A Surround Sound Listener's Guide to NPR's Toast of the Nation
Toast of the Nation was first broadcast in 1979 as a showcase for NPR's first-in-the-nation interconnected satellite system. For the 25th anniversary of Toast of the Nation, NPR will broadcast this year's show in "surround sound," for which we have compiled this list of frequently asked questions.
What is surround sound?
Surround sound separates audio channels so that each can be played back on an individual loudspeaker, placed around the listener. Typically, an FM receiver with surround decoding circuitry is used to receive, decode and amplify the audio signal, and route each channel to the correct speaker. The effect is like being fully immersed in an acoustic environment; sounds can come from behind you, in front of you, and/or to the sides.
How do I hear Toast of the Nation? in surround sound?
If you have a surround sound-capable radio receiver offering Dolby or SRS capability, you can experience surround sound by placing your receiver in one of those modes. Try to avoid specific settings on your receiver such as "Arena" and "Hall" -- the broadcast will probably work best in the receiver's "normal" surround mode. You can of course hear the broadcast as usual in stereo simply by tuning in with a stereo receiver; no special modifications are necessary. To find specific information about your receiver, consult the user's manual.
Many NPR stations will also be airing the broadcast.
Do I need a surround receiver to hear Toast of the Nation?
No. The Neural surround system NPR will employ for the broadcast allows traditional radios to receive monophonic and stereo versions of Toast of the Nation, and at the same time gives people with surround-capable receivers the option of hearing it in surround.
Do all surround systems sound the same?
No. Every surround sound encoding system uses different technology. Surround results will vary from receiver to receiver, but all surround receivers should be able to recreate some degree of surround experience from the Toast of the Nation broadcast.
Can I hear it in surround over the web?
No. NPR Online does not currently distribute audio in surround. You can hear the broadcast in stereo on the NPR.org program stream.
Can I download Toast of the Nation??
At this time it's possible to listen, (on-demand streaming) to NPR.org audio using a Real or a Windows Media player. However, our audio cannot be "downloaded" for offline play.
(To make downloads available directly from NPR.org, we’d have to clear a bundle of rights from performing rights societies and the record labels or individual owners. Historically, NPR has been able to acquire those rights for over-the-air broadcast because there are fewer rights holders involved, and because we benefit from a statutory license.)
Can we expect to hear more surround sound from NPR in the future?
Surround sound is a great way to get an immersive audio experience, and NPR is optimistic about its future in radio broadcasting. Keep listening for future surround sound events!
