======Audio Broadcasts======

Usually, authors can broadcast live audio when he/she receives a "beckon" notification from an audience member. However, an author is actually free to broadcast live audio whenever needed. The current audience viewing that //Geminar// page would be able to hear the author.

====How are authors beckoned?====
Any viewer of the //Geminar// can click on the "Beckon Author" button at the top of the chat area. This will result in a notification being sent specifically to the author. If that author had setup the notification app (ntfy.sh) he/she would get the notification inside his/her own phone.

====How to broadcast?====
Broadcasts are done using a simple //broadcasting// software. We recommend BUTT -- it is available for Windows, Macs and Linux https://danielnoethen.de/butt/  You can also broadcast audio from your mobile phone. Use the //CoolMic// app to broadcast from an Android phone. The author of BUTT also has an app for iPhones that can be used for broadcasting. 

For a complete list, see the section on //source clients// here: https://icecast.org/apps/ 

====Configuring a source client====
A //source client// is named thus due to the fact that the audio source originates from that software.
Any such "source client" software; i.e. one that would transport your live audio to your audience, would need the following data:

  - The type of broadcasting to be done. Choose ICECAST (or ICECAST2 if that's available.) Do not choose "SHOUTCAST" or "WEBRTC" as those are different technolgies.
  - The address of our icecast2 server setup for //Geminars//. This would be //radio.//Geminars//.com// And its port is 8199
  - The "mount point" used for that //Geminar// you are broadcasting into -- it will look something like this /GEM_xxxx That means the first 5 characters are ///GEM_//  Some broadcasting software omits the first slash. 
  - The mount points are shown for each //Geminar// in the author's own dashboard -- and nowhere else. Please keep these mount points private. //Use the correct mount point for the //Geminar// you want to broadcast into!//
  - The codec to be used. This MUST be //OPUS//
  - The bitrate to be used. This MUST be 96kbps or less. If your Internet connection is slow, choose 64kbps.
  - The username to be used -- this is always the author's own username at //Geminars//. 
  - The password to be used. This is used //only// for that author. It is NOT the same as the regular account password. You can read this password in the Profile dialog. 

All "source client" would surely need the above information. Each software has its own way to configure. We'll explain how to do that with BUTT -- you can search for the same settings in any other software that you use. Here are [[BUTT|the details for BUTT]]

====Should the author be on the Geminar page when broadcasting?====

Not necessarily, though it helps to keep the //Geminar// page open when broadcasting. Why? There can be comments appearing in the chat there; and the author can modify his/her the live audio broadcast accordingly. 

However broadcasting can be done directly from the "source client" software. For example; an author may be out for a walk outside and then may end up getting several "Beckon" notifications on his/her mobile phone (See [[Notifications|How to configure Notifications]] ) It may not be possible to go to the //Geminar// page and see what is going on. Instead, the author may choose to broadcast using an audio "source client" app on his/her own phone.

====How to listen?====

Listening is quite easy. When an author starts broadcasting using any of the mentioned //source clients// with the correct settings, then the current viewers of that //Geminar// will get a system sent message in the chat; telling them what to do. 

Those who had sent group chat message on the geminar (but are currently absent) would get a notification on their notification app. So they too can join in and listen to the live broadcast of the author. 

Typically, an extra "Hear!" button will be seen just below the video area. Click on that to listen to the author speaking. If the //Geminar// video was currently playing, it would get paused. Viewers do NOT need any extra software. It works within the browser itself. Do not leave the page, though.

====Payments====

Audio Broadcasts are always paid by the author and never by the audience. Our home page has the current pricing: A tiny amount of credits are deducted for each minute of audio broadcast. The deduction is done at the end of the broadcast. 

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