Live Streaming
Let your listeners tune into your live broadcast directly from the player. Live mode shows what's on now, what's coming up next, and optionally displays the current track from your Icecast server.
Enabling live streaming
- Go to Player Settings in the dashboard
- Toggle Live Streaming on
- Enter your Stream URL — this must be an HTTPS URL pointing to your Icecast, Shoutcast, or compatible stream
The stream URL must use HTTPS. Modern browsers block mixed content (loading HTTP audio on an HTTPS page), so an HTTP stream URL won't work. If your stream is currently HTTP-only, you'll need to set up an HTTPS proxy or ask your hosting provider for an HTTPS endpoint.
- Save your changes
Once enabled, listeners will see a Live button in the player that starts your stream with a single tap.
What listeners see
Now playing
When live mode is active, the player shows:
- Current show — the show name and artwork from your schedule
- Next show — what's coming up after the current programme
- Time remaining — how long until the next show starts
This information comes from your broadcast schedule. The player checks every 30 seconds for updates, so when one show ends and the next begins, the display updates automatically.
For now/next to work, your schedule needs to have shows assigned for the current time period. If there's a gap in the schedule, the player will show just the stream name without now/next information.
Icecast track metadata
If your Icecast server provides track metadata (artist and song title), you can display it in the player:
- Go to Player Settings
- Toggle Show Current Track on
- Save
The player polls your Icecast server every 15 seconds for the current track. This appears below the now/next information with a music note icon.
This is separate from the now/next display — you can use either or both:
| Feature | Source | Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Now/Next | Your AutoPod schedule | Current and upcoming show names |
| Current Track | Icecast metadata | Current song artist and title |
Live mode behaviour
When a listener taps Live, the player:
- Starts streaming your live audio
- Switches the display to show now/next information
- Shows an On Demand button linking to the latest episode (so listeners can switch to catch-up)
- Updates the lockscreen/notification controls with your station name and current show artwork
If the stream drops or the listener's connection is interrupted, the player automatically retries up to 3 times with a short backoff. If the stream can't be reached, the listener sees an error message with the option to retry manually.
Configuring live settings
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Live Streaming (toggle) | Enables/disables the live button entirely |
| Stream URL | Your HTTPS stream endpoint |
| Show Now/Next (toggle) | Display current and upcoming shows from your schedule |
| Show Current Track (toggle) | Display Icecast track metadata |
Tips
Paste your stream URL directly into a browser. If it starts playing audio, it'll work in the player. If it downloads a file or shows an error, the URL may need adjusting.
The now/next display depends entirely on your broadcast schedule being accurate. If a show runs over or you make a schedule change, update the schedule in the dashboard — the player will reflect the change within a couple of minutes.
If your account has multiple streams (e.g., a main station and a specialist music stream), each stream has its own live URL and player settings. Listeners access different streams via different player URLs.