About Your Audio Source

It's always preferable to use the absolute best-sounding source material when creating audio files for streaming. The nasty hissing and distortion heard on old cassette tapes only becomes worse through the process of encoding. For the purposes of clarity, try to bring your audio into the computer from a digital source (CD, DAT, minidisc, or digital video, for example). Still, perfectly serviceable streaming audio files can be crafted using analog sources (such as Hi-8, VHS, phonograph record, or clean cassette). For live streaming, be mindful of the Gain Chain to assist you in achieving the highest possible audio quality (see "The Gain Chain" in the next section).