I am attempting to run ices 0.4 to encode a live stream. Evidently, 2.0 cannot be used for mp3 streams. I have the ices.conf configured with the oss module and NOT to load a playlist (see below). Yet, when ices is launched, I get an error stating that "Could not find a valid playlist"

I'm confused why there is an error for a missing playlist when none are called for. There is only one conf file so there's no confusion there..

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ices:Configuration xmlns:ices="http://www.icecast.org/projects/ices">

<Execution>
<Background>0</Background>
<Verbose>1</Verbose>
<BaseDirectory>/tmp</BaseDirectory>
</Execution>

<Stream>
<Server>
<Hostname>localhost</Hostname>
<Port>8000</Port>
<Password>****</Password>
<Protocol>http</Protocol>
</Server>
<input>
<module>oss</module>
<param name="rate">44100</param>
<param name="channels">2</param>
<param name="device">/dev/dsp</param>
<param name="metadata">1</param>
<param name="metadatafilename">FILEWITHDESC</param>
</input>

<Mountpoint>/ices</Mountpoint>
<Dumpfile>ices.dump</Dumpfile>
<Name>Default stream</Name>
<Genre>Default genre</Genre>
<Description>Default description</Description>
<URL>http://localhost/</URL>
<Public>0</Public>
<Bitrate>128</Bitrate>
<Reencode>0</Reencode>
<Samplerate>44100</Samplerate>
-->
<Channels>2</Channels>
</Stream>
</ices:Configuration>

This is actually a two-part problem. You use Ices to feed Icecast, which does the actual broadcasting. I found it a non-trivial problem to work out the first time I did it, so I wrote a brief how-to you can find here.

Hmm, sorry for not being a little more clear. I do have Icecast installed and running already. Additionally, the sample referred to in the reply demonstrates how to stream a playlist which is exactly what I am trying NOT to do.

I am attempting to stream a live feed. However, when ices is started, the error states that a playlist cannot be found. While I am glad that a playlist can't be found (since I am not using one) I am stumped as to why this error comes up preventing ices from running.

Ah sorry, I misunderstood what you are trying to do.

You might have a look through this article as it does describe something similar to what you're trying to do. I would also double check your ices.conf file for syntax errors. Notice the --> right above the <Channels>2</Channels>? I believe that is an end comment mark, and since I don't see a begin comment mark (<!-) either it is missing (in which case the XML may be goofed up) or it is there and you actually have a good chunk of your conf file commented out.

Update! Good News/Bad News...

On the good side. I removed Ices 0.4 and installed Ices 2.0. Yes, I lost the ability to stream live audio in MP3 format. However, Ices started up perfectly on the first try after installing and configuring. Now I am streaming in OGG format from Ices through Icecast and onto our WAN. (Yea!)

Now for the bad side; My desire is to listen on Microsoft clients using Media Player. To support the ogg format I installed the illiminable codec package (0.70) from http://www.illiminable.com/ogg/ . Works great on Win2K and XP EXCEPT for Vista clients! No joy there...

Anyone have success in listening to an ogg stream on Vista using Media Player? If so, which codec did you use. OR should I look for another client for this OS? WinAMP perhaps?

Or should this be under another thread now?


Thanks in advance!!

This is probably your best option, and since it is a Windows question, it should go in General (NOT Linux-General). Though I would be surprised if there is an ogg player for Vista since Vista is all about the DRM.