On this Web site, we provide audio files of KPCC programming in various formats for different listening purposes. This page provides the information you need to use our online audio.
If you don't find your question answered here, or need more information, please contact us.
If you want to listen to KPCC live using your PC, use our live streaming audio. To do this, on the KPCC homepage (or other pages on the site), click the "Listen Live" link.
If you want to listen to a specific KPCC program or segment of a program that aired in the past, use our archived audio.
Note: You can listen to archived audio only on your computer; you can not download it or put it on to a portable audio player.
If you want to subscribe to a program, download some or all of the episodes of that program to your computer, and be able to listen to them on either your computer or a portable MP3 player such as an iPod -- then podcasts are for you! Visit our Podcasts page for more information and to subscribe.
When I click "Listen Live," nothing happens.
Our live audio stream opens in its own browser window. If nothing appears when you click "Listen Live," it might be because your pop-up blocking software has blocked the KPCC window. Each pop-up blocker is different, but there is usually an option to allow pop-ups for specific sites, or to allow user-initiated windows to open. Change this setting and click "Listen Live," and you should now see our streaming window.
I've installed the RealPlayer, but archived program audio and/or the live stream audio won't play. What's wrong?
You may need to update your RealPlayer to a newer version. You can download the newest version here, or download previous versions here.
I've installed a newer version of my Web browser, but now the audio stream won't play. What's the problem?
For RealPlayer to work with your browser, you need to have the proper plug-ins installed on your computer. If you switch to a different browser, or install a newer version of your browser, the live stream may stop working. Try reinstalling the RealPlayer software using your new browser. While in that browser, go to the Real site and download the software, and your browser will get the correct plug-ins automatically.
Sometimes archived program audio and/or the live stream audio cuts in and out, and the player takes long pauses to buffer. Why does it do this?
Most likely, traffic on the Internet is heavy during the times you experience rebuffering and audio cutting in and out. When the heavy traffic times are over, the buffering problems should get better. Your location relative to our servers in St. Paul, Minnesota, may also have an impact on the quality of your experience, especially when listening to archived audio files.
If your delay is extraordinarily long, or if the stream just stops, your player may be stuck and you may have to restart the application.
Why do I receive "cannot connect" error messages with RealPlayer 10?
Please visit the RealPlayer support site for more information regarding this specific error. (RealPlayer Support)
What is PHP? Why do I need it to listen to audio on your site?
When you click a link to hear an archived show, we use a scripting language called PHP to tell your Web browser how to behave. In this case, we are sending audio (and sometimes images) to your RealPlayer by telling the PHP script to create a SMIL file. You'll need to make sure your browser is configured correctly to do this.
A SMIL file is used by your RealPlayer to determine which audio files or graphics to deliver to your player. To listen to audio using RealPlayer, your Web browser's helper applications must associate ".smil" files with that program.
For detailed instructions on how to set these associations, read the next section: "How do I set file associations to work with PHP and SMIL?"
How do I set file associations to work with PHP and SMIL?
or Why is QuickTime opening instead of RealPlayer?
RealPlayer uses ".smil" files which QuickTime can try unsuccessfully to open. Detailed instructions follow for correctly setting file associations for MacOS 8.x/9.x, MacOS X.x, and Windows computers.
Audio Help for Macintosh OS 8/9 Users
If QuickTime is opening instead of the Real player, or if you get the message 'unsupported transport':
You need to un-associate QuickTime with the ".smil" extension type. QuickTime will not open these files. To un-associate it, open the QuickTime player, click Edit > Preferences > QuickTime preferences > Browser Plug-in > Mime Settings > expand "video," highlight "smil 1.0 File" > set to "do not use QuickTime." (If you have more than one version of SMIL or another version of SMIL, repeat the same instructions for each instance of SMIL.)
Make sure the file helper section of your Web browser associates .smil files with your Real Player.
IE 5.x: Click Edit > Preferences > Receiving Files/File Helpers. Scroll down until you see "SMIL Document." (There may be more than one with a similar name. Use the same instructions for anything with SMIL in it.) Click on one, then click the "Change..." button. Under "File Type" look for "application." (It will probably have a QuickTime icon there.) Click the "Browse..." button next to the icon and browse until you find the RealPlayer version you have installed on your machine. Select it and click the "Open" button. Repeat for each instance of SMIL in the File Helpers window. Close the windows and quit your browser. Then re-launch the browser and try listening again.
Netscape 7.x: Add a new mime type for ".smil": Click Edit > Preferences > Helper Applications > New Type. In "Description" type "SMIL." In "File Extension" type ".smil." In "MIME Type" type "application/audio." In "Application to use" click the "Choose" button and browse to your version of RealPlayer, then click "OK."
Audio Help for Macintosh OS X Users
If QuickTime is opening instead of RealPlayer, or if you get the message 'unsupported transport':
You need to un-associate QuickTime with the ".smil" extension type. QuickTime will not open these files. To un-associate it, open the QuickTime player, and click Edit > Preferences > QuickTime preferences > Plug-In tab > Mime settings > expand "video", highlight "smil 1.0 File" > set to "do not use QuickTime." (If you have more than one version of SMIL or another version of SMIL, repeat the same instructions for each instance of SMIL.)
Then instruct RealPlayer to open SMIL files. Open RealPlayer and click Preferences > Media Types. Under "SMIL," select "Always play with RealPlayer," and click "OK." A window will pop up. Select "Configure," which will automatically close and configure your Web browser.
Make sure the file helper section of your Web browser associates .smil files with your RealPlayer.
IE 5.1.6: Click Edit > Preferences. In the left-hand window, click on the arrow next to "Receiving Files." (You may have to scroll down to see it.) Then click "File Helpers." In the right-hand window, scroll down until you see "SMIL 2.0 file." (There may be more than one with a similar name. Use the same instructions for anything with SMIL in it.) Click one, then click the "Change..." button. At the bottom of the window is an area called "Handling." It will probably have a QuickTime icon there. Click the "Browse..." button next to the icon and browse until you find RealPlayer. Select it and click the "Open" button. Repeat for each instance of SMIL in the File Helpers window. Close the windows and quit your browser. Then re-launch the browser and try listening again.
Netscape 7.02: Add a new mime type for ".smil": Click Netscape > Preferences > Navigator/Helper Applications > New Type. In Description type "SMIL", in file extension type ".smil", in MIME type, type "application/audio", in "Application to use," press the Choose button and browse to RealPlayer, then click 'OK.'
Audio Help for Windows Users
You need to un-associate QuickTime with the ".smil" extension type. QuickTime will not open these files. To un-associate it, open the QuickTime player, click Edit > Preferences > QuickTime Preferences > Browser Plug-in > Mime Settings > expand "video," highlight "smil 1.0 File," unselect it. (If you have more than one version of SMIL or another version of SMIL, repeat the same instructions for each instance of SMIL.)
You should also set files with the ".smil" extension to open with your Real player at the system level: Click Start > Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer > Tools menu > Folder options > File types. Under "extensions," scroll down until you find SMI and SMIL. Make sure both "opens with" RealPlayer. Use the Change button to locate RealPlayer if they're associated with something else.
Make sure the file helper section of your Web browser associates .smil files with the RealPlayer.
IE for Windows: Usually not necessary. Please contact us if you need this.
Netscape for Windows: May not be necessary. Please contact us if you need this.
I need more help.
If you don't find your question answered here, or need more information, please contact us. In order that we may better assist you, please provide as much information as you can, including:
File or page where you had the problem — a specific URL helps a lot!
Description of what happened. If you can remember an error message, tell us what it said.
Computer information, including computer brand (Example: Dell, HP), operating system (and service pack version if using Windows), and browser version (Internet Explorer 6.0, Firefox 1.5.0.4, etc.)
Connection speed (28.8, DSL, etc.)
Your audio player name and version number
We will do our best to resolve your issues, but we regret that we can not always provide as much assistance as we'd like.
For more help with RealPlayer, please visit RealNetworks' support site.
