Superscope PAC770: Centerpiece of Magnet School's Sound System

For students in Dallas with an inclination to pursue a career in the Arts, the Booker T. Washington High School in downtown Dallas might well be their destination.

Newly-opened in the "Arts District" of central city Dallas and a stone's throw from the new Meyerson Symphony Center and other cultural meccas, the high school caters to students who wish to pursue studies that include music, ranging from jazz to classical, contemporary and traditional dance, theater, the visual arts, recording technology or cutting-edge avant-garde pursuits.

"This is no institute for goof-offs" Principal Andre Rhyne explained, "We are here to serve those students with a serious interest in the Arts and are willing to maintain a superior grade-point average."

Nestled practically in the shadow of the Meyerson Symphony Center in the heart of the downtown Dallas Arts District, the Booker T. Washington Center for the Performing Arts draws students from throughout the Dallas ISD. The facility is located in a school building constructed in 1921, substantially enlarged in 1956, then again in 1976, now augmented with portable classrooms and currently undergoing further upgrades. Currently, the school can accommodate 700 students.

Needed: Sound System for a Performance Space

Recently, the school needed to raise funds to revamp sound reinforcement and audio playback systems for its various performing spaces. An important element of the school's fund raising efforts is an Art Gallery/Meeting Space. This space was created from an existing extra-wide second-story hallway adjoining two buildings. Long and narrow, the space is wide enough to seat more than 100 people. It's also large enough to require its own sound system.

Synergy Concepts, Inc. of Dallas specified a Superscope PAC770 Sound System for its compact size and ease of use. 

"We chose Klipsch speakers to meet desired sound quality and controlled pattern characteristics necessary for the wide scope applications addressed throughout this project and to simplify acquisition, shipping, and meet a very short build out time line. Likewise Superscope and Shure electronics were chosen to drastically reduce acquisition and install times and costs for the Art Gallery," said John Graf, president of Synergy Concepts.

"The heart of the system is the Superscope PAC770 amplified sound system. It doesn't take up a lot of space, yet provides source music from CD or cassette, four microphone inputs for PA or small ensembles, and best of all it's easy to use. Any end user can look at it for the first time, and figure out how to play music, adjust levels, and tape events," Graf said.

A Shure LX88 dual wireless Lavelier / Handheld microphone package serves as presenter and audience response channels when used in the meeting configuration or as a roaming curator lecture channel for art exhibition. Attached to the output are four Klipsch KI-102W systems on quick dismount brackets wired as outside and center pairs to allow stereo and monophonic use. Security is assured by a lockable Atlas Sound wall mounted cabinet in an adjacent lockable utility room for safe keeping but very easy access. The economical high quality system supplies robust channels of stereo music, mono voice, and is very easy to use.

Graf shook his head in disbelief as he related the trials and tribulations that accompanied this project. "Short lead time on orders and demands for instant installs on the part of the client," he noted, "are typical, but the freight carrier delays on the large speaker systems we were plagued with had a domino effect on scheduling. We recouped by building the Gallery System first and working unorthodox hours scheduled around special events at the facility for everything else."

"Finished just two minutes before showtime, the Gallery System was very impressive to the benefactors who upped their pledges to our client, and obviously making our build first decision a big plus for continued vendor client relations! A note here is appropriate: we would not have finished the Gallery install in time for the fund raiser if the integrated PAC770 component was not used. The outstanding cooperation of school faculty and staff was a key factor in accomplishing our tasks in a reasonable manner and professional fashion acceptable to our client," Graf said.

Client Synopsis

Mr. Rhyne acknowledged that Synergy Concepts had performed well under difficult circumstances. "We were, I suppose, overly optimistic with regard to the time frame in which all this work could be completed. "However," he stated, "Synergy Concepts, Inc. performed admirably and to the very best of our expectations."

About Synergy Concepts

Synergy Concepts, Inc., was formed in 1986 to provide innovative turnkey solutions for clients in the audio/video/multimedia communication-transmission marketplace.

John Graf, president and CEO, has been active in the development and marketing of satellite, audio, video, multimedia, networking and RF communications system solutions since 1955 and has contributed significantly to a number of diverse product developments in these varied fields.