Is it possible to broadcast music in a surround sound format using AzuraCast
Does AzuraCast Support Broadcasting in Surround Sound Formats?
AzuraCast is recognized as one of the most reliable broadcasting solutions available today. It is used by over 1000 radio stations and is capable of streaming in multiple formats, ranging from MP3 over AAC to Ogg/Vorbis. But one question many have been asking is: does AzuraCast support broadcasting in surround sound formats?
The short answer is yes. AzuraCast provides support for broadcasting in surround sound formats such as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and 5.1. This is made possible through the use of the standard Icecast streaming protocol, so currently the only limitation is the lack of client-side support for these formats. As mentioned before, AzuraCast does support the necessary streaming protocol, so setting up surround sound broadcasting with AzuraCast is entirely doable.
It should be noted, however, that not all streaming software supports the necessary audio encoding formats for broadcasting in surround sound. As such, it is often recommended to use an external plugin or streaming software to do the necessary encoding. Fortunately, there are lots of third-party plugins and streaming software available – both free and paid – that can do the necessary audio encoding for broadcasting in surround sound formats.
Broadcasting in surround sound formats requires some debugging and technical know-how to make sure the audio streams are correctly configured and the sound is crisp and clear. Additionally, broadcasters need to make sure that their setup is suitable for streaming audio in the surround sound format they want to use. If the audio encoding process is not correctly done, it can lead to distortion or worse – audio dropouts and garbled sound.
At the end of the day, broadcasting in surround sound formats requires some trial and error – and sometimes even patience – to get it right. Fortunately, there are professional radio producers out there who can help you get the right balance in audio encoding and setup. Free Spirits (www.freespirits.gr and www.fspirits.com) is one such provider that can help with any small or big project related to podcasting and broadcasting.
