Daniel J SaitKramer gets the party started at Tavastia Live Club, one of Europe’s oldest and most iconic live rock ‘n’ roll venues, with AV and signage system overhaul.
Setting the stage for some of the biggest rock acts on earth since 1970, the historic Tavastia Live Club in Finland, has completed a major AV system upgrade, with Kramer’s award-winning Control and AVoIP signal transmission technology used to revolutionise all in-house digital communications and drive new experiences for music fans and VIP guests alike.
Opened in 1970, and located on the outskirts of Helsinki city centre, the 700-capacity Tavastia Live Club is a true bucket list venue for music fans and musicians worldwide. Maintaining an old-school look and feel, the venue plays host to an almost daily lineup of live entertainment, ranging from local aspiring artists to some of the biggest names in rock royalty, with The Offspring, Alice in Chains, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Ramones and Foo Fighters just some to have graced its stage over the years.
As with any major music venue, audiovisual 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.
However, with customer demands continuing to evolve, and a desire by the Tavastia owners to enhance its marketing and messaging opportunities (both in and outside of the venue), Tavastia’s audio-visual setup had fallen well short of expectations, due to outdated technology and inefficient processes.
Magnus Hultquist, Regional Sales Director at Kramer, explains, “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.
“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.”
New material
Part of a site-wide upgrade, Tavastia turned to AV/IT integration specialist, Frendy to build and install a new, highly flexible and future-focused, AV system – encompassing hardware and software – tailored to the venue’s precise needs. Kramer technology was identified as the glue to its ambitions. Key project goals included:
- Build a scalable and user-friendly AV system, compatible with the venue’s needs and growth plans
- Streamline automated and remote advertisements and promotional content updates
- Allow for the display of different types and formats of content on different screens
- Support the new HD displays with Kramer’s signal solutions
- Implement a multi-output system for varied simultaneous content
- Introduce a user-friendly control device for simple staff management
- Design for easy upgrades and automated content updates and
- Create a scalable framework to anticipate and adapt to future needs
The setlist
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. AVoIP technology is the perfect match to modernise the AV needs of Tavastia Live Club, says Kramer, this flexibility was essential for catering to the diverse needs of different events and presentations at the venue.
A user-friendly 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 can change the displayed content to communicate important messages swiftly and clearly to guests.
To complete the upgrade, Frendy installed a series of modern high-definition LG displays with minimal bezels, connected through a virtual matrix system that utilised the local network for signal transmission, ensuring high-quality and reliable video signals throughout the venue.
An instant hit
These improvements have led to significantly better customer experiences, enabling clients to display their advertisements seamlessly and enhancing their engagement and satisfaction during events.
Designed to be user-friendly, the new system allows staff with basic technical skills to easily manage and operate the AV equipment, reducing 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.
“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,” says Mika Lausamo, Sales & AV at Frendy.
“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.”
Mika concludes, “Kramer’s products are working well and are easy to use. The client is very happy with the end result. If Tavastia wishes to bring in more displays in the future – it’s easy to do so with Kramer’s products and solutions.”