mp3 Streaming Playlist
m3u files are text files that contain a playlist of mp3 files. Media players such as Windows Media Player and Winamp create these files dynamically on a client computer to make a playlist of the mp3’s on your computer. It is possible however to play files from a remote server instead of your local server, by adding the full URL of the file.
For example:
A text file was created with the following contents
http://gandalf.streamingwizard.com/demo/adrenalinehillbilly.mp3
This was saved as playlist.m3u and uploaded to the webserver.
Clicking the link will open the m3u file, which will fire up the media player and start playing from the playlist.
With a little bit of scripting it is possible to create the m3u file dynamically so that you can program a radio station or create a random list.
M3u playlists are used for on-demand playback and not live streaming. If you want everyone to be listening to the same mp3 at the same time, then that needs to be set up server side and sent out as a broadcast using a .wvx file.
Add comment August 9th, 2005