General
What is SoundCast?+
SoundCast is a professional live radio broadcasting application for Windows. It captures audio from your microphone or audio interface (or relays an internet stream), processes it through a DSP chain, encodes it and pushes it live to your Icecast or SHOUTcast streaming server. It includes a 10-band EQ, compressor, stereo VU meters, listener statistics, metadata management and more. Available in Free and Pro editions.
Is the Free version really free?+
Yes — completely and permanently free. No trial period, no expiry date. Both Free and Pro users must register an account to download the software. The Free version supports MP3 streaming up to 64 kbps, which is sufficient for voice-quality broadcasts. You only pay if you want higher bitrates, additional formats (AAC, OGG, OPUS, FLAC) or the DSP compressor.
What's the difference between Free and Pro?+
Free supports MP3 only at up to 64 kbps. Pro unlocks all 6 formats (MP3, AAC, AAC+, OGG, OPUS, FLAC), all bitrates from 32 to 320 kbps, and the DSP compressor. All other features — Icecast/SHOUTcast, SSL, stream relay, 10-band EQ, VU meters, metadata, statistics, auto-save — are available in both editions at no charge.
Does SoundCast include a streaming server?+
No. SoundCast is a source encoder/client — it sends audio to an existing Icecast or SHOUTcast server that you own or rent. You need a separate streaming server. Many hosting providers offer affordable Icecast plans starting from a few dollars per month.
What operating systems are supported?+
SoundCast runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit). macOS and Linux support is planned for a future release.
Installation & Setup
How do I install SoundCast?+
Download the installer from your dashboard and run it. Follow the on-screen steps to complete installation. Once installed, launch SoundCast from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut created during setup.
Can I run SoundCast on multiple computers?+
The Free edition can be installed on any number of computers. The Pro edition license activates on 1 computer per license. To move to a new PC, deactivate from the old one via the Help tab in SoundCast, then activate on the new machine with the same license key.
How do I create a desktop shortcut?+
A desktop shortcut is created automatically during installation. If you need to recreate it, open the Start menu, find SoundCast, right-click it and choose Pin to taskbar or Open file location then drag the shortcut to your desktop.
Streaming & Audio
The audio sounds distorted or plays too slowly — why?+
This is almost always a sample rate mismatch. Your audio device runs at 48000 Hz, but if the Encoder tab is set to 44100 Hz, the audio plays back about 8% too slow and sounds distorted or shaky. Go to the Encoder tab, change Sample Rate to 48000 Hz, click Save Encoder Settings and try again. To confirm your device's rate: right-click the speaker icon → Sound Settings → Recording tab → device Properties → Advanced tab.
VU meters show a signal but no audio reaches the stream.+
This means the encoder is receiving audio but the server connection isn't accepting it. Check: (1) your source password is correct, (2) the mount point matches exactly what the server expects, (3) click Test Connection on the Server tab to verify basic connectivity. Also check your server's error log for rejected source connections.
Can I relay / rebroadcast another radio station?+
Yes — switch to URL / Stream mode in the sidebar and paste the stream URL. SoundCast uses FFmpeg to pull the remote stream, re-encode it and push it to your server. FFmpeg downloads automatically (~80 MB) on first use. Only relay streams you have permission to rebroadcast.
Does SoundCast support secure HTTPS streaming?+
Yes. On the Server tab, toggle Enable SSL. The port auto-changes to 8443. SoundCast wraps the connection in SSL and accepts self-signed certificates. Your Icecast or SHOUTcast server must have SSL configured on its end. Use Test Connection to verify HTTPS works before going live.
Listener count shows 0 even though people are tuned in.+
For Icecast 2, listener stats require the admin password — not the source password. Go to the Server tab and enter your Icecast admin password in the Admin Password field. You'll find it in your icecast.xml file under <admin-password>. Save and reconnect. SHOUTcast stats use the public statistics endpoint and don't require a separate password.
Licensing & Pro
How does Pro licensing work?+
After purchasing, you receive a license key by email in the format SCAST-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. On first launch of SoundCast Pro, an activation window appears. Enter your key and click Activate — the app contacts soundcast.ca to verify it online, then saves an encrypted local token. Subsequent launches verify the local token so internet isn't needed every time. The token silently refreshes every 30 days in the background.
How many computers can I install Pro on?+
Each Pro license activates on 1 computer. If you need to move to a new PC, deactivate from the current one first via the Help tab in SoundCast (this frees up your activation slot). If you can't access the old PC,
open a support ticket and we'll reset your activation manually.
Is it a subscription or a one-time payment?+
One-time payment — $65 for a lifetime license. No monthly fees, no annual renewal. All future updates to SoundCast Pro are included at no additional cost for the life of the product.
What happens after I reinstall Windows?+
Simply re-download SoundCast Pro and enter your license key again in the activation window. The activation server recognizes your machine ID and reactivates it. If your machine ID changes due to significant hardware changes, contact support and we'll reset your activation.
What is your refund policy?+
We do not offer refunds. However, this is because we provide a free version of SoundCast that allows you to fully test the software on your system before purchasing or upgrading to SoundCast Pro. This way, you can ensure compatibility and performance in advance. If you have any questions or need assistance, you can always
open a support ticket and our team will be happy to help.