Made for your next broadcast
Listen in VLC, Winamp, iTunes.
Make M3U and PLS files for your stream.
Paste your stream URL and station name. Download ready-made .m3u, .pls, .xspf and .asx files to put a “Listen in your player” link on your website.
- Free to use
- No signup required
- Works in your browser
Your stream
The direct listener URL — the one that plays audio when opened, not your station homepage.
Shown in the player’s playlist and used for the file name.
Included in XSPF and ASX files.
radio-stream.m3u
Upload the file to your website and link to it, e.g. “Listen in VLC / Winamp”. The file only points at your stream; change the stream URL later and regenerate.
Your station, powered by Nobex
Every station needs somewhere to send these files.
Nobex gives you a public station page, an embeddable player, HTTPS streams for every device, and Cloud AutoDJ to keep it playing between live shows.
- Go live from your browser, phone, or encoder
- Keep your station on air with Cloud AutoDJ
- Bring listeners to a player on your own website
Try test mode with no card. Paid plans for ongoing broadcasting.
Four formats, one purpose
Which players open which file.
The web player covers browsers; these files cover everything else — desktop apps, car stereos, smart speakers with a URL option, and the listener who just prefers VLC.
| File | Opens in |
|---|---|
| .m3u | VLC, Winamp, iTunes/Music, Android, iOS, most car stereos and set-top boxes |
| .pls | Winamp, VLC, foobar2000, SHOUTcast-era players |
| .xspf | VLC, Amarok, Clementine, Rhythmbox |
| .asx | Windows Media Player, some smart TVs |
- 01
Use the listener URL, not the page.
The file must point at audio. If the URL opens a web page with a player on it, players will show an error or silence. Check it first with the stream checker.
- 02
Prefer HTTPS.
Most desktop players accept http, but phones and smart speakers increasingly do not. An https stream URL works everywhere.
- 03
Name it well.
The station name in the file is what appears in the player’s playlist and window title. Use the name you want listeners to see, not “stream 1”.
- 04
Link, don’t embed.
Put the file on your site and link to it with a clear label: “Listen in VLC / Winamp”. Browsers download it and hand it to the default player.
A few useful answers
What is an M3U or PLS file?
A tiny text file that tells a media player where a stream lives. Double-click it and VLC, Winamp, iTunes, foobar2000 or a car head unit opens your station. Every radio directory and “listen in your player” link has used them for twenty years. M3U is the most widely supported; PLS is the SHOUTcast tradition; XSPF and ASX cover VLC-family and Windows Media players.
Which format should I offer?
Offer M3U first — Android, iOS, VLC, iTunes and most car stereos open it. Add PLS if your listeners use Winamp or older SHOUTcast-era players. XSPF and ASX are niche; include them only if someone asks.
Do I upload the file to my website?
Yes. Download the file, upload it to your site or file host, and link to it: “Listen in VLC”. Because the file only contains your stream URL, it keeps working as long as the URL does. If your stream URL changes, regenerate and replace the file.
Why does the file open as text instead of playing?
The web server is sending it with the wrong content type. M3U should be served as audio/x-mpegurl and PLS as audio/x-scpls; most hosts do this from the extension, but some need a rule adding. Alternatively, link straight to the stream URL — most players open that too.
Can I put several streams in one file?
This generator makes one entry per file, which is what a station link needs. For a multi-station list, generate one file per stream and combine the entries in a text editor; the formats allow any number.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The file is built in your browser from what you type; nothing is sent to a server. Downloading uses a local blob, so it works offline.
Will these work with my Nobex station?
Yes. Every Nobex station has an https listener URL that works in these files, plus a public station page, an embeddable player and directory listings. Start in free mode without a card.
Keep reading
Every device, every player, every directory.
Written by the team that runs the streaming platform, not by a content farm.
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