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{{Article Quote|John Williams is to movies, as Marty O'Donnell is to video games}}
{{Article Quote|John Williams is to movies, as Marty O'Donnell is to video games}}
[[Image:Martin ODonnell.jpg|thumb|228px|Marty in the [[Halo 3 Announcement Trailer]] documentary.]]
[[Image:Martin ODonnell.jpg|thumb|228px|Marty in the [[Halo 3 Announcement Trailer]] documentary.]]
'''Marty O'Donnell''' (aka Marty, the Elder) is the Audio Director at [[Bungie]]. He has written the music for ''Myth'', ''Oni'', and the ''[[Halo]]'' games. He is also the voice for [[Jackals]], [[Hunters]] and [[Flood]] in the ''Halo'' trilogy.
'''Martin "Marty" O'Donnell''' is an [[United States|American]] [[composer]] known for his work on musical pieces for [[video game]]s from [[Bungie Studios]] such as the ''[[Myth (computer game)|Myth series]]'', ''[[Oni (video game)|Oni]]'', and the [[Halo (series)|''Halo'' trilogy]]. O'Donnell collaborates with his musical companion [[Michael Salvatori]] for many of the scores.<ref name=dolby/> He has also directed [[voice talent]] and [[sound design]] for the ''Halo'' trilogy.
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Starting out writing television and radio [[jingles]], O'Donnell moved to the world of video games when he and his company, Total Audio, did the sound design for the 1997 title ''[[Riven]]''.<ref name=riven>{{cite web|url=http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/halo-2/562861p1.html|title= Interview with GameSpy: "Of Music and Sound"|work=[[Gamespy]]|accessdate=2007-12-10|author=Tuttle, Will|date=[[2004-11-04]]}}</ref> Since then he has scored more than seven video games. His most recently released work is the ''[[Halo 3 Original Soundtrack]]'', featuring the complete score to the award-winning ''[[Halo 3]]''. The two-[[compact disc]] set was released in November of 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Original-Soundtrack-2-CD-Set/dp/B000W04S6U/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-4221649-7470512?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1194300806&sr=8-1|title=Halo 3 OST Product page|work=[[Amazon.com]]|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref>


He has worked closely with [[Michael Salvatori]] to produce music for the Halo Games such as the [[Mjolnir Mix]], and the two co-produced the [[Halo: Original Soundtrack]] and [[Halo 2: Original Soundtrack]] together.
==Music career==
O'Donnell began working in television and film.<ref name=dolby>{{cite audio |people=O'Donnell, Martin; Dolby |date=2007-12-09|title=Dolbycast Episode 29|url=http://www.dolby.com/assets/podcast/dolbycast/Dolbycast_Episode_29.mp4 |format=[[MPEG-4 Part 14|MP4]]|publisher= [[Dolby]]||accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref> In his early career, O'Donnell wrote the jingles for [[Mr. Clean]] and [[Flintstones]] Vitamins, and owns the rights to the melodies.<ref>{{cite web|author=O'Connor, Frank; O'Donnell, Martin; Smith, Luke; Jarrard, Brian|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/8/5/d85ce76f-0cb2-41df-aaae-a8c96790332b/BungiePodcast%5FEpisode%5F1.mp3|title= Bungie Podcast Ep. 51: With Martin O'Donnell|work=[[Bungie.net]]|accessdate=2007-12-10}}</ref> According to O'Donnell, after fifteen years of doing TV and radio commercials, he decided he wanted to do game soundtracks.<ref name=geek>{{cite web|date=1999-08-20|author=O'Donnell, Martin|url=http://gamasutra.com/connection/geek_of_the_week/19990820_marty_odonnell.htm|title=Geek of the Week: Martin O'Donnell|work=[[Gamasutra]]|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref>


Marty's sound studio is called the "Ivory Towers", lending its nickname to the multiplayer map in Halo 2, [[Ivory Tower]]. In addition, this tower is noted to be owned by a character named [[Lance O'Donnell]], another nickname for Marty.
The composer's first foray into game-related work was working as a sound designer for the video game ''[[Riven]]'', the sequel to ''[[Myst]]''.<ref name=riven/> His company, TotalAudio, also produced the music for [[Bungie Studios]]' ''[[Myth: The Fallen Lords]]'' in the same year.<ref name=stnet>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtrack.net/composers/database/?id=878|title=Soundtrack.net: Martin O'Donnell|work=SoundTrack.net|accessdate=2008-01-28}}</ref> TotalAudio later composed the music for Valkyrie Studio's ''Septerra Core, Legacy of the Creator'';<ref name=stnet/> O'Donnell met [[Steve Downes]] while working on the game, and the composer would later recommend the voice actor to Bungie for the role of the [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]].<ref>{{cite web|author=KLind|date=2006-07-26|url=http://buttonbasher.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/interview-master-chief-steve-downes/|title=Interview with the Master Chief|work=buttonbasher.com|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref>


Before working for Bungie, he did audio work for several TV/radio commercials including Flintstones Vitamins. He was once co-owner of TotalAudio, a company that produced sound design on [[wikipedia:Riven|Riven]].
Soon after producing the music for ''[[Myth II]]'', Bungie contracted O'Donnell for several of Bungie's other projects, including ''[[Oni (video game)|Oni]]'' and ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' (which at the time was code-named ''Blam!'')<ref name="bungie interview">{{cite video |people= O’Connor, Frank; O'Donnell, Martin; Smith, Luke|date2=2007-12-12 |title=Official Bungie Podcast: With Martin O'Donnell |url= http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/8/5/d85ce76f-0cb2-41df-aaae-a8c96790332b/Bungie_Podcast_121207.mp3|format=[[MPEG 3|MP3]] |medium= |publisher=[[Bungie Studios]] |location= |accessdate=2008-02-28 |time= |quote= }}</ref> In 1999, Bungie wanted to re-negotiate the contracts for ''Oni'', and the negotiations resulted in O'Donnell joining the Bungie team, only ten days before the company was bought by [[Microsoft]]; he is one of only a handful of Bungie employees who remain working at the company since then.<ref name=bungiebio/> While O'Donnell worked at Bungie, Michael Salvatori handled the business side of TotalAudio. After producing the music for ''[[Oni]]'', O'Donnell was tasked with composing the music for Bungie's next project, which would be unveiled at [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3 2000]]. After talking with [[Joseph Staten]], O'Donnell decided the music needed to be "big, exciting, and unusual with a classical orchestra touch to give it some weight and stature. We also wanted it to have some sort of 'ancient' feel to it."<ref name=ancient/> The music was recorded and sent to New York the same night the piece was finished;<ref name=ancient>{{cite web|url=http://nikon.bungie.org/music.html|title=TotalAudio Questions & Answers|work=[[Halo.Bungie.Org]]|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref> the resulting music became the basis for the [[Halo (series)|''Halo'' series]]' "highly recognizable" signature sound.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/reviews/738/Halo-2-Vista-Review|title=Halo 2 Vista Review|work=[[IGN]]|accessdate=2008-01-30|author=West, Joe|date=2007-06-12}}</ref><ref name="game informer review">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200710/R07.0923.1932.21255.htm|title=Game Informer: Halo 3|author=Vore, Bryan|date=2007-10-01|accessdate=2007-10-03|work=[[Game Informer]]}}</ref>
 
The music for ''Halo 3'' contained refinements and revisions to previous themes heard in the series, as O'Donnell stressed the importance of using previous motifs in the final installment of the trilogy.<ref name="bungie interview"/> O'Donnell also introduced a distinctive piano theme which had never been heard before, and first made its appearance in the ''Halo 3'' announcement teaser. In an interview, O'Donnell stated that he has always approached music from the keyboard, and that at the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] (where the trailer would first be shown) he had a feeling that "no [other announcement] would start with a piano."<ref>{{cite video |people=Bertrand, Jason; O'Donnell, Martin |date2= 2006-06-09 |title= Halo 3 Marty O'Donnell Interview|url= http://gamevideos.com/video/id/4114|format=Flash |medium= |publisher=[[1UP.com|GameVideos]] |location= |accessdate=2008-02-28 |time= |quote= }}</ref> In addition to composition, O'Donnell has also arranged his work; a special arrangement was used for a ''Halo 3'' segment of [[Video Games Live]] in [[London, England|London]], after which O'Donnell appeared.<ref>{{cite web|author=Games Press|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=29762|title=London Show To Premiere All New Video Game Scores, And A Rare Chance To Meet The Makers|date=2007-10-18|work=GamesIndustry.biz|accessdate=2008-01-30}}</ref>
 
==Personal life==
O'Donnell described his upbringing as "typical"; he received piano lessons and wanted to start a rock band when he reached [[junior high school]].<ref name="influences">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukmusic.com/features/interviews/martin-o-donnell-interview.html|title=Martin O Donnell Interview|date=2007-09-22|author=Bandah, Sam|work=UKMusic.com|accessdate=2008-02-21}}</ref> Despite his interest in [[progressive rock|progressive]] and [[fusion rock]], O'Donnell studied the classical component of music and composition and received his Masters of Music Degree in composition with honors from the [[University of Southern California]] in the early 1980s.<ref name=stnet/> He has been married for 30 years to his wife, Marcie, and has two daughters, Alison and Christine. His children were part of a singing choir for the [[Flintstones Chewable Vitamins]] commercials, which O'Donnell wrote.<ref name=bungiebio>{{cite web|url=http://www.bungie.net/Inside/MeetTheTeam.aspx?Person=odonnell|title= Marty's Biography at Bungie.net|work=[[Bungie.net]]|accessdate=2007-12-09}}</ref> O'Donnell is a self-described political conservative, and his fellow coworkers at Bungie described him as the most right-leaning employee at the company.<ref name="bungie interview"/>


He is currently the arch enemy of [[Frank O'Connor]].


==Trivia==
==Trivia==

Revision as of 13:39, May 2, 2008

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Marty in the Halo 3 Announcement Trailer documentary.

Martin "Marty" O'Donnell is an American composer known for his work on musical pieces for video games from Bungie Studios such as the Myth series, Oni, and the Halo trilogy. O'Donnell collaborates with his musical companion Michael Salvatori for many of the scores.[1] He has also directed voice talent and sound design for the Halo trilogy. Starting out writing television and radio jingles, O'Donnell moved to the world of video games when he and his company, Total Audio, did the sound design for the 1997 title Riven.[2] Since then he has scored more than seven video games. His most recently released work is the Halo 3 Original Soundtrack, featuring the complete score to the award-winning Halo 3. The two-compact disc set was released in November of 2007.[3]

Music career

O'Donnell began working in television and film.[1] In his early career, O'Donnell wrote the jingles for Mr. Clean and Flintstones Vitamins, and owns the rights to the melodies.[4] According to O'Donnell, after fifteen years of doing TV and radio commercials, he decided he wanted to do game soundtracks.[5]

The composer's first foray into game-related work was working as a sound designer for the video game Riven, the sequel to Myst.[2] His company, TotalAudio, also produced the music for Bungie Studios' Myth: The Fallen Lords in the same year.[6] TotalAudio later composed the music for Valkyrie Studio's Septerra Core, Legacy of the Creator;[6] O'Donnell met Steve Downes while working on the game, and the composer would later recommend the voice actor to Bungie for the role of the Master Chief.[7]

Soon after producing the music for Myth II, Bungie contracted O'Donnell for several of Bungie's other projects, including Oni and Halo: Combat Evolved (which at the time was code-named Blam!)[8] In 1999, Bungie wanted to re-negotiate the contracts for Oni, and the negotiations resulted in O'Donnell joining the Bungie team, only ten days before the company was bought by Microsoft; he is one of only a handful of Bungie employees who remain working at the company since then.[9] While O'Donnell worked at Bungie, Michael Salvatori handled the business side of TotalAudio. After producing the music for Oni, O'Donnell was tasked with composing the music for Bungie's next project, which would be unveiled at E3 2000. After talking with Joseph Staten, O'Donnell decided the music needed to be "big, exciting, and unusual with a classical orchestra touch to give it some weight and stature. We also wanted it to have some sort of 'ancient' feel to it."[10] The music was recorded and sent to New York the same night the piece was finished;[10] the resulting music became the basis for the Halo series' "highly recognizable" signature sound.[11][12]

The music for Halo 3 contained refinements and revisions to previous themes heard in the series, as O'Donnell stressed the importance of using previous motifs in the final installment of the trilogy.[8] O'Donnell also introduced a distinctive piano theme which had never been heard before, and first made its appearance in the Halo 3 announcement teaser. In an interview, O'Donnell stated that he has always approached music from the keyboard, and that at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (where the trailer would first be shown) he had a feeling that "no [other announcement] would start with a piano."[13] In addition to composition, O'Donnell has also arranged his work; a special arrangement was used for a Halo 3 segment of Video Games Live in London, after which O'Donnell appeared.[14]

Personal life

O'Donnell described his upbringing as "typical"; he received piano lessons and wanted to start a rock band when he reached junior high school.[15] Despite his interest in progressive and fusion rock, O'Donnell studied the classical component of music and composition and received his Masters of Music Degree in composition with honors from the University of Southern California in the early 1980s.[6] He has been married for 30 years to his wife, Marcie, and has two daughters, Alison and Christine. His children were part of a singing choir for the Flintstones Chewable Vitamins commercials, which O'Donnell wrote.[9] O'Donnell is a self-described political conservative, and his fellow coworkers at Bungie described him as the most right-leaning employee at the company.[8]


Trivia

  • He was born on May 1st 1955 and is 53 years old.
  • He also wrote the Mr. Clean jingle and the "Flintstone Kids" ads for Flintstone Vitamins, the latter of which he retooled into the Bungie Podcast theme song.
  • He appeared for an interview on the talk machinima "This Spartan Life."
  • His favorite movie is Ben-Hur.
  • He drives a blue Acura TLS.
  • He is the oldest member of Bungie.
  • He is married to his wife Marcie and has two daughters, Alison and Christine.
  • He has a Bachelor's Degree of Music in composition from the University of California.
  • He has a Master's Degree of Music in composition from the University of South Carolina.
  • His father is Bob O'Donnell, a voice actor in Halo 2.

External Links

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