Getting Started with the Setup Wizard
The Setup Wizard is a guided checklist that takes a brand-new CastHost account from empty to on-air. It walks you through choosing how you broadcast, adding your music, and starting your stream, in order, so you don't have to hunt through the dashboard to find the next step.
Sign in at dashboard.casthost.net. New accounts open with a short welcome step that lets you choose Basic Mode or Advanced Mode. Basic Mode keeps things focused and is the right choice for getting on air quickly; you can switch to Advanced later from the menu in the top-right corner.
Where to find it
There are two ways into the wizard:
- From the dashboard. While your account is still being set up, the dashboard shows a Getting Started card. It has a progress bar with an "X/Y complete" count, a Continue button that jumps to your next unfinished step, and an Open Setup Wizard button.
- From the sidebar. Go to Sidebar → Setup Wizard.
The Setup Wizard appears in the sidebar only while your setup is unfinished. Once you've completed every step, both the sidebar entry and the dashboard Getting Started card drop away, since you no longer need them.
What the wizard walks you through
- Choose how you'll broadcast. Pick Use AutoDJ or Use Encoder: - Use AutoDJ: CastHost plays your uploaded music automatically, around the clock, with no broadcasting software needed. - Use Encoder: you broadcast live from your own computer using software such as BUTT, Mixxx, or SAM Broadcaster (or straight from your browser with the Web Encoder).
- Add your music or playlists. If you chose AutoDJ, upload your tracks and build a playlist so the station has something to play.
- Go live. Start the streaming server and confirm the stream is online.
The live status panel
The wizard shows a live status panel so you can see where you stand at a glance:
- whether your stream is online,
- whether the streaming server is running,
- your public listen URL, and
- how many trial days are left (if you're on a free trial).
If you're on a free trial, the wizard includes an upgrade step with links to paid plans when you're ready to move over. Upgrades take effect right away.
After setup
When every step is complete, the Getting Started card and the Setup Wizard sidebar entry disappear. From there you manage everything from the regular dashboard. Your stream details and listen links live on the Dashboard under Station Details, your music lives under DJ → Auto DJ, and your station name and genre live under Settings → Profile.
If you ever need a hand getting on air, reach out through the Support Center and we'll walk you through it.
Dashboard
The Dashboard is the first page you land on after signing in to your CastHost control panel. It gives you an at-a-glance view of your station: whether you're on air, what's playing right now, the connection details your broadcasting software needs, and the songs you've played most recently. Open it any time from Dashboard in the left-hand menu.
Server controls and the top bar
Above the menu you'll find a few things you can use from any page:
- Server status shows an Online or Offline indicator, with Start, Stop, and Restart buttons so you can bring your stream up or down without leaving the panel.
- A live listener count ("X / max") and a storage meter (used vs. included). Click the storage chip to see a breakdown across your radio media, store files, social media, and website builder.
- A language switcher (EN / ES / FR) and a menu to toggle between Basic and Advanced mode, open this Manual, reach the Support Center, or log out.
If you have more than one station, use the account switcher in the top bar to move between them.
Getting Started card
If you haven't finished setting up your station, the Dashboard shows a Getting Started card with a progress bar, how many steps are left, and buttons to continue the next step or open the Setup Wizard. The card disappears once setup is complete.
Station Information
At the top of the Dashboard, the Station Information card shows your broadcast status in real time:
- Now Playing: the track currently on air.
- From playlist: the playlist that track is coming from.
If nothing is on air, you'll see "Nothing Playing" or "Station Offline" with a Start Server button to bring your stream up.
Station Details
The Station Details card holds the connection details you need to tune in or to broadcast. The card header shows an AutoDJ: On/Off badge so you know at a glance whether AutoDJ is running. Each value has a copy button so you can grab it cleanly.
Encoder Setup, the details to plug into your broadcasting software:
- Address:
stream.casthost.net - DJ Encoder Port: the port your software connects to
- Server Type: the protocol shown for your station (use whatever value is listed when you set up your encoder)
- Mount Name:
/ - Source Username:
source - Source Password: your source password
Enter these into your broadcasting software to connect and go live. You only need to broadcast from your own software when you want to take over the stream yourself; the rest of the time AutoDJ handles playback. For step-by-step encoder setup, see DJ → Encoders, which includes ready-made guides for BUTT, Mixxx, and SAM Broadcaster.
Public Stream Links, the listen URLs you can share with your audience, with live total and unique listener counts. You can also download a PLS Playlist or M3U Playlist file that opens your stream in most media players.
Advanced / Optional, a collapsible section (Advanced mode) with admin and relay connection details: Admin Panel login (port, admin username, admin password) and relay settings (relay username, relay password).
Recent Tracks
The Recent Tracks card lists the songs you've played most recently, with album art, title, and artist where the metadata is available. Use it to confirm what went out on air and that your playlists are rotating as expected.
Welcome modal
The first time you sign in to a new account, a short welcome window asks you to choose Basic or Advanced mode. Basic mode keeps the panel simple; Advanced mode unlocks extra settings such as relays and mount points. You can switch modes any time from the top-bar menu.
