How to stream live with Mixcloud
Mixcloud Live is one of the best live streaming services for DJs and radio hosts who play music on their shows. DJ Mag have called it the “number one choice for streaming DJ sets” and huge names like Carl Cox and HUNNEE are regular users of Mixcloud Live. But why? What is Mixcloud Live and why is it so good?
Most live streaming services like Twitch, YouTube and even Instagram Live will not allow you to play copyrighted material in your streams. For DJs and radio presenters this is a huge issue as playing copyrighted music is an essential part of their jobs.
Mixcloud have existing agreements with many rights holders around the world including: major record labels, independent record labels, publishers, distributors, performance rights organisations, collective management organisations, and more. This means that DJs can stream mixes of copyrighted music and not get taken down!
In this article we’ll give you all the Mixcloud help you need to get you streaming on the platform. We’ll show you how to get the best Mixcloud sound quality, show you how to Mixcloud Live stream using OBS, and answer questions such as how to use Mixcloud and what’s the Mixcloud upload limit.
Is Mixcloud legal?
Yes, Mixcloud Live is totally legal. Unlike other live streaming platforms such as Twitch, Instagram Live, YouTube Live and TikTok, Mixcloud Live have agreements with the copyright holders of many songs. This means that when you play a song in a livestream the copyright holders of that song (the label and/or the artist) get royalties. This is why you have to pay for Mixcloud Pro in order to use Mixcloud Live.
How much does it cost to stream on Mixcloud?
In order to use Mixcloud Live you’ll need to get a Mixcloud Pro subscription which costs £9.00 a month. However there is a 30 day free trial available if you want to try it out. Be careful you don’t subscribe to Mixcloud Premium – this subscription tier is designed for listeners and viewers.
How do I go live with Mixcloud?
What do I need to live stream on MixCloud?
In order to live stream on Mixcoud, all you really need is your laptop, a webcam, and a stable internet connection. There is no Mixcloud desktop app, instead you can live stream directly on Mixcloud’s website using Mixcloud Live studio. In order to use Mixclooud Live studio you will need to use Google’s Chrome browser.
However, if you want your stream to look and sound professional it’s advisable that you expand your set up. Firstly, if you plan to speak on stream, it’s a good idea to use an external microphone. Don’t know which microphone to use? Check out this guide on the best microphones for recording.
If you’re hosting a radio show or live Mixcloud podcast with multiple people each using a microphone you’ll also want to invest in an audio mixer.
Additionally, if you are a DJ planning to stream mixes then you will need your decks, CDJs, mixer and/or DJ controller, and a way to route them into the computer you will be livestreaming from.
If you are looking to invest in some hardware to improve your livestreams then The Streaming Centre is a great place to get all the gear you need.
For extra control over your Mixcloud live stream it’s worth using a third party broadcaster software. Let’s look at some good options.
What streaming software do I use?
You can use any third party broadcaster software you like. The most popular option is OBS Studio. It’s totally free, very functional and has been the most popular option for live streamers for many years. We’ll take you through how to use OBS with Mixlooud live later in this article, but if you don’t want to use OBS for whatever reason, here are a few alternatives.
Streamlabs OBS – Another free, open source alternative to OBS Studio. It has a slightly more modern interface and you can pay for additional features.
Wirecast – full professional live streaming package. Very functional but starting at $599 it is very expensive.
FFmpeg – A stripped back, basic open source option. Not the prettiest or most functional but highly customisable.
Switchboard – An affordable paid for option with excellent support for streaming to multiple destinations simultaneously.
How do I set up my streaming software?
Each streaming software has a different set up process. We cover how to set up OBS for streaming later on in this article, but unfortunately we can’t cover every software’s set up process here.
If you are using live streaming software other than OBS then please refer to the software developer’s website for instructions.
How do I connect my stream on Mixcloud?
In order to connect your stream to Mixcloud Live you will need to input the following information to the stream settings of your Broadcaster Software.
Service – Mixcloud
Server – Default
Stream Key – You will get this when you create a livestream on the Mixcloud website.
Can I stream without using streaming software?
Yes you can. You do not need to use third party streaming software to live stream on Mixcloud Live. Mixcloud have their own online live streaming studio called Mixcloud Live studio. At the moment it is in Beta mode, and it is relatively limited compared to third party options, however if you’re only planning to do basic streaming it can work really well. To learn how to Mixcloud Live studio, check out this video from Mixcloud:
Does OBS work with Mixcloud?
OBS is probably the best option for streaming to Mixcloud. It’s free, powerful and incredibly easy to use. If you’re having a problem with OBS not going live, or don’t even know where to begin, then read on.
How do I use OBS with Mixcloud?
Using OBS with Mixcloud is very easy. First you have to set up a scene in OBS.
We have a step by step guide to doing this in our blog post on recording in OBS. Head to the section titled ‘How to set up OBS for recording’ and simply skip the last step.
Once you’re happy with how your live stream is looking and sounding in OBS, it’s time to connect the stream to Mixcloud.
How do I connect my stream to OBS?
To connect your stream to Mixcloud from OBS you’ll need to head into the settings. Click the settings button in the bottom right hand corner of the OBS interface. The settings window will open.
From here navigate to the Stream tab. In the Service dropdown menu select Mixcloud. In the Server dropdown menu select Default. To get your Stream Key you will need to create a livestream on the Mixcloud website at www.mixcloud.com/live/new.
You’ll have to enter your Mixcloud login or create an account if you don’t have one. Once you’ve created a stream you will be given a stream key which you can copy and paste into OBS. This stream key will always be the same for Mixcloud Live so you won’t have to do this more than once.
What are the best settings for OBS streaming?
For the best results when streaming on Mixcloud Live use these audio and video settings.
Audio quality: 320k
Video quality: 720p to 1080p
Bitrate: 2500kbps to 3500kbps and CBR, not VBR
Frames Per Second: 30fps
Visual ratio: 16:9
Keyframe interval: 2s
It’s worth noting that Mixcloud sound quality is high compared to other streaming sites with a bit rate of up to 320kbps. As a music focused platform Mixcloud sound quality is a big focus – great news for DJs.
How do I connect Mixcloud to Google Chromecast?
If you are enjoying a DJ mix, podcast or livestream on the Mixcloud app, you can easily connect to a Google Chromecast and stream via your TV.
Step 1: Connect to WiFi
In order to stream to a Chromecast you have to connect your device to the same WiFi network that the Chromecast is connected to.
Step 2: Play a show or livestream
Next, open the Mixcloud app and find a show or livestream you wish to watch or listen to.
Step 3: Connect to Chromecast
Now all you have to do is press the Chromecast icon in the app. A window will open with all available Chromecasts on your WiFi network. Select the Chromecast you wish to stream to, you can now enjoy your Mixcloud content on your TV.
If you are watching or listening to a livestream or show via Mixcloud on your laptop you cannot stream the content to a Google Chromecast.
How long can you stream Mixcloud?
There are no limits to how long you can stream on Mixcloud. However, Mixcloud does cut streams at the 8 hour mark to make their system work better, this will result in a refresh every 8 hours. As long your streaming software automatically reconnects you will be able to keep streaming uninterrupted for as long as you like.
How do I save my live stream on Mixcloud?
When you live stream on Mixcloud, the platform automatically records and saves the audio of your livestream. Afterwards, you can then publish the stream as an audio only show that people can listen back to at any time. However Mixcloud does not natively record video from livestreams. According to Mixcloud this is because ‘Mixcloud is primarily an audio platform’.
If you want to record the video and audio from your livestream you will have to do this using a third party broadcasting software such as OBS Studio.
To record in OBS Studio simply click the Start Recording button in the bottom right hand corner of the UI.
How do I embed a Mixcloud live stream?
It is not currently possible to embed a Mixcloud live stream on another site. You can however embed a Mixcloud player with a pre recorded show for people to listen to from another website.
To do this find the episode of a show you wish to embed. Below the Mixcloud player you will find a share icon.
Click on the icon. A new window will open, navigate to the Embed Player tab. From here you can customise how you would like the embed player to look and then copy the embed code into your website.
Can you live stream on Mixcloud from your phone?
Yes, you can live stream to Mixcloud from your phone. To do this you will have to use a third party app which supports RTMP streaming. A great free option is Streamlabs who have an app for both Apple and Android which allows you to stream to MixCloud from your phone. You can also use it to stream to other platforms such as Twitch, YouTube and Facebook.
Mixcloud is the best option available for any DJs wanting to stream mixes, or radio hosts who play copyrighted music. Not only will you not get your stream taken down with a copyright strike, but you’ll also be supporting the artists whose music you’re playing. Thanks to Mixcloud copyright deals with music rights holders, artists earn royalties when their music is played on Mixcloud Live. To learn more about Mixcloud Live, and to start streaming, head over to the Mixcloud website.
