Create your Shoutcast Net server (7-day free trial)

First, create your streaming server at Shoutcast Net. This becomes your “broadcast transmitter” for audio, which you can embed on websites, apps, smart speakers, and players—while still streaming live video to social platforms.

Step 1: Start a server with the free trial

Open the free trial page and create your server in a few minutes.

• Go to 7 days trial and sign up
• Select a plan (you can start as low as $4/month after the trial)
• Choose region closest to your audience for lowest latency and best stability

Step 2: Confirm core stream settings

In your Shoutcast Net panel, note these essentials (you’ll paste them into your encoder):

• Server hostname/IP
• Port
• Password (broadcaster/source password)
• Mount / Stream ID (if applicable to your setup)
• Stream URL for sharing (and SSL link if provided)

Step 3: Set your station identity (metadata)

Metadata makes your stream look professional in players (DJ name, show title, “Now Playing”). This is especially important if you want listeners to move from Twitch/Facebook to your 24/7 station page.

• Station name (e.g., “Friday Night House Live”)
• Genre tags
• Public contact/website
• Artwork (where supported)

If you want to compare options, you can also view icecast offerings, but for many DJs and stations, Shoutcast Net’s dashboard simplicity and broadcast workflow is the fastest path to going live.

To pick your plan anytime, visit the shop or see details on shoutcast hosting.

Set up restreaming to Twitch and Facebook simultaneously

Next, you’ll send your live show to Twitch and Facebook at the same time. You have two common approaches in 2026: (1) OBS with a multi-stream method, or (2) a dedicated restream service. Either way, the logic is identical: one OBS output → multiple RTMP destinations.

Step 1: Build your OBS scene (video + your DJ audio)

Open OBS and create a scene that matches your show style (camera, deck cam, visualizer, or just cover art). Then make sure OBS is using the same audio feed you’re sending to Shoutcast.

• Add Video Capture Device for camera (optional)
• Add Window Capture for your DJ software (optional)
• Add Audio Input Capture and select your interface/virtual cable
• In OBS Audio Mixer, avoid red clipping; aim for peaks around -6 dB

This keeps your set consistent across platforms and makes it easier to stream from any device to any device because your audio backbone is stable and reusable.

Step 2: Choose a Twitch/Facebook output profile

For dual streaming, don’t max out your upload. Pick a safe video bitrate that leaves room for your Shoutcast audio encoder too.

Step 3: Add two outputs (Twitch + Facebook) using a multi-destination method

You can accomplish simultaneous Twitch and Facebook streaming by using a restream service or an OBS multi-output workflow. The steps below are generic and apply to both approaches: you’ll enter each platform’s RTMP ingest URL and stream key.

Destination 1 (Twitch)
RTMP Server: rtmp://... (Twitch ingest URL)
Stream Key: live_...

Destination 2 (Facebook Live)
RTMP Server: rtmps://live-api-s.facebook.com:443/rtmp/ (example)
Stream Key: FB-...

OBS Output
Encoder: NVENC / x264
Rate control: CBR
Keyframe interval: 2 seconds
Audio bitrate: 160 kbps (OBS side)
Reconnect: Enabled

Important: Your Shoutcast stream and your OBS stream are two separate outputs. That’s okay: Shoutcast Net handles your audio broadcast for listeners everywhere, and OBS handles your video presence on social platforms.

Step 4: Keep latency predictable for chat interaction

If your setup supports it, enable low-latency mode on the platform and keep your pipeline simple. Many creators target very low latency 3 sec for interactive chat moments (song requests, shoutouts, live event cues). Your exact latency depends on platform settings, encoder, and network conditions.

Step 5: Why this approach beats expensive “pay-by-usage” stacks

Some broadcasters try to build this on top of usage-billed infrastructure. The problem is predictable: longer sets and bigger audiences cost more. With Shoutcast Net, your audio delivery is designed for broadcasters—flat-rate, unlimited listeners, SSL streaming, and reliable uptime—rather than Wowza’s expensive per-hour/per-viewer billing model.

Test, go live, and monitor quality (99.9% uptime tips)

Before you announce your set, run a short private test, verify audio on multiple devices, and confirm both Twitch and Facebook are receiving stable video. The goal is: clean audio, stable bitrate, correct metadata, and minimal interruptions.

Step 1: Do a 5-minute “full chain” test

Start your Shoutcast encoder first, then start OBS/restream. Monitor on at least two devices (phone + laptop). This confirms you can truly stream from any device to any device.

• Connect encoder to Shoutcast Net and play a track
• Confirm the Shoutcast stream loads externally (not just on your LAN)
• Start OBS and send to Twitch + Facebook simultaneously
• Listen for clipping, distortion, or “double audio”

Step 2: Verify you’re not double-processing audio

The most common mistake is routing the same audio twice into OBS (e.g., desktop audio + audio interface). In OBS:

• Disable “Desktop Audio” if you’re using a dedicated interface input
• Keep one primary music source and one microphone source
• Add a limiter if you tend to clip during transitions

Step 3: Check platform health + bitrate stability

Both Twitch and Facebook provide stream health indicators. Watch for dropped frames and bitrate fluctuations. If you see instability:

• Lower video bitrate by 10–20%
• Reduce resolution from 1080p to 720p
• Switch to wired Ethernet
• Stop cloud backups during your set (they can spike upload)

Step 4: Maintain listener continuity with Shoutcast Net

Even if a social platform hiccups, your Shoutcast stream remains your steady audio channel—built for broadcast with SSL streaming, unlimited listeners, and 99.9% uptime. This is a major reason DJs and stations use Shoutcast Net rather than workflows tied to usage billing like Wowza’s expensive per-hour/per-viewer billing.

Step 5: Go live (the recommended order)

• Start AutoDJ (optional pre-roll) so the station is never silent
• Connect your live encoder to Shoutcast Net and confirm audio is live
• Start OBS and begin restream to Twitch + Facebook
• Post your Shoutcast stream link on both platforms for listeners who want audio-only

Step 6: Keep a quick troubleshooting checklist

If something goes wrong mid-set, use this fast list:

• No audio on Twitch/Facebook: check OBS audio input source and mute states
• Encoder disconnected: verify password/port and check firewall; enable reconnect
• Audio distortion: reduce gain, disable enhancements, confirm sample rate
• Video stutter: lower output bitrate/resolution and close CPU-heavy apps
• Dead air risk: confirm AutoDJ failover is active