Technical Support Bulletin Date: June 7, 2011 Title: Configuring Internet Radio with Control4 OS 2.1 Product(s) affected: Control4 Operating System (OS) 2.1 Topic(s): With the release of OS 2.1, it is now possible for dealers to configure Control4 systems to play back Internet MP3 radio streams. This Tech Bulletin explains how to configure and utilize this functionality. Summary: With OS 2.0, Control4 implemented the ability to play Internet MP3 radio streams. However, no user interface was supplied. A Shoutcast driver was utilized by some Dealers to add Internet radio channels to systems. GreenWave Technology, with their Web Radio app, also utilized this capability of the OS 2.0 system. In OS 2.1, Internet Radio channels can be added to the media database and selected via the standard Control4 user interface. This Technical Bulletin provides information about how to configure new and existing systems to utilize the Internet radio capabilities within OS 2.1. It also describes how to find Internet radio channel URLs. Technical Details: Formats Supported Control4 supports many HTTP-streamed, MP3 format, Internet radio channels. The Control4 Primary Controller, running the audio server process, inserts the specified stream into the digital audio system. All Control4 audio endpoints can play back these MP3 format streams. Control4 does not support Internet radio streams in other formats (e.g., AAC or WMA). Control4 also does not support Internet radio streams which are encumbered by DRM (digital rights management) protection or which require a special player or handshake with the streaming service. Please be aware that Internet radio streams may change their URLs, discontinue service, or stream silence during some programming periods based on broadcast restrictions. Customers need to be made aware that this is characteristic of the current state of Internet radio in general and does not indicate a problem with their Control4 system. Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 1
Although most MP3-formatted HTTP streams work correctly within the Control4 system, some MP3-formatted streams may not work. The Control4 Dealer should verify that the stream will play correctly when adding it to the system. Internet Radio Broadcast Cloud and Bindings The Internet radio implementation is part of the digital audio subsystem and is automatically configured by the system when a project is created much like digital audio. An Internet Radio broadcast cloud driver is automatically added to the Control4 project when the first Controller is added (see Figure 1). Each of the HC-class Controllers (HC-200, HC-300, HC-500 and HC-1000) have an Internet Input audio binding which is automatically connected to the Internet Radio broadcast cloud (see Figure 2). Figure 1. Internet Radio Cloud Figure 2. Internet Input binding to Internet Radio Configuration of Internet Radio is done automatically when you create a new project using OS 2.1. However, if you are upgrading an existing system to OS 2.1, you need to add the Internet Radio broadcast cloud driver manually, and then bind it to the Controller(s). To Add Internet Radio to an Existing System 1. Update the system to OS 2.1. 2. Add the Internet Radio broadcast cloud driver to the project by searching the Local Database (see Figure 3). 3. After you have added the Internet Radio broadcast cloud driver to the project, you can then bind it to the Primary Controller s Internet Input binding (see Figure 2). Figure 3. Internet Radio Broadcast Cloud Driver Entering Internet Radio Channels into the Media Database Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 2
After the Internet Radio broadcast cloud driver is added to the project and bound to the Internet Input binding on the Controller(s), you can add Internet radio channels to the media database. This can be done using Composer Pro, Composer HE, or Composer ME through the Media view (see Figure 4). Figure 4. Composer Media Interface IMPORTANT: Finding the URL(s) of the Internet Radio station(s) which you want to listen to is the most challenging aspect of configuring Internet radio within the Control4 system. Most providers of Internet Radio streams obscure the actual streaming URL. The web-based interfaces that they provide may not give you access to the actual URL. In the following material, we will describe a couple of ways to find the Internet Radio stations you want, and then extract those URLs from the Internet Radio stations. Before we get to that level of detail, here s the general procedure that is followed when looking for the URL of a streaming Internet Radio station. 1. Find a source that gives you access to Internet Radio stations. You can utilize Internet sources such as consolidated web directory services or the website of specific broadcast providers. You can often use an Internet search engine to find a specific broadcast provider. 2. Extract the URL from the information supplied by the directory or website. 3. (Optional) Test the URL using a media player (e.g., Media Monkey). 4. Enter the information into the Composer Media Database. Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 3
5. When adding stations, you must supply the Channel as the correctly formatted URL for accessing the Internet Radio streaming server (see Figure 5). When you enter a URL, Composer will verify that it s correctly formatted. However, Composer does not verify that the URL is correct or that the stream is playable. 6. You must also check the Audio Only box. This is required for the station to show up in the Navigators. 7. Name, Description, Genre, and Cover Art are all used by the system and are also entered using this interface. 8. Refresh Navigators if you haven t done so after configuring your Internet Radio bindings. Refresh Navigators is not required if the station list is updated but no bindings have been changed. 9. Test the playback of the Internet Figure 5. Internet Radio Station Definition Radio station within the Control4 system by using the Control4 Navigator to select the station. Internet Radio station(s) that have been added to the Internet Radio broadcast cloud will be available to the user through the standard Navigators. Internet Radio stations will display on all interfaces: Flash Navigator, iphone/ipad, Legacy, and List Navigator (see Figures 6 and 7). Figure 6. Flash-based Navigator UI Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 4
Figure 7. Now Playing Interface Import/Export Internet Radio Lists After you have created a list of Internet Radio stations that you want to provide to your customers, you can use the Export/Import functionality of Composer s media interface to easily add these same stations to other projects. To export a list of station, select the Internet Radio broadcast cloud in the Media menu. Then select Media; Export. The export file is an XML-structured text file and can be edited with any text or XML editor. Important: Control4 recommends that you remove playlists from the export file before importing it into another project or even back into the same project. This will ensure that you don t end up with invalid or duplicate playlists. Figure 8. Export / Import To do this: 1. Open the file and find the start of the playlists section (<playlists>). 2. Remove that entire section replacing it with just the empty playlists element (<playlists />). 3. Save that file; and you are ready to import it for use in another project. Figure 9. Empty Playlist in Export File Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 5
Finding Internet Radio Stations There are several resources available to find Internet Radio stations on the Internet. These range from directory-type services such as the SHOUTcast radio directory (www.shoutcast.com), icecast (www.icecast.org), and streamfinder (http://streamfinder.com/about-streamfinder/) to local broadcast provider websites. Other Control4 Dealers may also share Internet Radio stations or exported station lists on the Control4 Dealer Forum or through other venues. We will provide several examples (see the following sections) to illustrate how Internet Radio URLs can be found using these resources. There are a few key things to know when looking for Internet Radio URLs. Stream must be in MP3 format Stream must not be encrypted with DRM technology or require a specific media player or plug-in Note: Be aware that the availability of Internet Radio stations is subject to change. Stations may stop broadcasting or change URLs at any time. Many times when you find what you think are the URLs for an Internet radio station you will actually find a playlist file. Tip: M3U and PLS are the extensions commonly used for playlist files downloaded when streaming Internet Radio stations to a local client. These are structured text files and can be opened in any text editor or by most local audio clients. In the following instructions, we show how to use a text editor to find the URL needed to stream an Internet Radio station on the Control4 system. Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 6
Example 1: Using SHOUTcast to Find a URL for Internet Radio Stations 1. Using an Internet browser, go to www.shoutcast.com 2. Use SHOUTcast s search interface to search for a station or genre. Make sure the station you are interested in playing within your Control4 system supports MP3. 3. Select the station you want. I have configured my Firefox browser to ask me when opening links. 4. I chose to open the PLS file using Notepad++, a text editor. This gave me access to the actual URL of the stream. In this case it was http://66.225.205.47:80 Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 7
5. I entered this information into the Control4 Media Database and tested the station to ensure that it played correctly. Example 2: Using www.icecast.org to Find a URL for Internet Radio Stations 1. Using an Internet browser go to www.icecast.org 2. Use icecast s stream directory to search for a station or genre. Make sure the station you are interested in playing within your Control4 system supports MP3. 3. Select the M3U link of the station you want. I have configured my Firefox browser to ask me when opening links. Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 8
4. I chose to open the M3U file using Notepad++, a text editor. This gave me access to the actual URL of the stream. In this case, there were several URLs available; any of these URLs should work. I selected the first. 5. I entered this information into the Control4 Media Database and tested the station to ensure that it played correctly. Example 3: Using an Internet Search to Find a Local Radio Station Please note that this is just one example. There is no one right way or method to ensure that you get the URL you are looking for. 1. Using an Internet search provider, look for the station you want to access Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 9
2. Using your browser, follow links until you locate the web page that gives access to the stream. Note that there are several options for streaming. We are looking for the MP3 stream. 3. Select the MP3 audio stream. My browser asked me how I wanted to open the link. 4. Extract the URL from the PLS file; in this case it is http://icecast.ksl.com:8000 Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 10
5. Enter this information into the Control4 Media Database and test the station to ensure that it plays correctly. Example 4: Using an Internet Radio Control4 Media Database Export File Several Dealers and Control4 employees have built station lists and shared them with others. You have two (2) options with their station lists. 1. You can import their station list directly, and just use it. This will replace any entries you have in the station list. This is an easy way to generate the Internet Radio stations. Then you can add/delete individual stations using the Composer Media Manager interface. Or 2. You can extract information from their export file and merge it into your own export file. If you choose this approach, you will need to be careful to use the appropriate XML structure when you manually merge your lists. This is the structure of the XML entry for an Internet radio station: <broadcast> <name>station Name</name> <description>station Description</description> <genre>station Genre</genre> <audio_only>true</audio_only> <cover_art>base64 encoded image</cover_art> <location>url</location> <img></img> </broadcast> Technical Support Bulletin Installing and Configuring Internet Radio with OS 2.1 Page 11