How Receive Calls To Your Internet Radio Station Via Skype

For a long time this has been the Holy Grail of Internet Radio Stations. How to receive live calls to my Internet Radio Station Via Skype with a single computer. The idea sounds very tempting but it is not as simple as it seems. I saw a video online where this guy teaches you how to do it with Winamp, Skype and Virtual Audio Cable but he forgot the most important thing, people want to stream the Skype conversation with a Winamp audio in the background.

He was able to stream the Skype audio but he did not add a background audio with winamp and there is where things get complicated. You will have to deal with your Windows Volume Mixer to control the volume of your Winamp vs Skype vs your voice and sound on your headphones. Another problem is you will hear yourself on your headphones with a very annoying delay.

Of course you can achieve this very easily with 3 computers and a external mixer but we are talking about a simple solution with a single computer that is cheap. My opinion is that live calls via skype for your Internet Radio Station have some pros and cons.

pros and cons:

Pros:

• You will be in direct contact with your listeners.
• You can interact with your listeners live.
• You can have a conversation with your listeners and not a monologue.
• skype is free, so it is a simple and cheap solution for your station.
• Your listeners can call from any part of the world.
• and so on…

cons:

• Voice Delay (headphones).
• Distortion in communication.
• You lose quality control of what you are streaming because your listeners can say whatever they want.
• You will need a fast upload and download bandwidth to manage the streaming, Skype Calls, Internet, etc.
• If your listeners call and they are listening at the same time on their computer could have audio feedback.
• and so on…

As you see there is not a perfect world. You will have to evaluate if it will be a good thing for you or a bad thing. However the idea of receiving calls to your internet radio station for free is very tempting. So I came up with a solution. I found the best solution for me, works for Shoutcast and Icecast. This is not a live solution it is a pre-recorded solution but the way I see it, it is better. It gives you the opportunity of having control of what your listeners will hear. You will pre-record the conversation, cut, paste, add background sound etc. You will stream a pre-recorded call and no one will know it.

I will show you how to do this with Audacity 1.3 because it is a free option but you can use any other Audio Editing Software, for example Adobe Audition. Also you will need Virtual Audio Cable, this one is not free but is not too expensive.

Let start it, here are the steps:

Virtual Audio Cable Settings

1. Download Virtual Audio Cable (Not the Trial Version, Trial Version comes with 1 cable but you will need the full version to be able to use 2 cables).
2. Install Virtual Audio Cable.
3. Go to Start>All Programs>Virtual Audio Cable> and select Control Panel.
4. Under Driver Parameter>Cables enter number 2 for 2 cables and click Set.
5. Close the Virtual Audio Cable Control Panel window.
6. Go to Start>All Programs>Virtual Audio Cable> and select Audio Repeater (MME)
7. Do the same you did in step 6, you will need 3 Audio Repeater (MME) open in total.
8. Set the Audio Repeater (MME) # 1
   Wave In = Line 2
   Wave Out = Line 1
9. Set the Audio Repeater (MME) # 2
   Wave In = Your Microphone
   Wave Out = Line 1
   
10. Set the Audio Repeater (MME) # 3
    Wave In = Line 2
    Wave Out = Speakers (Better Headphones)
    

Skype Settings

1. Open Skype
2. Go to Tools>Options>Audio Settings
3. Set your Microphone
4. Set your Speakers to Line 2 (Audio Virtual Cable)
5. Close Skype Options Windows

Audacity, Software Installation:

1. Download Audacity (Audacity 1.3.13 (Beta))
2. Install Audacity
3. Run Audacity
4. Go to Edit>Preferences>Libraries Click “LAME MP3 Library” Download
5. Download Lame For Audacity and run the file. (Pay attention to where you install LAME MP3 encoder.
6. Go to Edit>Preferences>Libraries Click “MP3 Library” Locate and browse for (lame_enc.dll ) usually here C:\Program Files (x86)\Lame For Audacity\lame_enc.dll
7. Go to Edit>Preferences>Inport/Export and turn off (un-check) the option “Show Metadata Editor Prior To Export Step”
8. Go to Edit>Preferences>Devices:
   Host: MME
   Playback Device: Speakers / Headphones
   Recording Device: Line 1 (Audio Virtual Cable)
   Recording Channels: 1 (Mono)
9. Click OK and close this window
10. Click Record Button Click Pause Button and you are ready to Record a Skype Call.

After these settings you can record a Skype call, add background sound, edit the call etc. Then you will have to export the audio as MP3 file and add the file as a regular track in your favorite Broadcasting Software as you do with your regular MP3 files.

For Instructions of how to use Audacity visit Audacity Documentation.

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Related posts:

1. Setting Up Internet Radio Station
2. What Kind of Internet Connection Do I Need to Be Able to Stream Radio on My PC?
3. Internet Radio Directories: Submitting and Promoting
4. Internet Radio Is The Future
5. The Future of Internet Radio