Broadcasting7 min read

Broadcast from your computer or DJ software

For power users: run 24/7 from your own computer with the Nobex Streaming Agent, or connect OBS, BUTT, Mixxx, Virtual DJ or any Icecast-compatible encoder. Optional — most stations never need it.

The Broadcast & connect page showing the desktop agent download and credentials

Cloud AutoDJ, browser go-live and the phone app cover almost everything a station needs — so most broadcasters never open this page. But if you run a hardware mixer, mix in DJ software, or want the station playing from music that lives on your own machine, Nobex has two power-user paths waiting for you.

This is optional

You do not need any of this to run a great station. If Cloud AutoDJ and browser/phone go-live already do what you want, you can skip this guide entirely. It exists for the cases where you want to bring your own gear or software.

Where these options live

Both paths start from your station's connection page. Open the floating Broadcast panel and click "Prefer broadcasting software? Connection options" at the bottom, or go to the connection page directly. Across the top you will find tabs for From Your Browser, From Your Phone, From Your Computer and DJ Software & Encoders — the last two are what this guide covers.

Tip

Every path feeds the same station and the same listen links — your CDN stream link and public page stay identical. Your listeners never know or care how the audio got there.

Path 1 — The Nobex Streaming Agent

The Nobex Streaming Agent is a desktop broadcast studio for Mac, Windows and Linux, powered by the same Liquidsoap engine that runs in the cloud. It is ideal when your music library lives on your own computer, you use a hardware mixer or external sound-card, or you want to run the station 24/7 from a machine you control.

The From Your Computer tab with the platform picker, download button and API credentials panel — Download, credentials and setup steps, all on the From Your Computer tab.

Setup takes a few minutes. On the From Your Computer tab:

1Pick your platform (Windows or macOS) and download the app. On Windows, also grab the two free companions it needs — Liquidsoap (the audio engine) and FFmpeg (microphone support) — and unzip everything into one folder. On macOS, install the engine with one Terminal command: brew install liquidsoap.
2In the API Credentials panel on the right, press Generate New Credential to create an API key and secret. The secret is shown once, so keep the window open for the next step.
3Open the app, and paste in three things: your Station ID, your API Key and your API Secret.
4Press Start. Within about 30 seconds your station shows online in the dashboard, playing 24/7.

Copy the secret immediately

The API secret is displayed a single time when you generate it. Copy it straight into the agent (or a password manager) before you close the dialog. If you lose it, just generate a fresh credential — no harm done.

Note

Running on Linux, or want the agent to run as an always-on background service? The full walkthrough — install, configuration, DJ-software harbor mode and running 24/7 — lives in the Streaming Agent guide.

Path 2 — Bring your own encoder

Already have a broadcasting setup? Nobex speaks the standard Icecast protocol, so you can connect OBS, BUTT, Mixxx, Virtual DJ, RadioDJ, a hardware encoder, or anything Icecast-compatible. Open the DJ Software & Encoders tab for a guided setup.

The DJ Software & Encoders tab with an encoder picker and copyable connection settings — Pick your encoder and copy its connection settings.

Choose your software from the Encoder Client picker to see step-by-step instructions, then copy your Connection Settings — the host, mount, username and password — straight into your encoder. Every value has a Copy button so there is nothing to mistype.

The one rule that trips people up: match your mount

Your encoder's codec and bitrate must match a configured mount. If you connect with a codec or bitrate that does not line up with your mount settings, Nobex automatically disconnects the source within a few seconds. Check your mount settings, set your encoder to match exactly, and you are golden.

Test your connection

If a connection will not hold, use the built-in diagnostics. Click "Having trouble? Test your connection" at the top of the page and press Run Test. It probes whether your streaming node is reachable, shows your current listeners against your plan limit, and surfaces recommendations when something looks off.

Tip

Run the connection test before you go on air with a new encoder. Catching a mount mismatch or a reachability issue on the ground is far better than discovering it live.

Which path should you use?

If you want to…	Use
Get on air fast with zero software	Cloud AutoDJ (browser) — you probably do not need this page
Talk live from a laptop or phone	Browser go-live or the Nobex Broadcaster app
Run 24/7 from your own computer or a hardware mixer	Nobex Streaming Agent (Path 1)
Mix live in OBS, Mixxx, Virtual DJ or similar	Bring your own encoder (Path 2)

Run your station with Cloud AutoDJ

Keep reading

Cloud AutoDJ: run your station 24/7 with no softwareUpload your music and let Cloud AutoDJ play it to your stream around the clock — no encoder, no spare computer, no software to install. Start, stop and steer it from one panel.Stream quality and delivery: HLS, MP3 and mountsHow your audio reaches listeners — adaptive HLS over CDN and universal MP3/Icecast — plus stream mounts, codecs, bitrates and the quality picker.Quick Start: Get your station on air in 5 minutesFrom sign-up to your first listener — create a station, upload music and start broadcasting 24/7 from the cloud, with no software to install.

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