ICE REXX is a replacement MP3-Feeder for shout.exe or iceplay.pl in the
ICECAST package with PM interface.
ICE REXX is freeware. Use it at your own risk.
I have included the latest version of the ICECAST package I found.
Copy the files from ICERX09.ZIP to any folder you want.
Install the EMX runtime library found on hobbes.
Install the ICECAST Server part to any folder you want.
Simply start the ICECAST Server with icecast -p password -q password
-p is the password you have to tell ICE REXX for connection.
-q ist the password to connect to the icecast server by telnet (admin).
The ICECAST server now defaults to this parameters (needed for ICE REXX):
server: the ip address of your ICECAST server
port: 8001
password: given behind parameter -p
Make sure your ICECAST Server is running.
Start the ICEREXX.EXE and change the options to your defaults.
The PLAYLIST needs to be a listing of fully qualified filenames.
That means in each line one file with Drive:\Path\Filename.
A very easy way to generate a playlist is to use this command line:
dir *.mp3 /s /b > playlist.txt
The CUEFILE is written just before playing a song and consists of
Drive:\Path\Filename
SongCounter
A cgi-programm can parse this file and generate a webpage for the
listeners.
If all the options are correct you can connect to the server.
Then press PLAY and icerexx is starting to feed the server.
You can step back and forth with the next and previous buttons.
Also you can open the PLAYLIST and double click on an item to play it.
After playing the song the playback continous at this selected point.
To close the Playlist hit ESC.
The window "MP3 Tag" shows information about the current file.
Some files don't contain MP3-Tags. In this case Title shows only the
filename. Artist is filled with "Unknown".
The fields format and mode contain encoding information.
Length shows the duration in minutes and seconds.
To stop the playback just use STOP, DISCONNECT or simply close the
programm.
When passed -p to ICE REXX uppon start it connects to the server,
reads the playlist and starts playing.
Make shure that you have set the options correctly in a previous session
and testet it.
The best programs for listening to the stream are Z! for OS/2 and
FreeAmp for Windows.
example command line for Z!:
z.exe http://icecast_server_ip:8000
You find the programs there:
http://dink.org (Z!)
To prevent dropouts while playing the mp3 file (mostly read over a LAN) the
whole song is read in memory before the stream starts. This is normally a
memory load of 2 - 7 Megabytes. But I have seen (not yet testet with ICE REXX)
mix-records with up to 80 Megabytes. This will take a long time to read and
huge load of memory.
In a future version there will be an option for disable or limit the
memory-buffer.
The MP3 Files are passed to the ICECAST Server as is. If the file is corrupted
in any way the client player may drop some streaming packages or drop
the stream completely. Just start play on the client again.
The players with the most stable streaming I discovered are listet above.
WinAmp has a very bad implemented streaming. So don't worry if it drops the
stream - just use better software ;-)
Please report any bugs or suggestions related to ICE REXX
to mhimsser@gmx.net
ICE REXX (c)2000-2002 by Maik Himssler