Composer Jeff Russo explains recording Star Trek: Discovery’s season 3 score remotely

Composer Jeff Russo hosts a Facebook live stream

The show must go on. While safety measures remain in place due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, many film and television productions have been slowed or halted altogether. That hasn’t stopped Star Trek: Discovery from joining a growing number of productions whose musical scores are being recorded remotely. TrekMovie.com reports that  during a recent Facebook live chat, Star Trek: Discovery composer Jeff Russo confirmed he and his team of sound engineers have begun the process of recording the orchestra, without an orchestra. 

Seated at a piano, Russo explained the difficult process of recording a score during a Hollywood lockdown. “What we are doing is recording individual session players from here in Los Angeles,” he said. Many of these musicians have worked with Russo before, lending their talent to Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard and the Netflix series The Umbrella Academy  (which was also recorded remotely). Russo went on to say they would “record each individual in their home and then combine all of it to make the orchestra, so we don’t have to put everybody in the same room.”

After recording is completed, the enormous task of mixing it all together can begin. It is a massive undertaking led by Emmy-nominated sound engineer Michael Perfitt, who also mixed the score for Star Trek: Picard. Perfitt has been working with orchestra members to ensure they have the right recording equipment - and know how to use it. “We have made it sound great”, Russo said, adding that “it may sound slightly different.”

When asked about whether or not the Star Trek: Discovery plot would affect the music in season three, Russo said, “There will be new things musically to do. But will it change in a tone or tonality or sound? No. We are still Star Trek: Discovery. We are still Star Trek. I think that is the sound of it. The sound I created in season one and season two is going to make it into season three.”

Russo also took some time to play for viewers from the score of Star Trek: Picard. The full fifty-two minute live chat can be streamed on TrekMovie.com. And while there is still no premiere date for season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery, you can be sure to catch up on every episode of seasons one and two, streaming now on CBS All Access.