Jive Man
..::TechnoLinks::..

Listen

You can listen to Techno music right on the web via live or taped broadcasts! You only need a "player" (available FREE).

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Types of Broadcasts

Just like "regular" radio stations, music broadcast on the net can be "live" where a DJs are spinning their mix as it is broadcast! Or it can be "pre-recorded" and played at anytime (often referred to as an archive or a mixset).

Furthermore - just like "regular" radio can be either AM or FM, music broadcast on the net can be either MP3, RealAudio, WindowsMedia or QuickTime (and the types of broadcast is still expanding).

RealAudio likely has the poorest sound quality - but also is available even using 28K modems. Which brings up the concept of "bandwidth". The bandwidth is how much "data" is being sent to you per second. Generally the higher the bandwidth the better the music will sound --- but at the same time the higher the bandwidth the faster you internet connection must be in order for you to receive it all! (And be warned that a 56K modem is not fast enough to receive a 56K broadcast! Your connection speed must be faster than the broadcast speed since the internet is not 100% perfect in transmission. Also remember that a 56K modem only can go up to about 51K legally in the USA).

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MP3MP3

All music that you listen to on the internet is encoded in one way or another. One of the most popular formats is MP3 (MPEG level 3). This is not a proprietary format since no one company owns it (all the other formats are company owned) and this is one reason why so many people support this format! Of course it helps that it also provides the best sounding music too! To listen to MP3 encoded music you must have an MP3 player, but that is not a problem since they are available totally free to you. For Windows get WinAmp, for the Mac get Soundjam and for Linux/Unix get Freeamp (there are other choices - these are just the common ones). Just download the player and install it and you are ready to listen to MP3 broadcasts (in both Shoutcast and Icecast formats).

Why do you need an MP3 player?

  • You can download complete songs in MP3 format to your harddrive. Once the songs are on your computer, you then need an MP3 player to listen to the songs.
  • You need an MP3 player to listen to an internet radio station that is streaming the music in MP3 format (usually referred to as Shoutcast or Icecast).
  • You need an MP3 player to listen to archives of broadcasts (similar to a live radio station, but it was pre-recorded)

Technostate has a wonderful yet brief HELP PAGE about how to get the "player" and set it up on your computer.

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Download MP3 Songs

MP3WARNING! Some songs are now being distributed in "Liquid" format. These songs often only work for a certain number of days or a certain number of "plays" then stop playing. We suggest you avoid this format. We think it is merely an attempt by the music industry to squash the FREE MP3 movement!

Jump to our Download Techno section in Techno Heaven for info about Downloading Songs. This Listen section is to listen to the music directly over the internet.

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RealAudioRealAudio

This is a proprietary format owned by RealNetworks. For Windows and the Mac (but not Linux/Unix) get the FREE RealAudio player (you do not need the PLUS player they try to get you to buy, nor the 3D audio option - stick with the FREE Basic version, it works just as well!). Just download the player and install it and you are ready to listen to RealAudio broadcasts. The RealAudio player will play MP3 broadcasts but we have found it to be not as reliable as other players in this regard (are they trying to make MP3 look bad or what?) And remember that RealAudio sound quality is not as good as MP3 - even CDNow admits this on every page that offers sound samples by offering an option to hear some of the samples in MPEG (MP3) format - they state: "Click "MPEG Sample" to hear a better quality sound sample."

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Windows Media PlayerWindows Media Player

This is a proprietary format owned by Microsoft. It is available for Windows (duh!) and there is a beta version available for the Mac (I think it is included with Windows 98 ver2 and Windows 2000). Download it from the Microsoft site (drop down Windows Media Player as the Product Name and choose your operating system). Then just install it and you are ready to listen to WindowsMedia broadcasts.

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Streaming QuicktimeQuicktime

This is a proprietary format owned by Apple. It is available for Mac (duh!) as well as Windows. Download it from the Apple site. Then just install it and you are ready to listen to Streaming Quicktime broadcasts. This is supposed to be the premier format for sound quality - and the player will also play MP3 broadcasts.

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Listen

Streaming Web Broadcasts are done at various bandwidths. Here is a quick summary:

Angel If you have a 28.8K or 33.6K modem, you can listen to 16K-20K broadcast streams
Angel If you have a 56K modem, you likely can listen to 16K, 20K and 24K broadcast streams (but not 56K broadcasts, they will "stutter" and be unlistenable).
Angel If you have an ISDN connection, you can listen to 56K broadcast streams (as well as all streams less than 56K).
Angel Finally, if you are lucky to have a FAST connection (xDSL, Cable Modem, T1 or better), you can listen to all the broadcast streams (16K, 20K, 24K, 56K, 64K, 96K, 128K).

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Techno Broadcasts on the Net

RealAudioGroovetech is a RealAudio radio station (including videocast of the DJ that is currently spinning the music). Some of their best broadcasts have been saved and can be played anytime - just jump into their Club Archive! What is nice is that it also has a website where you can preview various albums and purchase them right at their site. A nice combination.
RealAudioInterFACE Pirate Radio is a RealAudio radio station (including videocast of the DJ that is currently spinning the music). Skinny.com presents a real London Pirate Radio station via daily net broadcasts! This station has been around for six years and tired of hiding and running from the DTI, so they have taken up broadcasting live on the net!
MP3Several good Techno broadcasts are available on the Green Witch! All her broadcasts are 24K streams at this time (with plans for 16K and 64K soon). There are many "channels" to choose from including Loud Factory, Electronica Trip and Rap/Hip Hop.
MP3Loud Factory is more like a regular radio station with an announcer and ads. A nice touch is a small browser window that pops up and gives you the artist and song title currently playing.
RealAudioSektor 21 45 Minutes of Trance - Player is built into their webpage.
MP3Windows Media PlayerMilwaukee School of Engineering Live Radio! Many different music types! A message on the Midwest Raves maillist said this was the best station out there! Check the schedule - Listen
RealAudioWindows Media PlayerPOWER 105.9 WKPO is now on the internet! It has been called the number 1 rated Urban Station on the web.
Streaming QuicktimeArchived DJ sets are available at Sound System
RealAudioEternal Beats is broadcasting on the internet from Las Vegas!
RealAudioBackdoor Rave Network (Rave-Network & TranceDomain) have several live streams plus an archive.
Transcasts maintains a great list of online live Techno stations as well as streaming DJ mix archives.

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Online DJ Mixes

MP3RealAudioKickin Beats has a great selection of Happy Hardcore (mainly featuring Spree).
RealAudioTechno.CA is a good place to listen to sets by specific DJs. If you like pure Techno you should like the sets by Forest Green, Ki and Tobias.
RealAudioFaderwars has an interesting concept going at their website. They feature two different DJ mixsets each week and invite everyone to listen to them both and vote for their favorite. Hey Cool! Try it out!
RealAudioPureRave has a good set of mixes including HappyCore, Trance, Techno, Breaks, Ambient and more.
RealAudioOur Happy Hardcore - The Second Scooter album is completely online to stream or download.

MP3RealAudioTechnostate has a Huge archive of fantastic DJ sets including Techno, Jungle, Trance and more ... originally broadcast live from their studio or at a techno event. Their MP3 standard is 56K broadcasts, but they have a few 24K archives available. They also have some RealAudio (both sound and video) broadcasts archived.
RealAudioDJ sets archived from past MadFrequencies Internet Radio Shows.
MP3RealAudioDJ sets to listen to at Sunshine Ministry.
Transcasts Mix Sessions page provides links to over a hundred sites that have online mixes available!

Interactive Web Music

There is an extremely well done "Scratch Simulator" on the web that you should try out!

  
     
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Questions or suggestions for this site contact:
WebMaster@TechnoHeaven.com
Copyright 2000 Techno Heaven

In association with X-Radio , CDNow and Amazon.com

Special Acknowledgment and Thanks to the DJs at Technostate: Dr. Nog, Gabbergirl, Inanna, Insect, Ki and especially Forest Green. They are what heroes are made of - and without their expert help this site would not exist.

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