HLS Radio Converter Turns HLS Streams Into MP3 for Old Radios
The open-source tool by Clifford Farrugia accepts an HLS stream URL and returns a plain HTTP MP3 URL that legacy internet radios can play.
Clifford Farrugia has released an open-source tool called the HLS Radio Converter that converts HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) streams into plain HTTP MP3 streams, according to Hackaday. The tool is aimed at older internet radios that cannot handle HLS streams.
The converter works by taking the URL of an HLS stream and returning a new URL that serves the stream as MP3 over plain HTTP. That lets legacy hardware tune in to stations that have moved to HLS delivery.
Farrugia's tool is open-source and can run on an old Raspberry Pi, keeping the hardware requirements low.
Why HLS is a problem for older radios
Many internet radio devices were built around simple HTTP MP3 playback and have no support for HLS, the streaming format used by many broadcasters today. The HLS Radio Converter sits between the two, translating the stream into a format those devices already understand.
Quick answers
What does the HLS Radio Converter do?
It converts HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) streams into plain HTTP MP3 streams so older internet radios can play them.
What hardware does the HLS Radio Converter need?
The open-source tool can run on an old Raspberry Pi.
How do you use the HLS Radio Converter?
You give the tool the URL of an HLS stream and receive a new URL for the converted MP3 stream.