5 Career Paths in the Movie Soundtrack Industry

Discover the top 5 career paths for music lovers in the movie soundtrack industry. From composers to music supervisors, explore the different roles that make movie soundtracks possible.

Composers

Composers are responsible for creating and writing original music for movies. They work closely with the director and music producer to create musical pieces that bring a specific emotion or tone to a scene. They also communicate with other music professionals such as the conductor, orchestrator and music editor to ensure that their musical ideas are fully realized in the final cut of the movie soundtrack.

Music Supervisors

Music supervisors are in charge of selecting and placing existing music in a movie. They actively search for the best songs and licensed tracks to use in a film, and negotiate with artists, record labels, and music publishers about the terms of their agreements. They also make sure that the music used in the movie is in sync with the scenes and emotions portrayed and that the chosen music follows the budget constraints of a given project.

Music Editors

Music editors help to make sure the final soundtrack is in tune with the film editor's cut. They precisely sync and time the music tracks during post-production and edit the length and timing of dialogues to fit in with the music. They make suggestions for changes in the original music and typically collaborate with the composer to create a cohesive soundtrack that matches the director's vision.

Orchestrators

Orchestrators take the musical input from a composer and adapt or develop it according to the needs of the film score that complements the visual effect of the film. They can rearrange a composer's themes to incorporate symphonies, choirs, brass and other orchestral instruments. They work within the limits of the style and objectives set by the composer and the director, revising and editing their musical arrangements until they meet both the creative and budgetary needs of the project.

Recording Engineers

Recording engineers capture the sound of orchestras, choirs, and solo performers during the recording process. They technically oversee the recording and mixing of every track in the studio and make sure that all the sounds are balanced in the final mix. They utilize various sound engineering devices and software to control levels, adjust equalization, reverb and other parameters that will result in the best output. They collaborate with the other sound professionals to ensure that the soundtrack is of top quality.