BUTT is the most widely used free internet radio broadcasting software in the world.
Not because it is the most feature-rich. Not because it has the most polished interface. But because it does the one thing every broadcaster needs, connects your audio to your hosting server and keeps it streaming, with absolute minimum complexity and zero cost.
Thousands of working radio stations, from bedroom hobby broadcasters to established community stations, run their live shows through BUTT every single day. The setup takes under 30 minutes. The interface takes under five minutes to understand. And once it is configured correctly, going live is a single button press.
This tutorial covers every step of the BUTT setup process from download through to your first live broadcast. Every setting is explained in plain language. Every common mistake is flagged before you encounter it. By the end you will have a working BUTT configuration connected to your hosting server, ready to broadcast whenever you are.
What BUTT Actually Is and What It Does
BUTT stands for Broadcast Using This Tool. It is a free, open-source audio streaming encoder developed by Daniel Noethen and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It takes whatever audio is playing through your selected input, compresses it to MP3 or AAC format at your configured bitrate, and sends that compressed stream continuously to your internet radio hosting server.
BUTT is purely an encoder. It does not play music, manage playlists, schedule programming, or provide any content management features. It takes audio in and sends a stream out. Everything between your audio source and BUTT’s input is handled by your music player, DJ software, or microphone. Everything between BUTT’s output and your listeners is handled by your internet radio hosting server.
This single-purpose design is both BUTT’s greatest strength and its only limitation. The simplicity means there is almost nothing to configure incorrectly and almost nothing that can go wrong with the software itself. The limitation means you need separate software for music playback, and you need your hosting server’s built-in station automation to keep your stream live between your manual broadcasting sessions.
Step 1: Downloading and Installing BUTT
Go to danielnoethen.de/butt in your web browser. This is the official BUTT website and the only download source you should use. Third-party download sites may bundle BUTT with unwanted software or distribute outdated versions.
On the downloads page, select the correct version for your operating system. The current stable version as of 2026 is available for Windows 64-bit, Windows 32-bit, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), and Linux (various distributions). Download the installer file appropriate for your system.
Windows installation: Run the downloaded .exe installer file. If Windows Defender SmartScreen displays a warning, click “More info” and then “Run anyway.” BUTT is safe software. The SmartScreen warning appears because BUTT is not a signed commercial application. Accept the licence agreement and complete the installation using the default settings. BUTT installs to your Program Files directory and creates a desktop shortcut.
macOS installation: Open the downloaded .dmg file. Drag the BUTT application to your Applications folder. When you first open BUTT, macOS Gatekeeper may display a warning that the application is from an unidentified developer. Go to System Preferences, Security and Privacy, and click “Open Anyway” to permit BUTT to run. This is a one-time action.
Linux installation: BUTT is available in the package repositories of most major Linux distributions. On Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, run sudo apt install butt in your terminal. On Fedora, run sudo dnf install butt. Alternatively, download the compiled binary from the BUTT website for your distribution.
After installation, open BUTT. The main window is small and straightforward: a connection status indicator, a VU meter showing your audio levels, a timer displaying your broadcast duration, and buttons for connecting, disconnecting, and accessing settings.
Step 2: Understanding the BUTT Interface
Before configuring anything, spend two minutes understanding what each element of BUTT’s main window does. This prevents confusion during your live setup session.
The large status area at the top shows your connection status. It displays “idle” when you are not connected, “connecting” during connection attempts, and “connected” when your stream is live. It also shows your current stream information including server address and bitrate once connected.
The VU meter shows your audio input levels in real time. When audio is coming through your selected input, the meter responds with green bars. When your levels are too loud, the bars push into the yellow and red zones at the top. When no audio is detected, the meter shows no activity. This is your primary diagnostic tool for audio problems.
The broadcast timer counts up from zero when you connect, showing how long your current broadcast session has been running.
The Connect/Disconnect button starts and stops your stream. One click to go live, one click to end your broadcast.
The Settings button opens the configuration panel where you set up your server connection and audio settings. This is where you spend most of your initial setup time.
Step 3: Configuring Your Server Connection
Click the Settings button to open BUTT’s configuration panel. The Settings window has several tabs across the top. Start with the Main tab.
Adding Your Server
In the Main tab, locate the Server section. Click the plus button to add a new server. A small dialogue box opens asking for your server details.
Server type: Select either SHOUTcast or Icecast from the dropdown. Both protocols work with TTT Radio Network hosting. Your hosting control panel provides connection details for both. Choose whichever you prefer. If you are unsure, SHOUTcast is the safer default choice for maximum listener device compatibility.
Server address: Enter the server address from your TTT Radio Network control panel. This is a hostname that looks similar to a website address. Copy and paste this directly from your control panel rather than typing it manually. A single character error prevents connection.
Port: Enter the port number from your TTT Radio Network control panel. Ports are typically four or five digit numbers. Copy this directly from your control panel.
Password: Enter your source password from your TTT Radio Network control panel. This authenticates you as an authorised broadcaster. It is different from your account login password. Copy it directly.
SHOUTcast specific: Stream ID. If you selected SHOUTcast, enter your stream ID (also called mount point on some control panels). This is typically a number like 1 or a path like /stream.
Icecast specific: Mount point. If you selected Icecast, enter your mount point path from your control panel. This looks like /stream or /live or a similar short path.
Click the Add button. Your server configuration is saved. You return to the Main settings tab and your new server appears in the server list dropdown.
Stream Information
Below the server configuration, find the Stream Infos section. This is where you enter the metadata that appears on listener devices alongside your audio.
Station name: Enter your radio station name exactly as you want it to appear to listeners.
Description: A brief description of your station format. This appears in some directory listings and listener applications.
Genre: Your primary music genre. Use the same genre term you use in your TuneIn and directory listings.
Website URL: Your station website or social media page. Optional but worth completing.
ICQ, AIM, IRC fields: Leave these blank. They are legacy fields from an earlier era of internet communication that no current listeners or directories use.
Step 4: Configuring Your Audio Settings
Click the Audio tab in BUTT’s Settings window.
Selecting Your Audio Input Device
The Audio device dropdown is the most important setting on this tab. It determines what audio BUTT encodes and sends to your server.
Click the dropdown and review the available audio input devices. What you see depends on your hardware setup.
If you are broadcasting with a USB microphone: Select your USB microphone from the list. It typically appears with the microphone’s model name, such as “ATR2100x USB” or “Blue Snowball.”
If you are broadcasting DJ sets from a mixer: Select the audio interface that your mixer connects to, or the virtual audio cable that routes your mixer’s output to your computer if you are using software routing.
If you are broadcasting music from your computer’s music player: Select your computer’s system audio output as the input. On Windows, this is typically configured through a virtual audio cable application like VoiceMeeter or Virtual Audio Cable, which routes your system playback audio to an input that BUTT can capture. On macOS, BlackHole or Loopback performs the same function.
After selecting your input device, test it by speaking into your microphone or playing audio through your chosen source. The VU meter in BUTT’s main window should respond with moving bars when audio is present. If the meter shows no activity despite audio playing, your input device selection is incorrect or your device’s drivers have a problem.
Setting Your Bitrate
In the Audio tab, set your encoding format and bitrate.
Format: Select MP3 for maximum listener compatibility. AAC produces better quality at equivalent bitrates but has lower compatibility with older listener devices and some internet radio hardware. Start with MP3 and switch to AAC only if you have a specific reason to.
Bitrate: Set your bitrate to match your hosting plan’s ceiling. TTT Radio Network’s Basic plan supports 192kbps. The Premium and Exclusive plans support 320kbps. Set your BUTT bitrate at or below your plan ceiling. Setting it above your plan ceiling causes the server to reject your connection or produces stream instability.
For music broadcasting, 192kbps MP3 is the practical quality floor for a professional-sounding stream. At 128kbps, music sounds noticeably compressed and thin to listeners with quality headphones or speakers. At 192kbps, music sounds genuinely good. At 320kbps, it sounds broadcast quality.
Sample rate: Set to 44100 Hz. This is the CD audio standard sample rate and what your listeners’ devices expect. Mismatched sample rates cause audio pitch and speed problems.
Stereo: Enable stereo rather than mono for music broadcasting. Stereo requires double the bitrate of mono to deliver equivalent perceived quality, but for music content the stereo separation is worth the bandwidth cost. For talk-only formats without music, mono is acceptable and saves bandwidth.
Reconnection Settings
Still in the Settings window, find the Reconnect section. These settings control what BUTT does if your connection to the server drops during a broadcast.
Enable automatic reconnection. Set the reconnection interval to 5 seconds. Set the maximum reconnection attempts to at least 10.
Without these settings, any brief internet interruption permanently ends your broadcast until you manually click Connect again. With reconnection configured, a momentary connection drop triggers automatic retry attempts every 5 seconds. Most brief internet disruptions resolve within 30 seconds, meaning your stream reconnects and continues with a gap of under a minute rather than ending completely.
Step 5: Testing Your Connection Before Going Live
With your server and audio settings configured, test your connection before any promotion or live show commitment.
In BUTT’s main window, click the Connect button. BUTT attempts to connect to your configured server. The status area shows “connecting” during the attempt.
If the connection succeeds: The status changes to “connected” and your broadcast timer begins counting up. You are live. Speak into your microphone or play audio through your configured input and watch the VU meter respond. Open a different device, your phone on mobile data if possible, and open your stream URL to confirm listeners can hear your broadcast.
If the connection fails: BUTT shows an error message in the status area. The most common errors and their causes:
“Connection refused” means your server address or port number is incorrect, or your hosting server is not accepting connections. Double-check that your server address and port exactly match your TTT Radio Network control panel. No extra spaces, no missing characters.
“Invalid password” means your source password is incorrect. Return to Settings, Main tab, and verify your password against your hosting control panel. Copy and paste rather than retyping.
“Mount point already in use” means another encoder is already connected to the same mount point on your server. If you have another BUTT instance running, a different encoder connected, or your hosting control panel shows an active source connection, disconnect those before connecting BUTT.
“Could not resolve hostname” means your computer cannot find the server at the address you entered. Check that your server address is spelled correctly and that your internet connection is active.
Step 6: Calibrating Your Audio Levels
With a successful test connection established, spend five minutes calibrating your audio levels before your first real broadcast.
Speak at your normal presenting volume and watch BUTT’s VU meter. The green bars should peak between approximately one third and two thirds of the meter height during normal speech. Brief louder moments, emphasis, laughter, can push the bars higher, but sustained peaking in the upper quarter of the meter produces distorted audio for your listeners.
If your levels are consistently too high, reduce your microphone’s input gain in your operating system’s sound settings. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the system tray, open Sound settings, find your microphone in the input devices list, and reduce its level slider. On macOS, go to System Preferences, Sound, Input, and reduce the Input Volume slider.
If your levels are too low and the meter barely responds even when you speak directly into the microphone, increase your microphone’s gain in the same system sound settings.
Play music through your configured audio source and check those levels too. Music should peak at similar levels to your voice to avoid jarring volume differences when you switch between speaking and music.
Step 7: Understanding What Happens When You Disconnect
BUTT’s disconnect behaviour is important to understand before your first live show because it determines what your listeners hear when your session ends.
When you click Disconnect in BUTT, your live source stream to the server stops. Your listeners’ players receive the stream end signal. What happens next depends on your hosting configuration.
If your TTT Radio Network station automation is active, your AutoDJ resumes within seconds of your BUTT disconnection. Your listeners experience a brief gap or a smooth crossfade from your live audio to the AutoDJ’s automated playlist, depending on your hosting configuration. Your stream continues. Your listeners stay.
If you have no AutoDJ configured and no fallback stream set, your listeners receive a disconnection error and your station goes offline. This is why configuring your station automation before your first broadcast is essential rather than optional. Without automation, every BUTT disconnect is a station outage.
Set up your AutoDJ through your TTT Radio Network control panel before going live. The how to set up AutoDJ guide covers the complete configuration process.
Step 8: Advanced BUTT Settings Worth Knowing
Once your basic setup is working, these additional BUTT settings improve your broadcasting experience.
Local Recording
BUTT can record your broadcast locally to your computer simultaneously with streaming. In Settings, go to the Rec tab. Enable recording and choose an output folder and file format.
This provides a local backup recording alongside your server-side live stream recording through TTT Radio Network. The local recording is useful for immediate access to your show file without downloading from the server. The server-side recording is more reliable as a permanent archive because it is not dependent on your local computer’s storage or operation.
Signal Fade on Connect and Disconnect
In Settings, Main tab, find the signal fade options. Enabling fade on connect starts your broadcast with a brief audio fade-in rather than an abrupt start. Fade on disconnect ends your broadcast with a fade-out rather than a sudden cut. These small production touches make your show openings and closings sound more intentional.
Stream Info Updates
BUTT can automatically update your stream metadata, the currently playing track information that appears on listener devices and in directory listings, from various sources. In Settings, Stream Infos tab, you can configure BUTT to read track information from Winamp, iTunes, Spotify, VLC, or other media players and send that information as live metadata updates to your server.
When correctly configured, listeners see the title and artist of whatever you are currently playing in their radio app rather than static station information. This real-time metadata feature significantly improves the listener experience and is worth the few minutes of configuration to set up.
BUTT vs Other Broadcasting Software: When to Upgrade
BUTT serves most broadcasters well for their entire broadcasting career when their requirements remain straightforward: connect to a server and stream live audio. When requirements become more complex, upgrading to more feature-rich software makes sense.
Consider upgrading to SAM Broadcaster Pro when your station needs intelligent music rotation with artist separation rules, voice tracking capability, or complex scheduling that a desktop automation application handles better than your hosting account’s cloud AutoDJ. The SAM Broadcaster Pro complete guide covers the complete setup process.
Consider adding Mixxx when your format involves live DJ mixing with professional crossfading, beat matching, and effects that BUTT’s pure encoder approach cannot provide. Mixxx includes SHOUTcast and Icecast broadcasting built into its DJ interface.
Consider using BUTT alongside a virtual audio cable application when you want to mix multiple audio sources, microphone, music player, and effects, before the signal reaches BUTT. VoiceMeeter on Windows and BlackHole on macOS route multiple audio sources into a single virtual device that BUTT captures as its input.
The best broadcasting software for internet radio comparison covers every major option alongside BUTT so you can evaluate alternatives when your requirements outgrow what BUTT provides.
Your Hosting Plan Is What BUTT Broadcasts To
BUTT is free. It is excellent. And it is only half of your broadcasting setup.
The other half is the hosting infrastructure that receives your BUTT stream and distributes it to your listeners. BUTT without hosting produces a stream that goes nowhere. BUTT connected to solid hosting produces a professional radio broadcast receivable by any listener globally.
Your internet radio hosting plan determines your listener capacity, your audio quality ceiling, whether your station stays on air between your BUTT sessions through cloud automation, whether every show is recorded automatically, and whether listeners connecting through TuneIn, Radio Garden, and smart speakers find a reliably live station or intermittent dead air.
TTT Radio Network’s Basic plan at $29.99 per month provides the complete hosting foundation that BUTT connects to. 100 concurrent listeners at 192kbps audio. Cloud station automation keeping your stream live between BUTT sessions. Automatic live stream recording. Geo country locking. Unlimited DJs. 25GB disk space. TTT Radio Network app featuring.
The internet radio hosting cost guide breaks down every plan in detail. When you are ready to complete your setup with the hosting infrastructure your BUTT broadcasts deserve, visit tttradionetwork.com or contact the team at info@tttradionetwork.com and 860-704-9848.
BUTT handles the broadcasting. TTT Radio Network handles the rest.