Streaming Web Audio

Streaming Web Audio

You can now stream live radio stations and more in Sansar. We support various formats like Shoutcast, Icecast, and other services using MP3-based URLs.

Note: OGG format also works, but AAC format is not supported.

Streaming web audio in Sansar

There are currently two ways to stream web audio in Sansar: (1) using an audio emitter or (2) the Scene Settings menu.

For both ways, you can click Options > Audio Preview on the toolbar in the upper-left corner of the screen to test the audio in your scene. If it's a valid stream, you should hear the sound start shortly.

Sansar Video Tutorial - Setting Up A Web Audio Stream.

Stream audio using an audio emitter

To stream web audio in Sansar using an audio emitter:

1. Add an audio emitter in a scene. You can learn more about adding audio emitters here.

2. Select the audio emitter to show its contextual menu, and click the properties button.

3. On the Properties panel, set the Sound Source to Stream. This changes the Sound field to Stream.

4. In the Stream dropdown, choose one of the audio or media streams you defined in the Scene Settings under Web Audio Streams or Media Surface Settings.

An audio emitter set to Stream is treated like any other sound in Sansar, which means that the sound is spatialized and can be an immersive part of in-scene sound. And just like any other emitter, you can change its shape to a cuboid or sphere to fill a larger area with sound, as shown here:

The Audio Emitter properties panel with Stream set as the Sound Source.

Stream audio as a background sound

To stream web audio in Sansar as a scene sound:

1. Click on Tools > Scene Settings on the toolbar to open the Scene Properties panel.
2. In the Scene Properties panel, scroll down to the Background Sound section.

3. Set the Sound Source to Stream. This changes the Sound field to Stream.

4. In the Stream dropdown, choose one of the audio or media streams you defined in the Scene Settings under Web Audio Streams or Media Surface Settings.

If you stream web audio using the scene settings, the sound is non-spatialized, meaning it's not coming from within the scene, and is the same volume regardless of camera position. Be careful what you set the Loudness level to, because if it's too loud, your in-scene sounds will be drowned out and visitors will have a hard time using voice chat to communicate.

The scene settings properties panel with Stream set as the Sound Source under sound settings.

Getting web audio stream URLs from websites

Getting the link to an audio stream is pretty easy, as some websites provide the link directly. Simply copy and paste the link right into Sansar.

If you're used to streaming audio in media players such as iTunes, they usually have an option to copy the Stream URL.

Shoutcast directory

For example, to get URLs from the popular Shoutcast directory:

1. Go to shoutcast.com .
2. Click a genre you like.

3. Click the Play button to preview a station.

4. Once you've decided on a station you want to stream in Sansar, click the Download button to open a dropdown.

5. On the dropdown, choose Any player (.m3u) to start downloading the file. (The other formats work too, if you know how to parse the files.)

6. Find the downloaded file on your hard drive.

7. Right-click the file and use Open with to open it in a text editor like Notepad++. (The built-in Windows Notepad tends to show separate lines bunched together, which can make it harder.)
8. In the text file, you'll see several lines, and the Shoutcast audio stream, which starts with http://. For example, http://178.33.232.230:8000 or http://50.7.53.3:80/tuner24-01 (These were working at the time this article was published.)
9. Copy and paste that URL into the Sansar Stream URL field.

Have more questions? Ask in our Discord!