For every profession, there’s a uniquely designed vehicle. The Renault Master Sound Truck is proof of this, offering a mobile recording studio for emerging musicians. Developed under the Give Me 5 programme in spring 2023 — which allowed five talented musicians to record in professional conditions — Renault collaborated with Red House for acoustics and PROCAR for bodywork, illustrating its prowess in customising commercial vehicles.
Turning the Renault Master into a mobile recording studio presented multiple challenges. “We had lots of requirements relating to the construction of the vehicle as it would be touring around the country,” explained Annejela Royoux, image and sponsoring partnerships manager within Renault’s marketing department. “It needed to house a professional recording studio, weigh less than 3.5 tonnes so it could be driven with a standard category B licence, be built using eco-responsible materials and, above all else, align with the brand’s DNA.”
These varied demands were particularly challenging. Soundproofing had to be optimal but within weight and size limits. Achieving superior acoustics means adding weight, a significant challenge for this project. “Weight was monitored throughout the project, including during the soundproofing and sound treatment processes and for the finishing touches and furniture,” said Lucas Medus, founder and artistic director of Red House. “We planned everything right down to the last screw to avoid adding three grams too many.”
The teams had to conduct tests constantly, do calculations and juggle with selecting materials to form and equip the sound truck. “Everything that was going into the van was weighed and given a great deal of thought to ensure compliance with the weight constraint,” says Julien Ravary, associate acoustician and studio designer at Red House. “We selected the materials based on their rigidity and weight and worked out how we could adapt them to our needs. We chose eco-friendly insulators to avoid using rock wool or glass wool. The rest is mainly composed of wood.”
Space was another constraint. The aim was to fit a recording studio within the Master’s nine cubic metres of cargo space. This space had to be divided into two areas: a control room with the sound engineer and computers and a separate space for the singer. “My role involved making a recording studio fit into a van – an enclosed and limited space that doesn’t offer the same freedom as other spaces,” added Lucas. His colleague Julien adds: “Each space is less than five square metres, which is tiny. A great deal of adaptation and technical expertise was required to integrate everything we wanted, given the vehicle’s constraints.”
Realising this project involved a multi-talented team. “20 people were involved in bringing this comprehensive project to fruition. We gave work to metalworkers, converters, painters, visual artists, interior designers, finishers and electricians,” Olivier remarked. Impressively, they completed the typically year-long conversion process in under six months.
Ergonomically, the sound truck met the specifications given by Give Me 5 sponsor and prominent rap figure Youssoupha and his team, who wanted a practical and easy-to-use space. Design elements, like the deep blue exterior and the mix of light wood with dark fabric, further enhanced the vehicle’s appeal.
The project’s success resulted from a harmonious collaboration between Renault, PROCAR, and Red House. Choosing adept partners and demonstrating adaptability in all creative processes was paramount. A resounding success, Youssoupha’s reaction on seeing the finished product summed it up: “I think Renault’s got a magic touch!”
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