What does an Orchestrator (Film and TV) do?

Film and TV Orchestrators
Although orchestration is a useful skill for any composer, composer's assistant, arranger, or bandleader, in the film and TV industries it stands as its own career path. Film and TV orchestrators face unique challenges arising from the conventions of these industries, and must develop a distinct skill set in response.

Although traditional music notation is still the primary language used by instrumental performers, film and TV composers have come to prefer the ease of MIDI notation. An orchestrator typically receives two things from a composer: a MIDI score and a synthesizer recording that demonstrates how it's meant to sound. Using these two resources—along with advanced listening, transcription, and problem-solving skills—the orchestrator must figure out exactly what the composer is going for musically, and how best to achieve this with the language of music notation. Like any translation, it's far from an exact science, especially when some sections may be too difficult for human players, or contain distorted and heavily modified sounds.
 
Additionally, orchestrators usually participate in recording sessions for the scores they orchestrate, performing vital roles such as session conductor or score reader—following along with the score to ensure that the performance is accurate. They may also make last-minute changes to the score in response to feedback from the director or composer, or help the composer operate electronic elements of the score. They don’t handle printing and passing out the scores; that task usually falls to a music librarian or copyist.
 
MIDI Orchestrators
MIDI orchestrators—whose only real connection to traditional orchestrators is the name they both share—specialize in using the latest synthesized sounds and sample libraries to create high-quality renditions of the score for composers and directors. These techniques are particularly useful for TV composers, whose lower budget prevents them from recording every instrument live. This is a rapidly growing field, as film and TV directors increasingly want to hear the cues exactly as they will sound when recorded in a studio.

At a Glance

Career Path

Most film orchestrators find their feet in the industry by working film or TV sessions as an orchestral musician or copyist, or by becoming an assistant to an established composer or orchestrator. Becoming well-known as an orchestrator affords the opportunity to expand one's orchestration studio and team. Some orchestrators might switch careers to become composers, conductors, music directors, or performing musicians.

Finding Work

Working as assistant to another film and television orchestrator or composer is the best possible way to develop the initial industry contacts, skills, and experience required to find work as an independent orchestrator.

Professional Skills
Traditional Orchestrators:
  • Orchestration
  • Reading and writing music notation
  • Notation software
  • Music transcription
  • Conducting
  • Booth reading
  • Deep knowledge of instruments

MIDI Orchestrators:

  • MIDI
  • Sample libraries
  • Synthesizer programming
  • Deep knowledge of instruments
Interpersonal Skills

Although the work of orchestration is often solitary in practice, the primary skill for any orchestrator is collaboration. Composers entrust orchestrators with their creative work, which also happens to be their professional product. A good orchestrator needs to know exactly what a composer is trying to accomplish with each note, and facilitate that in the final score—even if the two don’t exchange a single word. At the same time, orchestrators must consider the musicians who will end up playing the music, and what would make their jobs easier.

Work Life

Most orchestrators work freelance out of a home office or private studio. Established orchestrators are likely to have their own teams who assist with the orchestration process. Even if all work up to that point has been remote—and it frequently is—all orchestrators are expected to travel to and participate in recording sessions. 

Grow Your Network

Clubs, Associations, and Professional Groups
UnionAmerican Federation of Musicians
Professional GroupAcademy of Scoring Arts
Professional GroupThe Society of Composers and Lyricists
Professional GroupAmerican Society of Music Arrangers and Composers