click on a link in your browser, which will then activate the default MP3 player and starts playing at the beginning of the track.

On-demand audio is manly used for web sites who want to provide sample content and have no legal permission to distribute copies. As streamed audio is not saved to the user's hard drive there are no laws broken.

On-demand audio is ideal for users with plenty of bandwidth if there is less bandwidth it will choke your Internet connection.

Broadcast streaming audioAlso known as Internet Radio is streaming audio broadcast across a network or Internet much as it would be broadcast by a conventional radio station. The broadcast is in real time so what the DJ plays or says is what you hear. RadioSpy or an MP3 player can be used to tune into Internet Radio broadcast. RadioSpy has many powerful features such as jumping from one station to another, maintaining a list of favourite stations, and chatting with other listeners.

One of the better standalone MP3 players for Internet radio is Windows Media Player. With Windows Media Player you can search for a radio station by country, genres, language or speed of your Internet connection.

You can be your own DJ of your radio station at www.live365.com. Here you can create your won radio station for free and start broadcasting over the Internet.

Internet radio or Broadcasting is becoming more popular as conventional radio stations are using the Internet to also broadcast their radio stations to a wider audience.

As mentioned earlier streaming audio is not saved to your hard drive, which means there are no copyright laws broken. Only if the music is distributed without permission the copyright is law is broken.

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