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Shoutcast alternative

Still running DNAS?
Your station outgrew it years ago.

Shoutcast defined internet radio — and then stopped moving. Pulse Broadcast keeps what worked (ICY metadata, simple stream URLs, compatibility with your encoder) and adds everything a station needs in 2026: multi-codec outputs, AutoDJ failover, broadcast DSP and real analytics, in one container.

Start a free 2-month trial Hear a live instance
What changes, operationally

The differences that matter to a Shoutcast operator.

Actively developedShoutcast DNAS development effectively stalled years ago. Pulse is a maintained commercial product running today's stations, built for HTTPS, HLS and modern codecs.
Multi-codec from one sourceDNAS relays whatever your source encoder produces. Pulse takes one clean input and produces every MP3, AAC and Opus output server-side.
Failover that actually existssc_trans is abandoned and DNAS backup features are rudimentary. Pulse ships source arbitration with AutoDJ and a silence generator, with hysteresis to prevent flapping.
Analytics beyond a listener countInstead of a basic admin page, Pulse tracks listeners by hour, country, referrer, player and listening time — persisted across restarts.
Processing before encodingParametric EQ, LUFS loudness control and true-peak limiting run in the audio path, so every output is processed identically — no external chain.
One container, any proxyRuns behind any reverse proxy with normal HTTPS. No Windows-era binaries, no separate YP directory dependency, no per-feature add-ons.
Side by side

Pulse Broadcast vs Shoutcast DNAS.

CapabilityPulse BroadcastShoutcast
RoleComplete head-endRelay only
Development statusActively developedLegacy / dormant
Audio processingEQ + loudness + limiterNone
Multi-format, one sourceMP3 + AAC + OpusNo
Automatic failoverBuilt-in AutoDJ + silenceBasic / abandoned sc_trans
HLS deliveryBuilt inNo
Historical analyticsBuilt inBasic admin page
ConfigurationPersistent web adminConfig files
HTTPS / modern webNative behind any proxyWorkarounds
Migration

Moving off Shoutcast, step by step.

01
Inventory the current setup

Stream URLs, bitrates, your source encoder and where listeners actually come from.

02
Run Pulse in parallel

Same paths and bitrates on a hosted trial instance or your own server.

03
Switch the encoder

Your encoder connects in Icecast mode, or a broadcast encoder sends clean PCM over RTP.

04
Cut over the domain

Move DNS or the proxy. Players reconnect once, keep the same URLs and keep showing titles.

Honest scope

When staying on Shoutcast makes sense.

  • The shoutcast.com directory is a significant, measured source of your listeners.
  • Your whole setup is one pre-encoded stream you never touch, and it still works.
  • You depend on a hosted Shoutcast platform contract that bundles licensing you still need.
Questions from Shoutcast operators

Frequently asked.

Will my Shoutcast source encoder work with Pulse?

Almost certainly. Practically every encoder that speaks the Shoutcast protocol — BUTT, Mixxx, RadioDJ, SAM and hardware units — also supports Icecast mode, which Pulse accepts. For the best audio, Pulse also takes uncompressed PCM over RTP from broadcast encoders like Barix and DEVA.

Do listeners' players still see song titles?

Yes. Pulse injects standard ICY metadata, the same mechanism Shoutcast popularized, so Winamp, VLC, mobile apps and car units keep showing now-playing titles. A companion metadata agent can push song changes from your playout software automatically.

How do we migrate from DNAS?

Run Pulse in parallel with the same stream paths and bitrates, switch your source encoder to it (Icecast mode or RTP), verify the outputs, then move the domain or proxy. Listeners reconnect once and keep the same URLs.

What about the Shoutcast directory?

Pulse does not list stations in the shoutcast.com directory. If directory traffic is a meaningful listener source for you, that is a real reason to stay — most stations we work with get their listeners through their own site, apps and aggregators like TuneIn instead.

Is there a free version?

There is a free two-month hosted trial with your real station audio, including help connecting the studio. Pulse itself is a commercial product — that is what pays for it to stay maintained.

Hear it before you commit.A live Pulse instance streams right now — then try it with your own station for two months.
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