If you have a non-technical question, please browse our FAQs .
Listening Online ("Listen Live" or "RealAudio")
Depending on how long a program has been in our archives, we offer either a streaming mp3 or a RealAudio version. You must have the appropriate software installed, and you must be connected to the Internet. Please Note: Files older than 6 months are archived to a much slower server, which may result in server timeouts for listeners with slower connections.
"Listen Live (29-minute streaming mp3)"
Click the link and your media player should open and start playing the program. This method uses a playlist (m3u) file which works on most media players. We stream the 64k MPEG (mp3) version - the same one that you can download for your computer or mp3 player.
If you have a Download Manager utility, the file will download first, then your media player should open and start playing it.
Don't have a media player? Download one here FREE...
PC: Winamp
MAC: Real Player or iTunes
"Listen RealAudio (29:00)" - older programs only
You must have RealPlayer software on your computer. Click on the link and RealPlayer should open and start playing it.
If you have a Download Manager utility, the file will download first, then RealPlayer should open and start playing it.
Need RealPlayer? Download it it free here (Mac or PC).
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MPEG (mp3) Information
We encourage stations that are currently receiving CDs of Making Contact to try downloading an MPEG (mp3) file from our website to see if the process suits you.
The 64k mp3 file size is approximately 13,600k
The 128k (broadcast quality) mp3 file size is approximately 27,190k
Our "128k (broadcast quality) mp3" version is a high quality digital format. It's compressison ratio is about 15 to 1, but it retains virtually all aspects of the original sound file, including over-all quality, consistent sound level and range of frequencies. Currently, several stations that carry Making Contact are downloading it every week from the website.
If you have a fast Internet connection and broadcast quality sound card, you should find downloading the program superior to waiting for the mail.
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Downloading and Playing MPEG (mp3) sound files
Click on the appropriate "mp3" link to download and you will be prompted for a file location. Choose and click OK. To play the file, just double-click the icon. Your media player should open and the audio file should start playing
Alternate method: Right-click on the link (or click+hold). When the menu pops open, choose “Save target as..." (or "Download linked file" or "Download link to
disk"), and save it to your desktop. Next, right-click on the icon of the file you just saved, choose “Open with" and, finally, select your media player. The audio file should start playing.
A "128k (broadcast quality) mp3" file for a 29-minute Making Contact show is just under 27MB. A high-speed ISDN, DSL, T-1 or cable modem (broadband) connection can deliver the file generally in less than ten minutes. Using a 56K modem, the download time is much slower. We recommend this type of file for Radio Stations.
A "64k (faster download) mp3" file for a 29-minute Making Contact show is just under 14MB. A high-speed ISDN, DSL, T-1 or cable modem (broadband) connection can deliver the file generally in less than ten minutes. Using a 56K modem, the download time is much slower. We recommend this type of file for Listeners.
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"The file won't download - it opens up RealPlayer (or other media player) instead."
You clicked a "Listen RealAudio" (or a "Listen Live") link, which is not supposed to download anything. Clicking either of those kinds of links will trigger an audio file to "stream" from our server and play "live" in your RealPlayer (or other media player) software. See Downloading and Playing MPEG (mp3) Files.
Still having problems? Please contact .
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