SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.22

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 22

Beta 22 adds a private, beginner-friendly feedback flow so broadcasters can
describe problems and suggestions without manually finding and attaching
technical information.

In-app feedback

• Added Send feedback under Settings → Support.
• Users can choose a category, describe what happened, explain the expected
  result, add an optional rating, and optionally provide contact information.
• The complete report can be previewed before anything is sent.
• Technical diagnostics are enabled by default; recent log entries remain
  optional and disabled by default.
• If delivery is unavailable, the sanitized report can be saved locally.

Privacy and safety

• Feedback is sent over HTTPS to a dedicated Cloudflare Worker and stored in a
  private EU-hosted D1 database with no public read endpoint.
• Passwords, tokens, authorization headers, server details, email addresses,
  and local user paths are removed from diagnostics and logs.
• The receiver validates every field, limits reports to 100 KB, and applies a
  per-client submission rate limit.
• No feedback is collected automatically.

Verification

• All 132 Python tests pass.
• All 3 feedback-receiver tests pass.
• A live end-to-end submission was accepted and verified in private storage.
• The release workflow stores binaries only as GitHub release assets and does
  not upload duplicate GitHub Actions artifacts.
• The pinned FFmpeg build is restored from a permanent, hash-verified prior
  SimpleCast release asset after the upstream provider removed its old binary.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.21

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 21

Beta 21 improves window stability and corrects the bitrate information sent to
Icecast servers.

Safer Windows frame

• Restored the standard Windows-owned title bar, movement, resizing, minimize,
  maximize, and close behavior. SimpleCast no longer implements these fragile
  operations itself.
• Uses Windows DWM colors to blend the native title bar with the selected
  SimpleCast skin while retaining standard Windows behavior.
• Removes the custom drag and resize path that could cause visual artifacts or
  terminate the application while the window was being moved.
• Keeps mini mode accessible through a dedicated MINI button and preserves its
  compact layout using the same native frame.

Correct Icecast stream information

• Added a dedicated Icecast source uploader instead of relying on FFmpeg's
  limited Icecast header support.
• Icecast now receives the selected bitrate, output sample rate, and channel
  count through Ice-Bitrate, Ice-Samplerate, Ice-Channels, and
  Ice-Audio-Info source headers.
• The server should now report 128, 192, or 320 kbps in agreement with the
  selected SimpleCast quality preset.
• The new upload path supports normal and multistream broadcasts, TLS,
  authentication, reconnecting, and existing station information.

Verification

• All 127 automated tests pass.
• The 15-second 48 kHz stereo encoder soak and decode check pass.
• The packaged Windows application builds successfully.
• A native-frame smoke test is included for checking packaged builds without
  replacing Windows' own window-management behavior.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.20

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 20

Beta 20 is a corrective release for the window-drag crash introduced in Beta
19. It also makes packaged builds more resilient and gives first-time radio
and karaoke broadcasters a clearer route into SimpleCast.

Critical fix

• Removed the native Windows title-bar movement call introduced in Beta 19.
  On affected systems that path could terminate SimpleCast.exe inside
  ucrtbase.dll with exception code 0xc0000409 while the window was being
  dragged.
• Custom title-bar movement is once again managed by Tk. Mouse movement is
  coalesced and applied at most about 60 times per second, with the final
  position applied on release. This avoids the unsafe native message path
  without returning to unthrottled repainting.
• The same safe movement path is used by the complete interface and mini mode.

Packaging and startup resilience

• The SIMP brand image now falls back from the bundled PNG to the bundled ICO
  and finally to a generated radio-style icon. A missing or quarantined PNG can
  no longer prevent SimpleCast from opening.
• The Windows build now fails before packaging if the executable, PNG, ICO,
  FFmpeg encoder, or process-loopback helper is missing or empty.

Beginner experience

• The SimpleCast website now offers separate, plain-language setup paths for
  internet radio and karaoke users.
• A three-check pre-broadcast board explains when sound, station, and quality
  are ready, and a short glossary explains mount, SID, and bitrate.
• The Support section includes the requested Urban Harvy quality-control
  credit.

Verification

• All 124 automated tests pass.
• The 15-second 48 kHz stereo encoder soak and decode check pass.
• Python bytecode compilation and the Windows release gate pass.
• The website onboarding section was visually checked at desktop size and has
  responsive tablet and mobile layouts.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.19

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 19

Beta 19 improves window scaling and makes large station collections easier to
navigate.

Fixed

• Studio Dark now measures the completed dashboard during startup and grows
  the window within the available screen area so all broadcast controls are
  visible without initial page scrolling when the display has enough room.
• The main page scrollbar now appears only when the current page genuinely
  needs it.
• The Stations page stays fixed while its station table scrolls independently.
• The station table has its own vertical scrollbar and dedicated mouse-wheel
  handling, including for large imported station collections.
• Custom title-bar dragging now uses Windows' native movement loop instead of
  repainting the window for every mouse event, reducing movement artifacts and
  preventing drag gestures from being confused with interface actions.
• Shutdown logging now records whether closing came from Windows, the title
  bar, mini mode, tray menu, updater, or a skin restart.

Verification

• All 120 automated tests pass.
• Studio Dark was checked with the current 55-station configuration at
  2560 × 1440: the dashboard and Stations page both fit without an outer
  scrollbar, while the station table remains independently scrollable.
• Python bytecode compilation and the Windows release gate pass.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.18

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 18

Beta 18 makes large station collections and program-audio selection much
easier to manage.

New

• The Stations page can import server profiles from a user-selected BUTT
  configuration export.
• The importer reads only named Icecast and SHOUTcast server profiles and
  source passwords. It ignores BUTT audio, recording, DSP, metadata, and
  interface settings.
• A confirmation preview shows the number and names of supported profiles
  without displaying credentials.
• Exact duplicate profiles are skipped, and imported source passwords are
  stored through Windows Credential Manager.
• The default Program audio list now shows recognized browsers, karaoke
  programs, music services, and media players instead of every running
  process.
• An advanced setting can show every capturable process when an uncommon
  application is needed.
• Previously selected uncommon program sources remain available after the
  upgrade, and capture resolution still follows restarted process IDs.
• Favorite stars are directly clickable in the Stations table.
• The Stations page now labels the inclusion controls as multi-streaming and
  explains that every Included station receives the same live broadcast.

Verification

• All 116 automated tests pass.
• The supplied BUTT export was parsed without exposing credentials: all 54
  profiles were recognized, consisting of 51 SHOUTcast and 3 Icecast
  profiles.
• Program filtering, advanced enumeration, saved uncommon sources, direct
  favorite interaction, duplicate imports, and first-import selection are
  covered by automated tests.
• On the development computer, the normal Program audio list reduced 35
  capturable process groups to the one recognized audio-capable application
  that was open.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.17

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 17

Beta 17 adds a simple adjustable reverb effect for the recording device.

New

• Microphone reverb can be turned on or off from the Dashboard.
• A 0–100% amount slider adjusts the room ambience while monitoring,
  recording, or broadcasting.
• The off state is explicit: the amount slider is disabled and reads Off.
• Reverb is applied before the microphone is mixed with optional program
  audio, so Chrome, Spotify, KaraFun, and other application audio stays dry.
• The effect is included consistently in the live meter, five-second sound
  test, local recordings, broadcast recordings, and live streams.
• Reverb settings are saved and restored between sessions and are available in
  every installed interface skin.

Verification

• All 99 automated tests pass.
• DSP tests cover transparent bypass, the delayed reverb tail, and live amount
  changes.
• Configuration tests cover saved settings and safe amount validation.
• Ten seconds of stereo audio processes substantially faster than real time on
  the development system.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.16

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 16

Beta 16 adds live listener information to the compact broadcaster.

New

• Mini mode shows the current live listener count using the same Icecast and
  SHOUTcast statistics polling as the full interface.
• The indicator clearly distinguishes between checking, unavailable, and
  offline states.
• When broadcasting to multiple servers, available listener counts are added
  together. A trailing + indicates that at least one connected server has not
  returned a count.
• The taller mini-mode VU meters make better use of the available vertical
  space and bring the source label closer to the broadcast control.

Verification

• All 95 automated tests pass.
• Listener totals, partial results, unavailable statistics, and the packaged
  mini layout are covered by the beta release checks.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.15

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 15

Beta 15 adds a compact broadcaster view and makes Windows minimization and
recording-folder access more predictable.

New

• Mini mode switches the existing SimpleCast window to an approximately
  150×600 broadcaster with vertical L/R VU meters, live status and timer,
  Start/Stop Broadcast control, and the current server at the bottom.
• The mini server chooser opens downward below the mini window with a smooth
  transition and lists saved favorites first. Server switching remains locked
  while broadcasting.
• Open folder on the Recordings page creates the selected recording folder
  when necessary and opens it in Windows Explorer.
• The optional --mini launch argument starts directly in mini mode.

Changed

• Pressing Minimize now keeps SimpleCast on the Windows taskbar by default.
• A new Minimize makes the software go to tray checkbox under
  Settings → Window behavior restores the earlier tray behavior when
  preferred.
• Existing configurations safely use taskbar minimization until the new option
  is explicitly enabled.

Verification

• All 92 automated tests pass.
• The mini layout, taskbar/tray behavior, recording-folder action, server order,
  and packaged application are included in the beta release checks.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.14

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 14

Beta 14 fixes sound-test metering and makes the inactive optional program
source easier to understand.

Fixes

• The VU meters now follow the actual captured and mixed signal throughout
  Test my sound.
• The live input meter resumes before the automatic processed-preview playback.
• When Program audio is set to None, its volume row explicitly says
  off, the value reads Off, and the slider and reset button are visibly
  muted and disabled.
• A saved program-volume setting returns unchanged when a program is selected
  again.

Verification

• All 85 automated tests pass.
• A real Windows WASAPI test using a Behringer X-AIR recording device and Chrome
  program capture produced 200 live VU callbacks over two seconds at 48 kHz
  stereo.

The Windows beta artifacts are intentionally unsigned, so Windows may show a
SmartScreen or Smart App Control warning.

SimpleCast 0.9.0-beta.13

SimpleCast 0.9.0 beta 13

Beta 13 adds direct audio capture from a chosen Windows program and mixes it
with the selected recording device for karaoke and live performance.

What is new

• Keep a microphone or mixer selected under Recording device, then choose
  an optional second source under Program audio.
• Capture Chrome, Spotify, KaraFun, VLC, or another running program through
  Windows WASAPI process loopback.
• Child-process audio is included, which supports multi-process applications
  such as web browsers.
• Recording-device and program audio are mixed into one stereo signal before
  metering, processing, sound testing, recording, and multi-server broadcast.
• Independent 0–200% volume controls make it easy to balance a singer's
  microphone against karaoke backing music while live.
• Saved programs are rediscovered by executable path when their process ID
  changes.
• The interface explains when a saved program is closed or the Windows version
  does not support per-process capture.

Compatibility

• Program audio requires Windows build 20348 or newer; Windows 11 is
  recommended.
• A selected program must remain running. If it closes, SimpleCast reports the
  stopped source instead of continuing an empty broadcast.
• DRM-protected playback may return silence.

Verification

• All automated tests pass.
• The native x64 capture helper builds with Visual C++ and the Windows SDK.
• Real process-loopback PCM capture was verified at 44.1 kHz stereo.
• Automated PCM tests verify stereo addition, mono microphone duplication, and
  safe clipping at full scale.

The binaries are intentionally unsigned. Windows SmartScreen or Smart App
Control may display a warning.