Will you ever release the audio recordings for the original Halo 2 ending? Many people including myself would love to hear it.

Halo2OriginalEnding

I think I'll look for those files.

Hello Marty, are you aware of your status as lord and saviour of /r/halocirclejerk?

Would you like to be a mod?

Hmm...seems a bit sacrilegious. So, no.

GUYS, DON'T SPOOK MARTY! He's a sensitive and shy creature. We may never have this opportunity to capture him again!

Edit: Great job /u/MalevolentFerret. Jerk. You soiled it.

Actually, not that sensitive.

We have cupcakes, just saying.

Keep talking...

And photoshops of Frank O'Connor as Satan, Hitler and I think we have a Stalin one tucked away somewhere.

Even better.

Have you ever considered going back to Halo?

oops, I better get started...

No one has asked me, yet.

Follow up question, would you be interested in working with Kazuma Jinnouchi?

Sure!

So you're saying that if you were asked... you would?

Sweeeeeeet.

I honestly don't know.

/u/bravo343 FAM, I WILL BUY A THOUSAND DOLLAR REQ PACK FOR THIS

Instead: Don't forget https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/135470902/echoes-of-the-first-dreamer

TheFirstDreamer.com

MARTY THAT ISN'T THE RIGHT LINK. THIS IS THE ONE YOU WANT: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/135470902/echoes-of-the-first-dreamer

proud of you marty

Thanks man.

Even if you don't end up working on a main halo project again, i'd still be thrilled to hear your (yet again) take on the classic halo theme.

I've sure done that enough times by now don't ya think"

Why did you do that little jig in front of the camera which ended up in Halo 3: ODST?

EDIT: Here's the dance.

Huh.

I was walking outside to the parking lot and crossed in front of an animator who was videoing some moves. I did a little fist pump and kept walking. Folks at Bungie later decided to make that a "surprise Marty" easter egg.

Hi Marty!

We at /r/Halo are huge fans. ODST had my favourite soundtrack with Halo 3 at a close second.

In more recent Halo games, specifically Halo 4, there was a departure of the iconic Halo theme. Now with Halo 5: Guardians we have more notable tracks (like Trials) that blend the classic Halo theme while also combining the flair of newer composers to the mix.

My question is what do you think of the Halo 5: Guardians soundtrack? Have you listened to it? Did you enjoy it? What would you have done differently.

Hmm, all the questions got re-ordered when I refreshed.

Liked the soundtrack to Halo 5. Of course I would have done something differently because I'm a different composer. But why would I do that?

What was it like working with Paul McCartney for the Destiny OST?

The highlight of my career so far. He was an absolute joy to work with. A gentleman, and incredibly energetic. He'll never stop creating.

Someday you'll all get to hear Music of the Spheres the way it was intended. #NeverForgetMots

Hi Marty, your work on the Halo soundtracks is amazing!

Do you have something you do that usually gets you in the mood for writing music?

Deadlines.

Hey Marty, just wanted to say thank you for your incredible contributions to the music of gaming.

I was watching a ViDOc from Halo 3 last night about your "smushy" pieces that fit into different situations, and thought that was absolutely brilliant. Can you elaborate on where this idea came from and how it affected your part of the industry? (also can't wait for my T-Shirt from Echoes!"

EDIT if you see this, if you have a favorite classical track of all time, what would it be?

Well "smushy" pieces are also ambient, non-metric pieces. In games we sometimes need to just coast for a while until the player does something important. That kind of music works great.

Brahms Intermezzo in A, and Barber's Adagio for Strings

Hey Marty, thanks for doing this AMA!

Do you have a favorite track out of all of your soundtracks?

The original Halo theme is dear to my heart, but I also like Deference to Darkness from ODST.

Hello sir! Thank you for doing this AMA. Have you ever thought of writing a book about your music?

Yes I have. Would you read it?

Hey Marty, thanks for making such a great contribution to both Halo and my personal life with your music.

Any cool/interesting unheard stories from the early Bungie days?

Thanks! :)

Ok, Alex Seropian once said to me that the game industry was about creating content and exploiting that content. I told him I didn't want to be exploited. We got along great!

Besides working on the OST, have you ever played any of the Halo games? Would you ever consider working with 343 on a Halo OST?

I'm a gamer. I've played a zillion games. OF COURSE I've played every Halo game. As audio director it's required - but also a lot of fun!

Marty! Man, do I enjoy your work immensely. My biggest disappointment was not getting to listen to the Music of the Spheres album. What are the chances of it ever seeing the lights of day, and how did you feel about that album compared to your previous works?

Music of the Spheres is our best work.

You can't stop the signal.

Hey Marty, massive fan of your work on Halo!

Have you heard Kazuma Jinnouchi's score for Halo 5, and if so what do you think? Is the direction he has taken the soundtrack in similar to what you would've made had you kept making Halo music?

Yes and I think it's wonderful.

All composers are different and unique. I met him last week at GDC. Super nice guy.

Thanks for taking the time! This is such a splendid surprise. I'll take this chance to ask a question you probably get asked almost every day, but would you ever consider returning to Halo if given the opportunity?

Need to be asked.

In your eyes, which Bungie game experienced more difficulties during development, Halo 2 or Destiny?

Turned out to be Destiny.

First off, thank you Marty for being a very cool guy. I'm sure you hear this kind of thing all the time, but the music in Halo was the music that made me realize video game music could be truly unique. I could gush on and on for a while, so I'll just say thank you so much for being awesome!

First question: When someone first says, I need something happy or exciting, where do you begin? The key? The time-signature? A particular instrument? A melodic line? WHAT?

Last question: I've been playing music for years (percussion), and I have played some pretty....lacking pieces. Usually just giving us quarter notes or down beats or some nigh-impossible thing to play due to the tempo or something else...So would you feel like percussion is an after thought most of the time? (Be honest, I'm a big boy).

Anyway, thank you so much!

Put my hands on the keyboard and see what happens. While trying to be in the right mood.

Percussion is at the top of mind for me.

Hi Marty, first off thankyou for all your help in bringing the halo universe to all of us. Your music in the original franchise continues to be held as some of the greatest tracks in gaming history.

My question is for those who dont know whats the new game your working on all about?

It's going to be really cool. A PSVR game called Golem.

Go to HighwireGames.com to learn all about it, and then don't forget to back my kickstarter (we need you) Don't forget https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/135470902/echoes-of-the-first-dreamer TheFirstDreamer.com

First off, I want to let you know how appreciative I am of all the music you've created over the years. It probably drives my family crazy with how much I whistle the Halo theme all the time. I listen to your work regularly and will always have room for it in my music collection.

Now for my question even though you might not be able to answer it. Did something happen behind the scenes at Bungie that caused Destiny to have a major change in design/scale? When looking back at older trailers and interviews, it seems a lot smaller and less ambitious than it was originally planned to be. Even a yes or no answer would be appreciated.

Yes.

Did you ever see the halo theme becoming so iconic?

Well, I used to write jingles so it was plan A.

Didn't think it would work so well however.

Would you reveal what happened between you and Bungie? From the sound of it, you got screwed over. You've done a fantastic job, and you don't deserve that.

Thanks, but I only know one side of the story.

Hi there Marty! Won a Halo: Reach CD signed by you a long while back. It's still music I love listening to and for years stuck in my car. Literally. I can't get it out. It's forever jammed...

If you could re-score any of your favorite films or video games, which would you choose?

Sorry about your CD player.

I wouldn't want to re-score anything I already did. I'd rather move on to new things. Like Golem!

How long does it take to compose the score for a game?

As much time as they give me. Usually between 6 months and a couple years.

Hi Marty! For Halo 2, you also did some voice directing. Is that something you would want to do more of, and are there other areas of game/story development that you'd like to branch out into? Thanks for doing an AMA!

I've done voice directing for all the games I've worked on including 5 Halo games, and Destiny 1.

Working on story is essential for my role.

Hi Marty, favorite food and drink combo? Bonus question, if you could have any car what would it be? Love your work.

Lasagna and a nice Syrah.

Green '67 Jaguar XKE E type.

How's the ivory tower in the new office?

It's now in my house.

I'm just out with everyone else at the new office.

Marty! I've been a fan of your work since I was was 6. I also started the cello because I was inspired by your music. My question is simple,

How did you find inspiration to use such a vast diversity of instruments throughout the Halo series? Many composers stick to strong orchestral music, but you've taken alternative styles and somehow made them work.

Thanks!

There are so many different genres and styles of music. Why would I confine myself to just one?

Hey Marty, looking good (⌐■_■).

Let's say you have a rough day, and you need to crank some tunes to get your mood straight. What would be your go-to band and song?

Probably Gentle Giant. Knots.

Halo isn't the same without you! This isn't a question?

Thanks.

I just wanted to pop in and say thank you. Your music has helped me find new friends, bond with old ones, and study while in graduate school. Thank you for your score on ODST. It's my favorite video game score ever. I can't wait to see what else you bless our ears with in the future and I hope you get to return to halo one day.

Since I have to ask a question, how do you feel about Holst's The Planets Symphony?

Love it. Studied it. Was inspired by it.

Thus - Music of the Spheres.

Hi Marty! Thanks for doing this!

What tracks or lines were your favourites to compose?

Any particular anecdotes you have regarding your work?

Already talked about some tracks, but working with David Scully (Sgt. Johnson) Pete Stacker (Capt. Keyes and Sgt. Stacker) and Nathan Fillion were great to work with and had some amazing lines.

Also of course David Cross.

I love you. Will you love me?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/135470902/echoes-of-the-first-dreamer

Did you keep any Halo builds as souvenirs and would you be willing to share them?

Yes, and no.

What's your favorite type of sandwich?

Grilled cheese.

Was there a certain "feeling" you wanted to capture when writing for Halo 1-3?

What was the feeling and do you think you successfully captured it?

That depended on the scene or encounter. Heroic, ancient, mysterious, poignant, spooky, sad - all those emotions and more.

Are there any bonus/unusued Halo songs hiding in a hard drive somewhere that you can release? I love your old Halo music so much and still listen frequently, just wondered if there was any hidden gems laying around:)

You know, I think there are a couple little gems hanging around someplace. I'll have to have a look.

Hey Marty, thanks for doing this!

What is your favorite soundtrack for a game you didn't work on? How about your favorite film soundtrack?

Currently I'm loving Jessica Curry's Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. Ben Hur's score is amazing.

Where was Jason Jones during all these issues with Activision/Bungie management?

You'll have to ask Jason.

Hi Marty!

As a person with an interest in game development, I am curious as to what process the composer fits in? Do you receive a finished product, and begin writing to match the tone? Do you have creative input into how the score and the gameplay is presented? Or is it something else entirely :D

Thanks for taking the time to do this AMA!

Composers rarely have much influence during game development. However, Audio Directors who are in-house can have a lot of influence. I consider myself a game designer who specializes in sound and music. Also, the overall presentation or user experience is extremely important to me.

DId you have a say in the creation of the "Be Like Marty" ODST achievement? Are it's implications fact, or fiction?

Fiction. Complete utter fiction.

I was against it.

Any headaches yet?

...yes...

What was your favorite halo soundtrack to work on?

Probably ODST.

Do you orchestrate your own work or do you have a partner?

I mostly orchestrate, but so has Mike Salvatori, Stan LePard, and Mark McKenzie.

Do you feel that score is an often undervalued aspect of what makes a videogame work?

Many times. But there sure are a lot of really great fans who value the score. Thanks everybody!

Hey Marty! Thanks for doing the AMA.

Never Forget is one of my favorite tracks from Halo, and every time I listen to it, I get some very distinct Chopin vibes from it. Do you take any stylistic cues from other composers, and if so, which ones?

Mike is the main composer for that one. Yes, I play a lot of Chopin and Mike has heard a lot of Chopin.

Hey Marty,

Do you have a favourite piece, going back through every soundtrack you've ever penned?

Love you!

Already answered but I'll add The Ecstasy from Music of the Spheres.

You should hear the full version.

Hey Marty! Firstly I'd like to say thanks for all the tracks you have done. Your music for the Halo titles sends chills down my spine and I have to say everytime I hear one of your tracks it gets me hyped and gives me great memories. Destiny also has that same vibe for me, the game had a special spark for me with the music you made in it. I must ask though, what are your thoughts on how the Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians soundtracks were done?

Thanks for the compliments.

Not comfortable judging other people's work. I think Halo 4 & 5 are well done.

Don't forget https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/135470902/echoes-of-the-first-dreamer TheFirstDreamer.com

Hey Marty!

I'm a HUGE Drum Corps fan and 6-year vet to the activity. I was pretty excited to see one of my favorite composers take a leap into DCI! How has working with the Boston Crusaders been so far? Are you excited for this upcoming season? I'd love to hear about your experience with a top DCI group!

DCI is an unbelievable world. I'm just getting going but loving it so far. Stay tuned!

Hey Marty, I used to follow you pretty avidly on Twitter when I still had one. You and Michael's work has left an impact on my life that won't be forgotten, I broke into tears at the end of Halo 4 at the credit sequence when hearing Kazuma's rendition of Never Forget and knowing how of a profound love I have for both the music of this series and everything else Halo has encompassed for me as a gamer.

Two things I wanted to ask you.

• Have you heard this beautiful take on the Halo theme? I just wanted to make sure that of all people, you heard it.

• I'm a little confused as to how the job of a composer works. I know a lot of games contract composers for the soundtrack or a few pieces in it (like Hans Zimmer did the main theme and some derivatives for Crysis 2 which were fantastic) But then I wonder why you haven't been or done scores for movies or other video games. I know you also worked in the sound department for Halo but I just find it somewhat strange you aren't in the same spot that Zimmer or guys like him are in right now when your reputation goes well before you.

So to get to the point Is this by personal choice or can you shed some light into how this all works?

P.S. This is similarily upsetting due to how I loved the work of Matthew Harwood (who worked under KAOS for Frontlines: Fuel of War and Homefront, who both have fantastic scores that go beyond the game itself) and yet the only other thing he's done work for seemingly is Infinite Crisis.

I haven't heard this before but I've bookmarked it and will finish listening later.

Getting on the movie composer list is hard. I really haven't spent much time trying.

What is your favorite rare/oddball instrument you wrote for?

Bass flute.

Hey Marty, do you play any of the games that work on? If so, which was your favorite?

yep.

Hi Marty!

Is there any distinct ways that you see music composition evolving with the arrival of VR in the near future, or just in general? Over the years I've seen music in games evolve dramatically in complexity and depth, usually within technical limitations. But now that there isn't much holding audio back these days, I can imagine the possibility space can only expand moving forward.

Edit: Sorry, double question, but do you see 3D audio playing a larger part in the future? Thanks!

3D audio is the big revolution for VR. Music won't be affected all that much. Although, music games/apps in VR could be mind-blowing.

Mr. O'Donnell,

I really enjoy your work. I beta tested Halo:CE on PC back when Microsoft had a volunteer beta testing program, and the music was unlike anything I had heard in a video game before. I rarely skipped the intro of Myth, and then my wife attended a conference in San Diego a decade or so back where I believe you sister was speaking, and she relayed some of your story/background, and I have been a fan ever since.

My question: When you need to get into your head space to create, do you have a certain ritual or routine that helps you get the creative juices flowing?

First the deadline, then improvise at the piano and hope.

How can I increase the horsepower of my 2014 Dodge Challenger 5.7 V8....?

Use premium.

Firstly I adore your work and was listening to the Halo 3 soundtrack just today! So whats the chance of you coming back to the Halo franchise?

Always a chance...

Thank you for doing this AMA!

First, I bet you've gotten this question a billion times, but would you ever consider composing music for halo again? Or would you much rather not look back on the past as much?

Second, how would you make sure that a song you've composed isn't similar to music already written? I'm trying to make music myself, but I'm always worried that I'm accidentally copying someone else.

Thank you for doing this AMA! I'll be donating to your kickstarter when my paycheck comes in!

You are a good person!

Don't worry about copying. You can't help being inspired by music you love. Just try and stay true to yourself. Most likely it will be unique.

Been a huge fan of yours ever since I became enthralled with Halo in 2002, due in no small part to your work. I'm eagerly looking forward to all that's in store from Highwire Games.

With you being the founder and all, I'd have to think you're doing more than just directing the audio for the studio's projects. What's the full extent of your involvement?

I've even cleaned the dirty dishes in the sink at Highwire!

Hey Marty, through all the soundtracks you've been a part of so far, has there been any pieces you wish you could go back and change?

Probably but I don't want to dwell on those.

If you could write a letter to your 20 year-old self, what would it say?

Prostitute your art for a higher fee.

Hi Marty! I've been a big fan for years and was a flintstone kid in my youth!

My question is: Can you describe what Golem is all about and what type of game it is?

A fun VR game.

Hi Marty, I know that your new game is exclusive to the PlayStation, but are us folks on the Xbox going to see you again in the future? Aside from that, the music you've created has always been beautifully inspirational, thanks so much for your work over the years!

We're self-published so who knows what the future will bring?

Hi Marty!

Re: the current state of soundtracks/scoring. There seem to be two major camps in scoring: those who use melody/counterpoint as the foundation of the score, and those who use harmony/dissonance as the foundation of the score.

I've always admired composers who favor strong melodies (John Williams [though his atonal moments can be brilliant], you, recently Ramin Djawadi), and have been somewhat disappointed by the sort of drone-y texture/drum-heavy pieces that feature in many modern big budget blockbusters (I immediately think of Hans Zimmer, though I acknowledge he's a master of synthesis and a brilliant musician).

I find myself more emotionally connected to themes with a clear melody, and I find melody is tremendously important to story/character development.

While I acknowledge that this is a subjective matter, I'd like to hear what you think of the role melody plays in scoring vs. harmony/clustered texture?

You can't beat a good melody.

There is room for all kinds of approaches to music for a project, but show me one score that people remember that doesn't at some point have a strong melody or hook.

Hey Marty, have you played ever played through any of the Halo campaigns? Got a favourite?

Also, thanks for your contributions to the industry. I still listen to your work for hours, pretty much everyday.

For the record, I've played every Halo game I shipped on every difficulty level.

Thanks for listening.

Thanks for doing this ama! What is the first step that you take in order to compose a soundtrack?

Get the gig!

Then work closely with the vision holder and really try and understand what they're trying to accomplish emotionally with the game.

Who is your favorite character on Game of Thrones?

Tyrion of course.

Hey Marty, awesome surprise!

What do you think of Halo 5's story? I heard it was the original plot for Combat Evolved.

HA!

Have you ever been offered to compose a movie soundtrack? If not would you consider composing one?

Did plenty of industrial movie soundtracks.

Never been offered a major Hollywood movie score and would probably jump at the chance.

What/who inspired you to create music?

My mother and father.

Hi, Marty. Destiny was the first game I played where your music was in it. I've mostly been a Playstation Guy and never got to play Halo. I was wondering if you think or even hoping that you and Bungie/Activision will ever make up and bury the hatchet? I hate seeing such a great relationship become destroyed.

I'm willing to bury hatchets.

Hey Marty, love your work and enjoyed hearing your speech at Ohio State last year.

What's the biggest difference/challenge in your "production process" now that you aren't collaborating with Michael Salvatori? Or maybe you still are...?

Loved being at OSU last year, thanks.

It's different. I'm still getting used to it.

Chicken wings or chicken tenders?

Wings.

With parmesan cheese.

Howdy, Marty! Do you play any instruments, or just compose? If yes, what's your favorite? :)

Piano.

I can't imagine composing without being able to play the piano.

How does scoring work in conjunction with sound effects/ambient effects? Have you (or the foley artists) ever needed to make significant changes because the SFX and the music clashed, sounded weird or discordant?

Yes, all the time. That's what the final mix is all about.

How much money does a composer for video games typically make?

A bazillion dollars.

Have you listened to the music in the Halo series done after Bungie's departure? If so, what did you think of it?

Great!

Is there anyway I could get sheet music of some of your work? I'm taking an intermediate piano class at my university and we need to select and play a piece for our final and it'd make my life to play one of yours :)

I'm not sure any longer. You need to ask Microsoft.

What is your favorite Halo soundtrack and why is it ODST?

Ha!

What's the soundtrack you're least happy with in retrospect?

The one that never got released - but should have.

NeverForgetMots

Marty, thank you for being a legend!

My two questions are, 1) Where did you think Halo was going, or could possibly go, as you were working in the beginning stages of the project, aka Combat Evolved?

2) Which Halo track, from any game, do you believe captures the essence or spirit of the Master Chief?

Thanks again!

1) We all knew that Halo was going to be big. Just not as big as it got.

2) Can't remember the name but it played over the memorial cutscene at the end of Halo 3.

Hey Marty, incredible work! Your music is iconic to many and I hope you continue your great success. I would like to ask, do you regret any changes in the team or overall atmosphere at either 343i or Bungie? How much do the believe the chemistry and passion within the team helps to nurture a better end product, full of more love and soul? It seems like with a smaller team of Halo CE to Halo 3 there was better commitment and direction.

I've certainly found that at least for me - smaller teams are better. If the team is larger than the number of people I can remember first names of - it could be a problem. There are projects that really can't be done with under hundreds of people, but that isn't attractive to me. However, I still believe that you can be nice to the goose no matter how big the team is.

Hey Marty.

My first question is, what's your opinion of Kazuma Jinnouchi's take on the Halo theme in Halo 5? If you've heard it.

My second question is, will you and Michael Salvatori ever co-compose again on any projects?

Can't wait for Golem!

Already answered. Kazuma is a great composer.

Some day, somehow Mike and I will work together again.