Sound Byte: Meet the Composer Behind Call of Duty: Black Ops

One could tell he really loves to write for cello as he said since the emotional lines inside his work seems to come preferably from it.

The only cool sounds in Black ops sound is Ice Cubes voice! The gunfire & explosions bytes need allot of work!

The Pokemon sound track was pretty intense....

So, why does everyone forget Metroid when game soundtracks come around. Those were amazing.

CoD has music? couldnt hear it over the explosions and gunfire, why dont u put some music in the multiplayer? some metal in the background or something intense? give me a reason to play same game year after year...

Given how awesome he made the Black Ops soundtrack sound, I'm more than happy to listen to what he has to say.

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Gotta say, CoD really doesn't have no memorable OST, and if it does, it's only because they have very few tracks and you're bound to hear the same one over and over. there's some effort into it, but it's extremely generic.

Fantastic. What an awesome guy.

I think the only decent thing about call of duty games these days is the music(world at war's anyways). Sean Murray only does the music in Treyarch's call of duty games by the way not modern warfare. And to SPBoss, BioShock and Final fantasy have nice music(BioShock especially, very emersive) but I think Freedom Fighters and Hitman games have the best soundtracks, Jesper Kyd is just incredible.

@sul6an-g Red Dead Redemption has decent music. Pretty cool at times. Haven't finished it yet. I heard the music during end game credits was epic?

We want call of duty: civil war!!!!!!

@scorpion_great I don't remember any music from the WW2 CoD's. They were really non-existant.

nothing like red dead sounds ! xD

@focus0894 HALO's soundtrack is pathetic next to MW2, AND THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO LOVES HALO.

Jeromy Soule, Inon Zur and Micheal Giacchino are the best western composers going.

I would say Final Fantasy and Bioshock have the best music.. especially the old final fantasy's with those amazing harps

@josh7845. Agreed. Even the music in Bioshock 2 in the scene where they introduce us to the Big Daddy and Little Sister really reinforces the emotion in the scene. Those violins are just beautiful..

My favourite video game soundtrack of all time has to be the Bioshock soundtrack by Gary Schyman. It just added to the tragedy of the rapture story and the all-important atmosphere.

@focus0894 Wrong. Have to disagree. Mass Effect 2's Soundtrack was the best video game soundtrack I have ever heard. Now granted, I do love the Halo OSTs; they are phenomenal. However, Mass Effect's OST was simply revolutionary for a video game soundtrack. If any of you haven't listened to it, I urge you to. It's amazing. Proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTsD2FjmLsw (yes, its just one song, but a little taste of how awesome the whole OST is!)

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Needs more Hans Zimmer but Sean Murray did a good job.

@killer_rabbit20 - you can if you're in the LA area this weekend! We're giving away tickets to a game music concert in San Pedro so if anyone's in the area, read the note above about how to win.

I enjoy all these different articles on composers. It really gives you a sense that people are creating these instead of thinking it was made by just some computer. It brings me closer to the game and feel more personal to the music as well as appreciate the music more.

He may not be one of the heavy hitters at the moment, but that was some great info and advice! Cool guy :)

I liked the music in Black Ops, the main menu theme for mp was my favorite.

Coming from someone who plays classical guitar, learning with a prodigy of Andre Segovia and getting to meet him would be amazing.

The music for CoD: Black Ops was good, if a bit forgettable.

why the hell are people arguing over which game soundtrack is the best?? All of the COD soundtracks were awesome. now go take a shower.

What an interesting interview. :)

BO has a great soundtrack. Oddly enough, one of my favorite tunes is just the main menu music.

I liked the music, my personally favorites are Boat Deck and the one when you play on Rebirth. But I do think that Hans did much better, but we all know he is a god when it comes to music.

This had a surprisingly good OST. Loved the MP mix

@waterdragon222 I just like Hans more than Sean. Much better tune than the guy. Even if Hans' music sounds the same, I don't get tired of it. I hadn't even heard Skyrim yet, except for the few trailers they have for it.

@SierraScorpion I have to disagree with you on Hanz... He is a good composer but if you listen, most of his works are almost exact copies, just with a few different tweaks. Disclaimer: He's still good... Honestly, Syrim has the best soundtrack if you ask me...

Sorry, but I have to say I was very disappointed with CoD's music and thinks it had nothing to do with the fact that it sold a lot..

uhhh the last time CoD had a good soundtrack was CoD 2, after that it got really generic and wasn't anything special.

Am I the only one who doesn't remember any of the COD soundtracks? I don't understand how people are saying MW2 had the best soundtrack of all time.... Have any of you played Halo? Even critics praise it to be the best video game soundtrack of all time... Seriously, and I agree with them, Halo's soundtrack cannot and will not be beat for years to come, AND THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO HATES HALO.

Anxiously waiting the day this series dies.

His work on Cod: WaW was absolutely amazing!

Assasin Creed got the best of all ;)

A game feels empty with out music. Music also has a great effect on the athmosphere and can make a storyline feel dramatic in everyway. In my opinion, with all respect to hans zimmer, the music of modern warfare 1 was better, but they all sound the same, the music in MW2 varied more in comparison of each other. Waiting on MW3 hope the campaign will be better than ever

I've always liked the music in WaW and Black Ops. Hearing metal music creeping in during an orchestral piece is awesome

Guy ain't no Hans Zimmer. MW2 was the best game soundtrack I've ever heard. Seriously. I hope to God they keep Zimmer for MW3.

Lords of Shadow had greatly composed tracks... I also love Homefront's music. :D

@marioSNAKEeyes I love music from Devil May Cry 3, HALF-LIFE 2: Episode Two, Need for Speed - Most Wanted, TEKKEN 5, TEKKEN 6, MW2, Unreal Tournament 2004, MASS EFFECT 2, Split/Second and LOST PLANET 2. I have yet to check out COD BO and I wanted to try Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Good to know that great music is waiting: :D

The zombie soundtrack was fantastic!

amazing music,sh*t game

I for one turn off the music (where possible) on every game I play, I don't want to listen to music when the sweet song of my M-60 is all my ears need to hear.

Thanks for the info: Imho that when there is a video game music really outstanding from the large mass of insignificant ones it is crucial to value the composer behind it and with this, the category as such.