The Superscope PSD300 - CD Recording System

4BR casts it's eye over the state of the art portable recording system from Superscope and Normans. It's the biz.

Superscope CD Recording System

All bands do it don't they?  A couple of nights before the big contest and things have been going well. But how well? The MD may be a bit nervous, but he wants to be sure that things are moving in the right direction. Time for the pre contest recording then.

We at 4BR are no legal experts on the question of copyright, so we are unable to say that we can or cannot condone these recordings - that is up to the bands themselves. However, if you are going to do one then make sure you make it a bleeding good one. Making a snap shot recording that makes you sound like the 1908 Grimswick Temperance Public Prize Silver Band is no good at all. It has to make you sound like the band you are - good or bad. 

With that in mind, it is a pretty useless task if all you have is a 1972 cassette recorder with those big switches that require digits the size of fish fingers to press down and record with a hiss that only the snake in Jungle Book could better.   Also, beware of the techno nerd in the band (and every band has one) who produces from his pocket a matchbox sized mini recorder that has cost them a monkey and is only of use when used at office parties when they are trying to record the fantasy secrets of the good looking office receptionist.  There are plenty of quality recorders of many types out there, which can be used as an adequate recording system, but if you are serious about recording your band for whatever purpose Superscope have come up with the Dog's doodaas in the shape of their PSD300 CD Recording System. It's not cheap - but then quality, real quality isn't.   

This machine can do just about anything you ask of it (with the exception of making the tea) and so, if you and your band are serious about using technology to improve your standard of concert and contest performances this could very well be a worthwhile investment.

With something that is state of the art, it is something that needs to be fully understood and appreciated if it is to be of use. In these days of idiot guides and follow the colour coded plugs ready to use in 5 minutes instructions of everything from a television to an electric toothbrush, there is a comfort of a kind in knowing that you will have to read the full 39 pages of the instruction manual before you attempt to find the on/off switch. Someone with patience then.

Once you do understand how it works though, it really is the business. 4BR has been lucky enough to have used it over the past month or so, and even given our legendary ineptitude with all things technological, even we managed to master it within a day or so and the results were very impressive.

The basics of the Superscope are these: it's 11 inches wide, 4 inches high, 9 inches deep and weighs in at 7 pounds. It has a CD - R drive output with playback (85 Db), playback dynamic range (85Db), harmonic distortion and output voltage features. ADC 24 bit resolution and DAC 20 bit resolution. The frequency response is between the range of 20 Hz and 20 kHz. The CD drive output has playback  (75Db) and playback dynamic range (75Db). There is also MIC/LINE analog input, AUX analog input, Digital Input Digital Output, Headphone Output, Speaker Output and more buttons than could be found on the Apollo spacecraft.  And these are the basics.

The controls are easy enough to get to grips with though. The CD drive is a top loader with three tone controls. There are programme buttons for more advanced use and a text screen that shows you what you have just pressed, and more importantly, what you have to press next to get things going. It is not as difficult as you may think. The recordings can be done in stereo, mix and split and provide high quality levels of reproduction, whilst there are a whole plethora of connection points at the rear so that it can be plugged into the mains and other machines etc.

There is also a remote control (just like your average television doodah) which does all that you require from the comfort of your seat (or the conductors stand) so even the terminally lazy amongst us will be able to make a top class recording without breaking sweat. 

Take your time and the results are excellent - and in addition there are features that mean that your MD can fiddle away on the finished product like Pete Waterman to make the band sound more like Kylie Minogue rather than the UK's latest Eurovision Song Contest entry.  The half speed feature which converts the recording one octave lower is a real powerful tool for the serious minded transcribers and potential composers whilst there are "copy and listen", "2 times copying" features that will also be invaluable to those who will wish to use the machine on more than just the final band rehearsal night.

The Superscope is a professional piece of recording technology that when used to it's full potential will be of great use to performers and ensembles from the soloist to the full-blown contesting band. Use it properly and the results are quite startling. Sometimes you have to invest in your bands potential, and if you are serious about improving your chances at the next contest, this may be the hidden extra ingredient that may make all the difference. 

Superscope PSD300
CD Recording System

Price: £680.00 (1,017.63 Euros)
£799.00 inclusive of VAT (1,195.72 Euros)

Currently available from Normans Musical Instruments:
http://www.normans.co.uk/

Contacts:

Freephone: 08000 281415
Fax: 01283 535340
E mail: sales@normans.co.uk

Postal Address:
Normans
Third Avenue
Centrum 100
Burton on Trent
Staffordshire
DE14 2WD

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