Since getting my new camera angle and capture setup working on my latest videos, this has been the #1 request by far: to redo TTFAF.<br /><br />I kinda wanted to do it anyway, because looking back at my old TTFAF vids, they're such poor video quality. I never get to see what my hands are doing either, so I wanted to see this video too! ;-)<br /><br />I think the reason people wanted to see this is to see more closely how I play it with drum sticks. So for some of the trickier sticking parts, I've slowed it down for a few bars and used a Kameo-esque "warrior focus" mode for added effect. I kinda like it. I only did it in parts that are repetitive so that you could also see it played at normal speed in other parts of the song.<br /><br />This will be my last TTFAF video. I love the song, but it's just too big a mountain to climb. It takes me a 1/2 hour of warm up just to be able to pass it. I practiced it for a couple hours earlier in the day just to try and get back to how good I was at it when I 5-star'd it ( http://youtube.com/watch?v=-RS6kwWklR4 ) and even so I couldn't quite reach 5 stars (missed it by a measly 5,000 points! If I'd 'a just hit some of those easy SP phrases in the solos, or just not botched the intro... ugh, I'm full of regret... ah well, I have to move on.)<br /><br />This was my 3rd take of the night and by the 4th one I could barely get through the intro. It's just so tiring! Sweat dripping off my face while I'm playing this. Seriously. But hey, it's a great workout!<br /><br />Thanks for watching yet another TTFAF video. I really appreciate my subscribers. You guys make it easy to ignore the haters. So I'm glad you like these videos. I enjoy making them.<br /><br />FAQ:<br />----<br />Q: How does it work?<br />A: Everything is explained in detail here: http://egyokeo.com/midihero<br /><br />Q: How do you do 3-note chords?<br />A: All "two adjacent note" power chords are mapped to the top 4 pads, so with two sticks I can play any 3-note chord except GYO. But I can get that with one stick in left hand and two fingers on right hand.<br /><br />Q: How do you do whammy and star power?<br />A: I use a bass drum pedal on my right foot to activate star power, and a hi-hat pedal on my left foot to control whammy depth.<br /><br />Q: How do you hold notes?<br />A: My MIDI Hero software has an auto-hold feature for every note hit because it's more natural for a drummer to play that way. It's not a good feeling to mash sticks into drum pads to hold notes.<br /><br />Q: Which video editor do you use?<br />A: My earlier videos were made with Windows Movie Maker. My latest videos are made Ulead MediaStudio Pro 8.<br /><br />Q: How much does this cost?<br />A: The drumKat is a pro-quality MIDI drum pad set. These days, they run about $1k but I bought my set years ago. I also use a PC to run my custom home-brew MIDI Hero software to interpret the drum events. Then the "XIM" and "XFPS" add another $100+. This is not made for the masses. This is a one-of-a-kind setup.<br /><br />Q: Do you play real drums? Are you in a band?<br />A: Yes, I've been playing drums since 1986. I have been in various bands from Jazz to Ska over the years. Right now I'm in the Detroit-based ska band The Exceptions.<br /><br />Q: Is "MIDI Hero" available to the public?<br />A: Yes, the details are on my website.<br />.
