Kramer has announced its range of Kramer Control and AVoIP signal transmission solutions were selected to upgrade the visual capabilities inside one of Europe’s most iconic and intimate music venues, the Tavastia Live Club in Finland. Opened in 1970 on the outskirts of Helsinki city centre, the 700-capacity cub has hosted everyone from local artists to rock royalty, such as The Offspring, Alice in Chains, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Ramones and Foo Fighters.
AV technology plays an integral role in the overall experience at the Tavastia, not only in the main auditorium during live performances, but across all backstage and public areas, plus – increasingly – for private and corporate events. Tavastia’s AV setup had fallen well short of expectations, due to outdated technology and inefficient processes. Tavastia turned to AV/IT integration specialist, Frendy to build and install a new, highly flexible and future-focused, AV system
Competed in just under a week, the new AV system was equipped with multiple KDS-EN7 transmitters and KDS-DEC7 receivers, allowing for the simultaneous display of different content on various screens.
A Kramer Control RC-206 device with multiple buttons, each programmed for different functions, was introduced to simplify operations. This setup enabled staff to easily change content, adjust settings, and control the system with minimal training. With just one press, staff could change the displayed content to communicate important messages swiftly and clearly to guests.
As the new system allows staff with basic technical skills to easily manage and operate the AV equipment, it reduces the need for extensive training. In addition, the system’s ability to simultaneously display different content on various screens has enhanced the venue’s capability to cater to diverse event requirements and audience preferences.
Magnus Hultquist, regional sales director at Kramer, explained: “The venue’s initial situation revealed a reliance on over decade-old television, characterised by thick bezels and low picture quality. The video signals, transmitted through analogue cabling, originated either from a single PC or directly from the concert hall’s equipment.”
He added: “The old system supported only PowerPoint 2003 for displaying advertisements, making updating the content manually very time-consuming. Moreover, the system could not support video content and could only switch between advertisements or live stage footage. This setup posed significant challenges, especially for clients who wished to display their own advertisements or present material from personal computers, as there was no capability to accommodate such needs. Overall, the venue’s AV system was in dire need of an overhaul to meet modern standards and enhance users’ and visitors’ experience.”
Mika Lausamo, sales & AV at Frendy, added: “We upgraded Tavastia with high-quality LG information displays and SmartSign’s user-friendly content management system, complemented by Kramer’s solutions for effortless signal transfer.”
He added: “We have a long history of cooperation with Tavastia in network and IT matters. One day, we woke up to the fact that Tavastia’s old screens had come to the end of their road. The technology did not represent today, and updating the ads was very laborious. We solved this with LG’s high-quality digital signage, Smartsign’s easy-to-use content management system, and Kramer’s signal transmission solution. This entity makes users’ everyday lives easier and brings a lot of new opportunities for Tavastia’s operations.”
