Radio Station Operator Manual

Overview

AetherWave Radio allows you to create your own personal radio station that broadcasts 24/7 to listeners around the world. Whether you want to share AI-generated music, your own productions, or a curated mix of both, your station becomes a unique destination for music discovery.

How Streaming Works

Understanding how AetherWave streams your station helps you make better decisions about content and organization.

The Playlist Model

Unlike traditional live radio, AetherWave uses a playlist-based streaming model. Here's how it works:

1. You build your track library
   Add tracks to your station through AI generation, file uploads, or external sources. Each track is stored in our cloud infrastructure (Cloudflare R2).
2. Tracks are ordered by position
   Every track has a position number. When listeners tune in, tracks play in ascending order by position. You control this order.
3. Listeners request the stream
   When someone visits your station, our API returns the ordered playlist. Their player loads and plays tracks sequentially.
4. Continuous playback
   When the playlist ends, it loops back to the beginning. Your station never goes silent as long as you have tracks.

What "24/7" Really Means

Your station is always available to listeners. Unlike Twitch or YouTube Live, you don't need to be online or actively streaming. The system serves your playlist on-demand whenever someone tunes in.

Key points:

• No server or computer needs to stay running
• All audio files are hosted in our cloud
• Listeners can join at any time
• Each listener has independent playback (not synchronized)

Your Role as Station Operator

As a station operator, you're the curator and creator. Here's what you're responsible for:

Content Responsibilities

What the System Handles Automatically

• Hosting - All audio files stored in Cloudflare R2
• Delivery - Streaming to unlimited concurrent listeners
• Availability - 24/7 uptime without your intervention
• Statistics - Play counts and listener tracking
• Share Links - Unique codes generated automatically

Creating a Station

Setting up your first station takes just a few minutes.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Sign in to AetherWave
   Go to your platform's homepage and log in with your account.
2. Navigate to My Stations
   From the navigation menu, click "My Stations" or go to /my-stations.
3. Click "Create Station"
   You'll see a form to configure your new station.
4. Fill in station details
   
   • Name (required) - 1-100 characters
   • Description - Tell listeners what your station is about
   • Genre - Primary genre for discovery
   • Cover Image - Upload station artwork
5. Set privacy
   Choose whether your station is public (discoverable) or private (link only).
6. Create!
   Click create and your station is ready. You'll receive a unique share code.

Your Share Code

Every station gets a unique 8-character share code (e.g., a1b2c3d4). This creates your public URL:

https://[your-domain]/radio/a1b2c3d4

Share this link anywhere - social media, your website, or with friends. Anyone with the link can listen to public stations. The dashboard will show your actual share URL with the correct domain.

Customization Options

Make your station uniquely yours with these customization options.

Station Metadata

Branding Best Practices

• Choose a memorable name - Short, unique, and descriptive
• Write a compelling description - Tell your story and music philosophy
• Use high-quality artwork - Recommended 500x500px or larger, square format
• Select accurate genre - Helps the right listeners find you
• Add relevant tags - Think about what your listeners might search for

Privacy & Sharing

Public vs. Private Stations

Sharing Your Station

Multiple ways to share your station:

• Direct Link - https://[your-domain]/radio/{shareCode}
• QR Code - Generate from your station dashboard
• Social Media - Share buttons for Twitter, Discord, etc.
• Mobile App - Search by name or share code

Adding Music to Your Station

There are three primary ways to add music to your station:

Music Sources Comparison

AI Music Generation

AetherWave integrates with Suno AI to generate unique, royalty-free music tracks tailored to your preferences.

How AI Generation Works

1. Go to Music Studio
   From your dashboard, navigate to the Music Studio or AI Generation section.
2. Describe your track
   Enter a prompt describing the music you want. Be specific about genre, mood, tempo, and instruments.
3. Generate
   Click generate and wait for Suno AI to create your track (usually 30-60 seconds).
4. Preview and save
   Listen to the generated track. If you like it, save it to your library.
5. Add to station
   From your saved creations, add the track to your radio station.

Writing Effective Prompts

Better prompts = better music. Include:

• Genre - "lo-fi hip hop", "synthwave", "acoustic folk"
• Mood - "relaxing", "energetic", "melancholic"
• Tempo - "slow", "upbeat", "moderate groove"
• Instruments - "piano", "electric guitar", "808 drums"
• Style reference - "like Boards of Canada", "90s R&B style"

Example Prompts

Chill lo-fi hip hop beat with vinyl crackle, mellow piano chords,
and a relaxed drum pattern. Perfect for late night studying.

Energetic synthwave track with pulsing basslines, arpeggiated synths,
and retro 80s drums. Driving and nostalgic.

Generation Limits

AI generation uses credits based on your subscription plan:

Uploading Your Own Tracks

Upload your own productions, licensed music, or any audio you have rights to broadcast.

Upload Process

1. Go to your station
   Open the station you want to add tracks to.
2. Click "Add Track" > "Upload"
   Select the upload option from the add track menu.
3. Select your audio file
   Choose a file from your computer (max 50MB).
4. Add metadata
   Enter title, artist name, and optionally upload album art.
5. Upload
   File uploads to Cloudflare R2 storage and is added to your station.

Supported Audio Formats

Album Art

Each track can have its own album art, which displays in the player:

• Formats: JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF
• Recommended size: 500x500 pixels (square)
• Max file size: 5MB

Track Management

Once tracks are in your station, you have full control over organization and playback.

Ordering Tracks

Tracks play in order by their position number. Lower numbers play first.

• Drag and drop - Reorder tracks visually in the dashboard
• Auto-position - New tracks are added to the end automatically
• Manual numbering - Set specific positions for precise control

Removing Tracks

To remove a track from your station:

1. Open your station's track list
2. Find the track you want to remove
3. Click the delete/remove button
4. Confirm removal

Note: Removing a track from your station doesn't delete it from your library. You can re-add it later.

Track Metadata

Each track has the following information:

Going Live

The "Live" status is a flag that indicates your station is actively broadcasting and accepting listeners.

What "Live" Means

When you toggle your station to Live:

• A "LIVE" badge appears on your station
• Your station may be featured more prominently in browse
• Listener count tracking becomes active
• You signal to your audience that you're actively curating

When to Use Live Mode

• New content drops - Let listeners know you added fresh tracks
• Special events - Themed listening sessions or premieres
• Active curation - When you're actively managing your station

Analytics & Statistics

Track your station's performance with built-in analytics.

Available Metrics

Viewing Your Stats

1. Open your station dashboard
2. Navigate to the "Stats" or "Analytics" tab
3. View current metrics and historical trends (paid plans)

Supported Formats Reference

Audio Files

Image Files

Limits & Quotas

By Plan

Technical Limits

• Station name: 1-100 characters
• Genre field: 50 characters max
• Share code: 8 characters (auto-generated)
• Single file upload: 50MB maximum
• Cover image: 5MB maximum

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Q: Do I need to keep my computer on for my station to work?

No. All audio is stored in the cloud. Your station is available 24/7 regardless of whether you're online.

Q: Are listeners synchronized (hearing the same thing at the same time)?

No. Each listener has independent playback. When someone tunes in, they start from the beginning of your playlist or wherever the player loads.

Q: Does AI music get automatically added to my station?

No. You must manually generate AI tracks and then add them to your station. This gives you full control over your content.

Content

Q: Can I use any music on my station?

You should only use music you have rights to broadcast: your own productions, AI-generated tracks from AetherWave, or properly licensed music.

Q: What happens if I delete a track from my station?

The track is removed from your station playlist but remains in your personal library. You can re-add it later.

Q: How many tracks should I have?

We recommend at least 40-60 tracks (2-3 hours) to avoid listeners hearing repeats quickly. More is better for a true radio experience.

Technical

Q: Why can't I upload files larger than 50MB?

This limit ensures fast uploads and prevents storage abuse. For very long tracks, consider splitting them or using a more compressed format like MP3.

Q: What audio quality should I use?

For MP3s, 192-320 kbps provides good quality while keeping file sizes reasonable. Higher bitrates are supported but increase storage usage.

Q: Can I embed my station on my website?

Yes! Use your share link or contact us for embed code options (coming soon).