Austin Lyric Opera's Armstrong Community Music School Picks PAC770 Music Sound System  

The Austin Lyric Opera is the first opera company in the nation to open a community music school. In designing its new facility (which opened in April 2000 in Austin, Texas) the lyric opera integrated rehearsal space and classrooms to create the Armstrong Community Music School.  

A multimedia music lab featuring computer work stations, music software, and a host of audio/video equipment is an important element of the school. The equipment supports the school’s mission to provide music education and enrichment to the entire community, regardless of age, skill level or ability to pay. 

Among the audio equipment in use at the school is a Superscope PAC770 all-in-one sound system. The PAC770 combines a 110W stereo amplifier, a 4 mic/line-in mixer, cassette recorder, and CD player in a single rackmount chassis. The Superscope sound system at the school is mounted on an mobile cart along with a wireless microphones and speakers. It’s used by many music teachers each week as they conduct lessons and record their students. It’s also serves double duty as an easy to use sound system during the lyric opera’s board meetings. 

Easy to Use 

Says Rachel McInturff, Music Technology Director, at the school, the PAC770 offers a couple of advantages. The first is ease of use. “Sound equipment can be intimidating, but the Superscope system is something anyone can use without a lot of training,” she says. “For example, you don’t have to push a lot of buttons and take five steps to make a recording,” says McInturff. “All of the controls are clearly labeled and the system offers clear indicators of what its doing. People love its simple visual cues: the transport buttons light up steady when playing a CD or a tape and blink when stopped or paused.” 

PAC770 is designed for technology experts like McInturff to set certain controls such as the recessed EQ, bias, and pan controls for each of the XLR mic/line inputs on the back of the unit where they won’t be accidently adjusted by novice users. The LCD display and basic front panel controls, such as master volume and 3-band master mix EQ are easy enough that teachers can start using the system almost immediately. 

Performing Arts Controls 

The other main benefit of the PAC770 when used for music education is the system’s innovative Key, Tempo, A-B Practice Loop, and Lead Vocal Reduction functions. “It’s wonderful,” says McInturff. “I showed a music teacher how she can slow the tempo down of any CD without changing key or remove a lead vocal track at the touch of a button, and her jaw dropped.” She says that key transposition is used less frequently, but that it is also a valuable benefit for some teachers who need to change the key of a song on CD to match a singer’s vocal range or an instrument’s tuning.