Table of contents
LibreTime
LibreTime is a community driven fork of SourceFabric's Airtime.
As LibreTime is an open source project, you can find more
open source alternatives and stats
on LibHunt.
Pricing:
- Open Source
Open Source
LibreTime is open source, allowing users to access and modify the source code to suit their specific needs and contribute to its development.
Cost-effective
As a free software solution, LibreTime eliminates licensing costs, making it a financially appealing option for radio stations, especially small and non-profit ones.
Web-based Interface
It offers a user-friendly web interface for managing broadcasts, making it accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
Advanced Automation
Includes features for automated playlists and smart blocks, easing the workload on DJs and station managers by automating regular scheduling tasks.
Community Support
Has an active community that provides support, shares knowledge, and contributes to ongoing improvements to the platform.
Running for some (4) years Airtime 2.5.2 (latest free version), now moving to LibreTime because of various runtime (unsupported PHP too old etc.). My description also includes the (painfully) migration of the existing database, so new users might read that part as a story.
Installation
Nothing fancy, install OS (Ubuntu 18.04), git and curl are probably already there or at the distance of an sudo apt -y git curl, install icecast and apache2 (or whatever the web server you might need if you plan to pump the stream in a web page), then read the Libre docs, clone the repo and install -fiap.
Do NOT use Ubuntu later than 18.04 (so no 20) because it will not work.
Back to installer: did not work 100% mainly because of the post install setup (the web part), which have the habit of not saving the changed password for admin and others, so a nano visit to /etc/airtime/airtime.conf and on liquidsoap might be needed. Also /etc/airtime/icecast_pass might need tweaking as well.
So I had to stop everything (service apache2 stop, libretime runtime as well), change the passwords to match icecast, move airtime.conf to a backup location and rerun the web part, which worked perfectly.
[optional] Move of existing airtime database
Files moved from another server to this new one, 70 GB, rsync, grab a coffee (ok, more than one) and copy everything in the exact same default location (/srv/airtime/stor/). All good. Database move: complete pain. My setup is postgres, which does not support select from one database and insert in another, and the dblink postgres specific thing sucks ass. Also, postgres is quite slow, database fields slightly differs, so I had to export in a CSV the airtime tables (ccfiles, cchistory, ccshow etc.) Some of the tables had around 700.000 rows and I had to do manual SQL in order to map the old existing foreign keys over the new ones - took one day but all good.
The run
My setup is one main (webserver + icecast) machine - which acts also as a relay for the second machine - and libretime sits on a second machine. Although the interface is relatively different than what airtime 2.5.2 has, I was able to setup the params, stream, schedule shows etc. in no time. The dragging of tracks into the right panel does not respect the UI (meaning I am dragging between songs 100 and 101 but I end up with the new track somewhere below some rows) but I can live with that. The same limitation of a show that cannot have more than 24 hours is present, but other than that, everything it is running for a week now on a 4 GB RAM machine with CPU sitting most of the time in one digit. Import is very quick, smart blocks is a killer, and it works.
Conclusion
Although is not a stable release and is probably driven by a handful of guys having another jobs and doing changes in the spare time, it is a good fork which runs. Be comfortable with ssh and terminal because you might need to do this, especially when integrating with web servers, certbot, redirecting streams to HTTPS, making Icecast SSL-aware etc. But that's how Linux infrastructure is running, so no complains here.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if LibreTime is good.
Check the traffic stats of LibreTime on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of LibreTime on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of LibreTime's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of LibreTime on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about LibreTime on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
Https://libretime.org/ seems like a helper tool for setting up icecast and other radio type services? I've only just learned about it just now so you'll want to evaluate it for yourself. Source: over 4 years ago
LibreTime, as a fork of Airtime, has carved out a niche in the landscape of open-source streaming solutions as a robust and flexible platform for broadcasting radio over the web. Its notable compatibility with SHOUTcast and Icecast positions it favorably within the broadcast domain, while its flexibility extends to deployments on compact platforms like Raspberry Pi. This breadth underscores LibreTime's adaptability for diverse broadcasting needs, a trait that continues to resonate within its user community.
One of the defining attributes of LibreTime is its open-source nature, governed by the AGPL-3.0 license, which appeals to organizations and hobbyists alike seeking transparency and control over their broadcasting infrastructure. This transparent development model also incites a thoughtful and engaged community, whose users actively partake in enhancing its capabilities and reliability.
Public sentiment generally regards LibreTime as user-friendly and effective, especially among those new to the intricacies of online radio broadcasting. Its installation and setup for managing streaming radio shows are considered relatively straightforward, contributing to its reputation as an accessible entry point for broadcasting enthusiasts. This simplicity, however, does not undermine its performance, as users appreciate its capacity to maintain stable broadcasts.
In comparison to its competitors like AzuraCast, OpenBroadcaster, and RadioBOSS, LibreTime stands out for its balance between user-friendliness and technical depth. Where AzuraCast offers a more polished user interface, LibreTime counters with robustness and a focus on self-hosting flexibility, appealing to those who prioritize autonomy and are comfortable engaging more directly with the software's underlying systems.
Community-driven discussions on platforms dedicated to open-source music streaming reveal curiosity and interest around LibreTime. In these discussions, newcomers frequently identify it as a promising tool for setting up services like Icecast, noting its potential after initial evaluations. Many users perceive it as a practical solution that aligns with their self-hosting ambitions, as well as a pathway to greater control over their broadcast environment.
In summary, LibreTime is regarded as a competent, open-source tool for internet radio broadcasting, celebrated for its user-driven development and adaptability. Its appeal lies in its ability to cater to both entry-level users seeking an approachable solution and more experienced broadcasters who value its self-hosted nature. While it does face competition from more polished or feature-rich alternatives, its commitment to open-source principles and community-centric development continues to foster a positive, supportive public perception.
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Is LibreTime good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss LibreTime here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.
