How To Use AutoDJ To Keep Your SHOUTcast Station Online 24/7?

AutoDJ is the easiest way to keep your SHOUTcast radio station streaming 24 hours a day, even when you are not connected live. It plays your uploaded music, jingles, or playlists directly from the streaming server, so your station never goes silent. In this complete guide, you will learn how AutoDJ works, how to upload tracks, how to schedule shows, and how to switch between AutoDJ and live broadcasting without interruptions.

If you are new to SHOUTcast, start with our main guide, Everything You Need To Know About SHOUTcast Radio.

What Is AutoDJ and Why Does It Matter

AutoDJ is a feature in streaming control panels like Centova Cast that stores your audio files on the server and plays them automatically as a live stream. This means your station can broadcast around the clock without requiring your computer or encoder to stay online.

With AutoDJ, you can:

• Broadcast 24/7 even when you are offline
• Upload MP3 files directly to the server
• Create playlists for different times of day
• Mix music with jingles and station IDs
• Switch smoothly between AutoDJ and live shows

AutoDJ saves bandwidth on your end and makes your station stable, professional, and fully automated.

How AutoDJ Works Behind the Scenes

AutoDJ does not require your local computer to be connected. Instead, the audio files are stored on the streaming server itself. The server encodes and streams the audio directly to your listeners. This makes the stream more reliable, and it avoids dropouts caused by slow home internet, Wi Fi issues, or power outages.

When you go live, your broadcasting software takes over and replaces the AutoDJ stream. When you disconnect, AutoDJ automatically starts playing again.

How To Enable AutoDJ in Centova Cast

The example below uses Centova Cast, which is included with ShoutCheap SHOUTcast hosting.

1. Log in to your Centova Cast control panel.
2. Click the Settings link.
3. Open the AutoDJ tab.
4. Enable AutoDJ for your stream by switching it on.
5. Select your encoder format such as MP3 or AAC.
6. Choose your bitrate and sample rate.
7. Save the changes and restart your server.

Your AutoDJ is now active, and you can begin uploading your audio files.

How To Upload Music and Audio Files

Centova Cast gives you two ways to upload audio:

1. Upload from the web browser

1. Go to Files in the left menu.
2. Select the media folder.
3. Click Upload.
4. Choose your MP3 files from your computer.

2. Upload using FTP (recommended for large libraries)

1. Use an FTP client like FileZilla.
2. Log in with your FTP credentials from Centova Cast.
3. Upload your MP3 files to the media directory.

Centova automatically scans the files and adds them to your library. For best streaming compatibility, upload audio in:

• MP3 format
• Constant bitrate (CBR) such as 64 kbps, 96 kbps, or 128 kbps
• 44.1 kHz sample rate

How To Create Playlists in AutoDJ

Playlists control what AutoDJ plays and when it plays it. You can manage all playlists from the Playlists tab in Centova.

1. General rotation playlist

This plays 24/7 unless a scheduled playlist overrides it. Most stations put their main music rotation here.

2. Scheduled playlists

You can create playlists for specific hours, days, or special events such as:

• Morning drive shows
• Weekend mixes
• News hours
• Special genre blocks

3. Interval playlists

These let you insert jingles or sweepers every certain number of songs or minutes. For example:

Play station ID every 15 minutes

How To Switch Between AutoDJ and Live Broadcasting

Centova Cast makes switching between live and AutoDJ seamless. The process depends on your plan and encoder, but the basic flow is always the same:

Going live

1. Open your broadcasting software.
2. Enter your live source connection details from Centova.
3. Connect your encoder.

Once connected, your encoder replaces AutoDJ instantly. Listeners hear your live content without interruption.

Returning to AutoDJ

1. Disconnect your live source in your encoder.
2. AutoDJ resumes automatically and keeps the stream online.

This is the biggest benefit of AutoDJ. Your station never goes silent, even if your encoder drops or your internet disconnects.

Best Practices for Smooth AutoDJ Operation

• Use MP3 with constant bitrate for reliability
• Normalize audio so tracks have equal volume
• Use high-quality intro files for a professional sound
• Organize your folders by genre or content type
• Test scheduled playlists to ensure timing is correct

AutoDJ vs Live Broadcasting: Which Should You Use?

You do not have to choose. Most SHOUTcast stations use both. AutoDJ takes care of the station when you are away, and live broadcasting lets you host shows, events, or DJ sets. The combination gives you the best of both worlds.

Start Streaming 24/7 with ShoutCheap AutoDJ

Related Reading

• Everything You Need To Know About SHOUTcast Radio
• How To Get a Better Audio Streaming Quality?
• SHOUTcast vs Icecast, Which Is Better?
• SHOUTcast Bandwidth and Listener Limits Explained

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