Source

MPC Shoutcast Source

DirectShow source filter for Shoutcast and Icecast internet radio streaming in Windows Media Player, MPC-HC and all DirectShow players.

Download MPC Shoutcast Source Mirror Download ↗
Version 1.8.9.143
File ShoutcastSource.ax
Platform Windows
Architecture x86 + x64
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About MPC Shoutcast Source

MPC Shoutcast Source is a DirectShow source filter that connects to Shoutcast and Icecast internet radio streams, enabling live audio streaming in any DirectShow-compatible media player on Windows. It is part of the MPC-HC project and is included in X Codec Pack.

Shoutcast and Icecast are the two dominant internet radio streaming protocols, used by thousands of online radio stations worldwide. The streams typically carry MP3 or AAC audio wrapped in an HTTP transport layer with embedded metadata for station name and current track title. MPC Shoutcast Source handles the HTTP connection, stream buffering and metadata extraction, passing the audio data to the appropriate decoder downstream.

Once installed, paste a Shoutcast stream URL (starting with http:// or shoutcast://) directly into the Open URL dialog of MPC-HC, MPC-BE or Windows Media Player and the stream opens automatically. No plugins or browser extensions are required.

Installed to System32 (64-bit) and SysWOW64 (32-bit) and registered automatically with DirectShow.

Supported Formats

Shoutcast Icecast MP3 Stream AAC Stream

Compatible Players

Windows Media Player
MPC-HC
MPC-BE
PotPlayer
Any DirectShow player

Installation

MPC Shoutcast Source is installed as part of X Codec Pack 2.7.4. The filter registers automatically with the Windows DirectShow subsystem and becomes immediately available to all compatible media players.

Files are installed to System32 (64-bit) and SysWOW64 (32-bit). No user folder selection is needed. The installer supports silent mode for IT deployments: run with /S flag.

Frequently Asked Questions

MPC Shoutcast Source is a DirectShow source filter that connects to Shoutcast and Icecast internet radio streams. It handles the HTTP connection and stream buffering, enabling live audio streaming in Windows Media Player, MPC-HC, MPC-BE and any other DirectShow-compatible player.
Copy the stream URL from the radio station website (typically a URL ending in .pls, .m3u or a direct stream URL). In MPC-HC go to File > Open URL and paste the URL. MPC Shoutcast Source connects, buffers the stream and begins playback automatically.
MPC Shoutcast Source handles both Shoutcast (by Nullsoft/Winamp) and Icecast streams. Audio content is typically MP3 or AAC, which are decoded by the audio decoder filters already present in X Codec Pack. The filter also reads the ICY metadata embedded in streams for track and station title display.
Yes. Once registered, Windows Media Player can open Shoutcast stream URLs directly via File > Open URL. The filter provides the source functionality that Windows Media Player lacks natively for this protocol.
Yes. The filter is independent of MPC-HC. Once installed via X Codec Pack it is registered system-wide and works in any DirectShow player including Windows Media Player, MPC-BE and PotPlayer. MPC-HC does not need to be present.
Yes. It is an open-source component from the MPC-HC project. It installs ShoutcastSource.ax to System32 and SysWOW64 and registers it as a COM server. It contains no adware or spyware and can be removed cleanly via the uninstaller.