Focus: Intermediate Monkey variations
Bent-Arm Frogger seems ok - no shoulder discomfort. High Monkey is what it is - one always wants to get closer and closer to a full cartwheel, but at least I feel stable. 180 Monkey is the one where I've struggled the most. I think I've solved it though. I figured out that placing my palm heel slightly behind my ankle, instead of in line with the ankle, makes the move a lot easier to execute slowly. I don't feel as much of a need to cheat by using momentum and timing.
For the Push Circuit, I started to slow down and just try to move beautifully instead of rushing. I did not feel less of a workout at all by doing this; I was still getting pretty gassed, but at least the slop was cut down.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Elements Week 6, Day 1
I actually practiced Day 1 yesterday, so this is actually a makeup blog entry...
Focus: Bear, Bent-Arm Bear, and Spiderman
This session emphasized the intermediate variations of the Bear. I'm still getting the hang of the Spiderman - still not as smooth as I'd like to be, but I seem to be betting better at it. Bent-Arm Bear is as challenging as always because I haven't worked on it that much.
The Push Circuit was pretty tough. I could feel my form getting away by the 3rd round. The Spiderman portion of the circuit served as a break of sorts, as I was unable to execute it with the "push speed". Another difficulty with the Push Circuit is not being able to remember the sequence of movements to practice, and thus having to lose some training time to look up what movement I'm supposed to be on.
Focus: Bear, Bent-Arm Bear, and Spiderman
This session emphasized the intermediate variations of the Bear. I'm still getting the hang of the Spiderman - still not as smooth as I'd like to be, but I seem to be betting better at it. Bent-Arm Bear is as challenging as always because I haven't worked on it that much.
The Push Circuit was pretty tough. I could feel my form getting away by the 3rd round. The Spiderman portion of the circuit served as a break of sorts, as I was unable to execute it with the "push speed". Another difficulty with the Push Circuit is not being able to remember the sequence of movements to practice, and thus having to lose some training time to look up what movement I'm supposed to be on.
Friday, May 25, 2018
Elements Week 5, Day 5 and a bit of 6H update
Falling behind again in logging my training sessions. I believe Day 3's focus was the 180 Monkey + Frogger combo move, so that one moves in a square. I just remember struggling once again with the 180 Monkey.
Today's focus: Banzai Frogger and Frogger-Frogger Transition
As expected, 10 min. of Banzai Frogger is a bit more demanding on the lower body than the regular version. There's something about being in a deep squat that prevents me from holding my arms vertically above my head; instead the highest I can raise my arms is about 45 degrees.
At least my Frogger-Frogger with backstep transition is getting a little smoother.
As for other training, I've been working Squatting Monkey and "skin breathing standing" into my 6H training routine. Squatting Monkey is a training method found in the rare martial art Dai Family Xinyi. One of the basic concepts of 6H movement is the use of the "dantian" as the engine of all movement. The "lower dantian" encompasses the abdominal and lower back muscles. One of the ways we begin learning how to use the dantian is in the practice of "opening" and "closing". In opening, the back of the dantian pulls on the whole body, to extend the arms, move the knees outward, etc. In closing, the front of the dantian pulls on the whole body to contract the arms, pull the knees inward, etc. Ideally, this pulling happens along the muscle-tendon channels, as an alternative to "normal" muscle usage.
Squatting Monkey can be an effective method for training the closing movement. I guess that's why the Dai family came up with this exercise for their martial art. On the 6H discussion group, some folks who train in that martial art posted a very helpful video. The tip to "pull the ground up through the feet" really helps establish a good ground-to-dantian connection during the inhale, while the dantian pulls the elbows together, rotates the thumbs outward, etc. Similarly, the tip to push the ground down through the feet upon the exhale helps maintain the ground-to-dantian connection while the back pulls the elbows apart, rotates the little fingers outward, etc.
There is some disagreement within the 6H/"internal" martial arts community whether Squatting Monkey should be practiced without first learning it in person from a qualified teacher. It is indeed an exercise that can pose an injury risk to the back without some care and preparation. Those who had had previous or concurrent low back issues may want to consult a doctor. Another risk is that this exercise includes reverse breathing, and thus poses the same risk as reverse breathing in general - done incorrectly it could induce excessive pressure on the head and/or strain the lower back.
I'm hardly a qualified teacher, but based on my limited experience, these exercises should probably be practiced first, probably in this order:
Basic reverse breathing - take it easy at first so you don't strain your back, and don't add pressure to your head:
https://vimeo.com/169452695
Intro to reverse breathing with functional Qi - learning how to use the dantian to pull along the muscle tendon channels during the inhale. You'll want to be pretty comfortable with basic reverse breathing before trying this one:
https://vimeo.com/167948081
Functional Qi reverse breathing for bypassing the shoulder muscles - this may be more optional, because unless I missed it, Mr. Sigman does not really explain how the exhalation drives the movement. The inhalation phase of these movements though are useful to practice by themselves, to further develop the functional Qi breathing introduced in the previous video.
https://vimeo.com/167546796
Concurrently with the reverse breathing stuff, zhan zhuang/standing post should also be practiced, with a focus on Jin development - well technically, the potential for Jin manifestation, which is what functional Qi is about. Without another person to provide some kind of pressure, Jin is not actually manifested, but we need to develop the ability to manifest Jin instantly, upon contact. I've found that zhan zhuang really helps relax the shoulders, especially as I progressed to zhan zhuang for 10 minutes or longer. When I first tried zhan zhuang, I really struggled with my shoulders getting fatigued early. After I learned to use Jin, I soon realized that visualizing Jin could be used to reduce or even eliminate the fatigue - specifically Jin to the head by imagining a light weight on top of the head, and Jin to the top of the hands by imagining a light weight there as well; in both cases using ground Jin instead of shoulder muscle to support the imaginary weight. So far my personal record is about 22 minutes, because I forgot to activate the timer - my shoulders weren't perfectly relaxed, but fatigue was coming and going due to my Jin practice and I was feeling a lot more sore in my calves and quads than my shoulders.
An exercise taught by that Dai Xinyi group to complement Squatting Monkey is "skin breathing". This is a variation on zhan zhuang, in which the reverse-breath inhale causes the front of the dantian to pull the shoulders and hips inward, then the knees and elbows, then the hands; while also pulling the ground up the feet as in Squatting Monkey. The exhale is timed with the back of the dantian pulling the limbs outward and pulling the shoulders away from the hips, making the body appear to straighten. Skin breathing is thus a much more "softer" way to train the dantian to close and open the body than Squatting Monkey. The idea is by training these two exercises - the harder pull of the dantian in Squatting Monkey with the really pronounced close; and the far gentler pull in skin breathing - one can eventually develop the ability to open/close at any point between the two extremes.
6H movement has many more variations than just inhale to close the front of the body, and exhale to open the body (by "closing" the back); for example there's forceful exhalation to close and inhalation to open; and there's also opening one side (right or left) of the body while closing the other - the "hidden hand punch" in Taijiquan being a classic example.
It seems like the Dai family was onto something by having students work intensely on dantian closing/opening at the very beginning. The very basic closing movement has been hard for me to learn, because I haven't felt the pull from the dantien, through the muscle-tendon connections (Qi) all the way out to the thumbs during the reverse-breath inhale, except in Mike Sigman's very basic exercise in which one leans back with the arms straight out to the sides. Squatting Monkey has been really good for developing those connections during the closing movement.
Today's focus: Banzai Frogger and Frogger-Frogger Transition
As expected, 10 min. of Banzai Frogger is a bit more demanding on the lower body than the regular version. There's something about being in a deep squat that prevents me from holding my arms vertically above my head; instead the highest I can raise my arms is about 45 degrees.
At least my Frogger-Frogger with backstep transition is getting a little smoother.
As for other training, I've been working Squatting Monkey and "skin breathing standing" into my 6H training routine. Squatting Monkey is a training method found in the rare martial art Dai Family Xinyi. One of the basic concepts of 6H movement is the use of the "dantian" as the engine of all movement. The "lower dantian" encompasses the abdominal and lower back muscles. One of the ways we begin learning how to use the dantian is in the practice of "opening" and "closing". In opening, the back of the dantian pulls on the whole body, to extend the arms, move the knees outward, etc. In closing, the front of the dantian pulls on the whole body to contract the arms, pull the knees inward, etc. Ideally, this pulling happens along the muscle-tendon channels, as an alternative to "normal" muscle usage.
Squatting Monkey can be an effective method for training the closing movement. I guess that's why the Dai family came up with this exercise for their martial art. On the 6H discussion group, some folks who train in that martial art posted a very helpful video. The tip to "pull the ground up through the feet" really helps establish a good ground-to-dantian connection during the inhale, while the dantian pulls the elbows together, rotates the thumbs outward, etc. Similarly, the tip to push the ground down through the feet upon the exhale helps maintain the ground-to-dantian connection while the back pulls the elbows apart, rotates the little fingers outward, etc.
There is some disagreement within the 6H/"internal" martial arts community whether Squatting Monkey should be practiced without first learning it in person from a qualified teacher. It is indeed an exercise that can pose an injury risk to the back without some care and preparation. Those who had had previous or concurrent low back issues may want to consult a doctor. Another risk is that this exercise includes reverse breathing, and thus poses the same risk as reverse breathing in general - done incorrectly it could induce excessive pressure on the head and/or strain the lower back.
I'm hardly a qualified teacher, but based on my limited experience, these exercises should probably be practiced first, probably in this order:
Basic reverse breathing - take it easy at first so you don't strain your back, and don't add pressure to your head:
https://vimeo.com/169452695
Intro to reverse breathing with functional Qi - learning how to use the dantian to pull along the muscle tendon channels during the inhale. You'll want to be pretty comfortable with basic reverse breathing before trying this one:
https://vimeo.com/167948081
Functional Qi reverse breathing for bypassing the shoulder muscles - this may be more optional, because unless I missed it, Mr. Sigman does not really explain how the exhalation drives the movement. The inhalation phase of these movements though are useful to practice by themselves, to further develop the functional Qi breathing introduced in the previous video.
https://vimeo.com/167546796
Concurrently with the reverse breathing stuff, zhan zhuang/standing post should also be practiced, with a focus on Jin development - well technically, the potential for Jin manifestation, which is what functional Qi is about. Without another person to provide some kind of pressure, Jin is not actually manifested, but we need to develop the ability to manifest Jin instantly, upon contact. I've found that zhan zhuang really helps relax the shoulders, especially as I progressed to zhan zhuang for 10 minutes or longer. When I first tried zhan zhuang, I really struggled with my shoulders getting fatigued early. After I learned to use Jin, I soon realized that visualizing Jin could be used to reduce or even eliminate the fatigue - specifically Jin to the head by imagining a light weight on top of the head, and Jin to the top of the hands by imagining a light weight there as well; in both cases using ground Jin instead of shoulder muscle to support the imaginary weight. So far my personal record is about 22 minutes, because I forgot to activate the timer - my shoulders weren't perfectly relaxed, but fatigue was coming and going due to my Jin practice and I was feeling a lot more sore in my calves and quads than my shoulders.
An exercise taught by that Dai Xinyi group to complement Squatting Monkey is "skin breathing". This is a variation on zhan zhuang, in which the reverse-breath inhale causes the front of the dantian to pull the shoulders and hips inward, then the knees and elbows, then the hands; while also pulling the ground up the feet as in Squatting Monkey. The exhale is timed with the back of the dantian pulling the limbs outward and pulling the shoulders away from the hips, making the body appear to straighten. Skin breathing is thus a much more "softer" way to train the dantian to close and open the body than Squatting Monkey. The idea is by training these two exercises - the harder pull of the dantian in Squatting Monkey with the really pronounced close; and the far gentler pull in skin breathing - one can eventually develop the ability to open/close at any point between the two extremes.
6H movement has many more variations than just inhale to close the front of the body, and exhale to open the body (by "closing" the back); for example there's forceful exhalation to close and inhalation to open; and there's also opening one side (right or left) of the body while closing the other - the "hidden hand punch" in Taijiquan being a classic example.
It seems like the Dai family was onto something by having students work intensely on dantian closing/opening at the very beginning. The very basic closing movement has been hard for me to learn, because I haven't felt the pull from the dantien, through the muscle-tendon connections (Qi) all the way out to the thumbs during the reverse-breath inhale, except in Mike Sigman's very basic exercise in which one leans back with the arms straight out to the sides. Squatting Monkey has been really good for developing those connections during the closing movement.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Elements Week 5, Day 1
Focus: Spiderman and Bear To Bear
For the most basic level of Spiderman, I need to work on straightening the back leg. To be able to do that may require a combination of reaching forward far enough with the lead hand, and bringing the lead foot far enough forward. For the next level, which adds the quasi-pushup, the difficulty level was about the same as the basic Spiderman. Clearly, good form in the basic Spiderman reduces the difficulty level of the pushing version quite a bit.
Had to skip the cooldown section to leave for my day job. Need to do better with my time management.
For the most basic level of Spiderman, I need to work on straightening the back leg. To be able to do that may require a combination of reaching forward far enough with the lead hand, and bringing the lead foot far enough forward. For the next level, which adds the quasi-pushup, the difficulty level was about the same as the basic Spiderman. Clearly, good form in the basic Spiderman reduces the difficulty level of the pushing version quite a bit.
Had to skip the cooldown section to leave for my day job. Need to do better with my time management.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Elements helped this guy's shoulder heal
One of the reasons I started training under the Elements program again is the persistent soreness in my shoulder, as well as a feeling that it's just about ready to fall out of the socket. Parallettes One wasn't working for the shoulder - in fact it's known to be hard on the shoulders if they're not healthy. Rings One was ok, except for chinup/pullup motions. Thus, I decided to switch to Elements to keep up my strength training without aggravating the shoulder issue.
It turns out this man had an even worse shoulder problem than myself, and used Elements to help fix the problem .
Oh, and I finished Week 4 of Elements. Bear-Monkey-Frogger transition was ok for me, but in the free play portion, I struggled when I wanted to do a 180 Monkey
It turns out this man had an even worse shoulder problem than myself, and used Elements to help fix the problem .
Oh, and I finished Week 4 of Elements. Bear-Monkey-Frogger transition was ok for me, but in the free play portion, I struggled when I wanted to do a 180 Monkey
Wednesday, May 09, 2018
Elements Week 4 Day 3
Focus: Frogger to Monkey Transition #2
One advice in this program is to try to move as quietly as possible. Landing with a bang and stuff like that indicates a lack of motor control, strength, etc. For some reason, I was a bit noisier when twisting to my right for this transition. However, I did manage to reduce the noise by the end of the session.
High Monkey Push session was ok, although I almost fell over once, just as warned in the High Monkey instructional video.
Last week, I repeated Elements Week 3, as I had been on vacation for several weeks. Not much change in the BAPs/self assessments.
One advice in this program is to try to move as quietly as possible. Landing with a bang and stuff like that indicates a lack of motor control, strength, etc. For some reason, I was a bit noisier when twisting to my right for this transition. However, I did manage to reduce the noise by the end of the session.
High Monkey Push session was ok, although I almost fell over once, just as warned in the High Monkey instructional video.
Last week, I repeated Elements Week 3, as I had been on vacation for several weeks. Not much change in the BAPs/self assessments.
Wednesday, May 02, 2018
Xequence Master Class video series
Xequence is an app I've been looking at to capture MIDI data generated by other apps, especially generative MIDI apps such as Gestrument and Rozetta. However, I've had some trouble learning to use it, and was thus directed towards this instructional video series:
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/24988/xequence-master-class-parts-1-2-3
https://forum.audiob.us/discussion/24988/xequence-master-class-parts-1-2-3
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Elements: Week 3 Day 6
Focus: Review Transitions and BAP
Due to my upcoming schedule, I won't be able to continue Elements for about half a week. Also, the BAP portion of this workout takes 5 min per animal movement, plus 5 min. of free play before closing with the cooldown routine - that's 20 min. of extra training time I just didn't have today.
Bear To Bear - This was harder than expected. The shoulders fatigued quickly, but I was also noticing fatigue in both sides of the core (abs and low back). Because of the high level of effort, I was unable to really focus on keeping the butt up on the air as high as possible.
Frogger To Monkey #1 - This was quite a bit easier.
Frogger To Frogger - I've got some kind of hangup with the foot that is supposed to be pulled back getting a bit stuck on the floor, even after loading the hand. I just might be overthinking this movement.
Finished with a bit of Plow To Kneel transition, before practicing the prescribed cooldown routine. I added the Tripod Bridge since I just haven't practiced it in a while.
Tricky shoulder was feeling a bit loose but got better after the session.
Due to my upcoming schedule, I won't be able to continue Elements for about half a week. Also, the BAP portion of this workout takes 5 min per animal movement, plus 5 min. of free play before closing with the cooldown routine - that's 20 min. of extra training time I just didn't have today.
Bear To Bear - This was harder than expected. The shoulders fatigued quickly, but I was also noticing fatigue in both sides of the core (abs and low back). Because of the high level of effort, I was unable to really focus on keeping the butt up on the air as high as possible.
Frogger To Monkey #1 - This was quite a bit easier.
Frogger To Frogger - I've got some kind of hangup with the foot that is supposed to be pulled back getting a bit stuck on the floor, even after loading the hand. I just might be overthinking this movement.
Finished with a bit of Plow To Kneel transition, before practicing the prescribed cooldown routine. I added the Tripod Bridge since I just haven't practiced it in a while.
Tricky shoulder was feeling a bit loose but got better after the session.
Monday, March 19, 2018
Elements: Week 3 Day 5
Bear BAP - How is the comfort level in A-Frame? What are the angles of the shoulders, the lumbar, and the legs (knees)? Can the butt be kept in the air during the bear?
Monkey BAP - Comfort level in squat? When initially loading the hands - before and after the hop?
Frogger BAP - Assess Floating Table Top - Are we maintaining the push down the arms? Are the hips tucked in? How slowly can we go from this position into the squat?
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Elements: Week 3 Day 5
Focus: High Frogger and Backwards Frogger
High Frogger - Raised hips as high as possible out of the Floating Table. That is about as high as I was able to get but it is a start
Backwards Frogger- Had to place my hands slightly in front of my feet instead of between them. Maybe it is because of the length of my arms.
Overall not a bad first session with these two new moves.
I guess I should push harder on the push sections. I did one session of Frogger, and 2 each of Bear and Monkey.
For extra credit I got into the Plow and worked on transitioning out of it into being on my knees, on both sides. Managed to get onto my knees, transitioning over the left shoulder - I'd had trouble there because of tightness and probably fear due to the old shoulder injury being on that side.
High Frogger - Raised hips as high as possible out of the Floating Table. That is about as high as I was able to get but it is a start
Backwards Frogger- Had to place my hands slightly in front of my feet instead of between them. Maybe it is because of the length of my arms.
Overall not a bad first session with these two new moves.
I guess I should push harder on the push sections. I did one session of Frogger, and 2 each of Bear and Monkey.
For extra credit I got into the Plow and worked on transitioning out of it into being on my knees, on both sides. Managed to get onto my knees, transitioning over the left shoulder - I'd had trouble there because of tightness and probably fear due to the old shoulder injury being on that side.
What happened to Week 3, Day 3? That session focused on the Monkey 180. I did it but I'm starting to slip in logging my Elements sessions.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Octatrack: Comb Filter Tips
Source: https://www.elektronauts.com/t/ot-comb-filter-how-and-where-to-use/257
From darenager, offering some insight into how he created the sounds in Distant Drums:
It can be nice to use it for harmonies, set the feedback toward either near fully positive or negative, works nice on vocals giving an almost robot/vocoder feel, but also fun on hihats, pads, bass, erm everything. Oh and use an LFO on the pitch or tune to introduce a small amount of vibrato sounds nice too.
I don’t remember how many tracks on the tune in the video I used the comb filter but it was at least 3 IIRC, the sounds on each track were all made from that same scream sample by using very short looped sections, heavy use of filter for things like BD and bass line, hi hats, comb filter to provide body for the melodic sounds and also the kind of tubey/phasey bit via LFO.
(in reference to his album: https://darenager.bandcamp.com/album/selected-labs-ep)
Edit - ha, just remembered I used to have track 6 of this album as my ringtone. (From about 17 seconds in)
Edit 2 - Track 3 - Play 4 Ca$h also uses the comb filter quite extensively.
From Jon9:
A technique I use with the Comb Filter is to add harmonic content to beating oscillators and/or tonal shading stops when creating drones using the Octatrack as an effects processor. To add further movement to the Comb Filter harmonic tone send the Feedback as a LFO Destination to oscillate between hard negative or hard positive values. The LFO Depth determines how much Feedback oscillation and the LFO Speed determines how fast the Feedback oscillates. Tonal shading is multiple oscillators set at different intervals. Generally 8va or 8vb octave stops (32' 16' 8' 4' 2' 1').
I've had good results putting the comb filter on sounds that need more low end. Roll the freq way down low and you can get some nice beefing up type of FX.
Octatrack Tip Video on the Comb Filter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0bC8eCFa8o
From darenager, offering some insight into how he created the sounds in Distant Drums:
It can be nice to use it for harmonies, set the feedback toward either near fully positive or negative, works nice on vocals giving an almost robot/vocoder feel, but also fun on hihats, pads, bass, erm everything. Oh and use an LFO on the pitch or tune to introduce a small amount of vibrato sounds nice too.
I don’t remember how many tracks on the tune in the video I used the comb filter but it was at least 3 IIRC, the sounds on each track were all made from that same scream sample by using very short looped sections, heavy use of filter for things like BD and bass line, hi hats, comb filter to provide body for the melodic sounds and also the kind of tubey/phasey bit via LFO.
(in reference to his album: https://darenager.bandcamp.com/album/selected-labs-ep)
Edit - ha, just remembered I used to have track 6 of this album as my ringtone. (From about 17 seconds in)
Edit 2 - Track 3 - Play 4 Ca$h also uses the comb filter quite extensively.
From Jon9:
A technique I use with the Comb Filter is to add harmonic content to beating oscillators and/or tonal shading stops when creating drones using the Octatrack as an effects processor. To add further movement to the Comb Filter harmonic tone send the Feedback as a LFO Destination to oscillate between hard negative or hard positive values. The LFO Depth determines how much Feedback oscillation and the LFO Speed determines how fast the Feedback oscillates. Tonal shading is multiple oscillators set at different intervals. Generally 8va or 8vb octave stops (32' 16' 8' 4' 2' 1').
I've had good results putting the comb filter on sounds that need more low end. Roll the freq way down low and you can get some nice beefing up type of FX.
Octatrack Tip Video on the Comb Filter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0bC8eCFa8o
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Elements: Week 3, Day 1
Focus: Bent Arm Bear
The bent-arm version is more demanding, not that I expected it to to be easy. I took plenty of breaks during the prescribed 10-min. training period. The most notable area of improvement is to focus more on keeping the butt in the air. Seems like a reliable indicator of whether I'm keeping the butt high enough in any of the Bear variations, is whether I'm maintaining a stretch in the hamstrings. If I lose the stretching sensation, I've compromised my form.
For the Push section, I chose to practice one animal movement for each of the 5 1-min. sessions I did the standard Bear once, and the Monkey and Frogger twice each.
The bent-arm version is more demanding, not that I expected it to to be easy. I took plenty of breaks during the prescribed 10-min. training period. The most notable area of improvement is to focus more on keeping the butt in the air. Seems like a reliable indicator of whether I'm keeping the butt high enough in any of the Bear variations, is whether I'm maintaining a stretch in the hamstrings. If I lose the stretching sensation, I've compromised my form.
For the Push section, I chose to practice one animal movement for each of the 5 1-min. sessions I did the standard Bear once, and the Monkey and Frogger twice each.
Monday, March 12, 2018
SOMA Lyra-8 Organismic Synthesizer: Sound exploration notes
The Lyra-8 is a synthesizer that I bought after watching this video. I'm in a band in which I'm frequently asked to create the kind of sounds featured in the video. I also felt I could use those sounds in my own music.
The manual has a bit of instruction on usage of the synth. In addition, the SOMA website has image files showing settings to try. My comments/notes on these settings;
SHHHH - Makes me think of water; particularly a river or the seashore. Pitch knob can make it sound more like wind blowing. Sharp knob can be used to simulate a wave crashing upon a beach or perhaps a cliff.
Harsh Noise - Like the "SHHHH" setting, the sound seems primarily set up by turning both Mod knobs in the Mod Delay section all the way up. The Mod knobs on the 56 and 78 voices produce a variety of noise flavors. The Mod knobs on the lower voices also change the noise but not as dramatically. With Hold turned all the way down on all voices, the delay can still self-oscillate. Had to turn down both Mod knobs, and the FB knob to get it to stop. I think it's the Self/LFO switch
LFOnia - Fun rhythmic experimentation, but not suitable for the band, as my job in the band is provide soundscapes and noise, not supply rhythm.
Jimi - Good learning "patch" for practicing using the Mod knobs in the Voice section for pitch bends, as well as playing the touch sensors. Higher voices might be useful for "souls screaming in hell" type sounds. Nice technique is to touch the lower sensor first - this produces an upward pitch bend. Sensors are more sensitive at higher voice Mod settings. Great for animal sounds and stuff like that.
Fast Attack - Might actually be even better for "the screaming damned" type sounds, especially when run through a big reverb patch on the Eventide H9.
Eno - Nice ambient drone. Won't work well for the band because the well-defined pitches could conflict with the guitar, but worth exploring for solo stuff.
The manual has a bit of instruction on usage of the synth. In addition, the SOMA website has image files showing settings to try. My comments/notes on these settings;
SHHHH - Makes me think of water; particularly a river or the seashore. Pitch knob can make it sound more like wind blowing. Sharp knob can be used to simulate a wave crashing upon a beach or perhaps a cliff.
Harsh Noise - Like the "SHHHH" setting, the sound seems primarily set up by turning both Mod knobs in the Mod Delay section all the way up. The Mod knobs on the 56 and 78 voices produce a variety of noise flavors. The Mod knobs on the lower voices also change the noise but not as dramatically. With Hold turned all the way down on all voices, the delay can still self-oscillate. Had to turn down both Mod knobs, and the FB knob to get it to stop. I think it's the Self/LFO switch
LFOnia - Fun rhythmic experimentation, but not suitable for the band, as my job in the band is provide soundscapes and noise, not supply rhythm.
Jimi - Good learning "patch" for practicing using the Mod knobs in the Voice section for pitch bends, as well as playing the touch sensors. Higher voices might be useful for "souls screaming in hell" type sounds. Nice technique is to touch the lower sensor first - this produces an upward pitch bend. Sensors are more sensitive at higher voice Mod settings. Great for animal sounds and stuff like that.
Fast Attack - Might actually be even better for "the screaming damned" type sounds, especially when run through a big reverb patch on the Eventide H9.
Eno - Nice ambient drone. Won't work well for the band because the well-defined pitches could conflict with the guitar, but worth exploring for solo stuff.
Elements: Week 2, Day 6
I was going to do this workout last Saturday, but I had too many other things to do, and I was feeling some lingering soreness in the shoulders, upper back, etc. Thus, I did the Day 6 workout today instead.
Focus: Transitions
Most of the transitions were ok for me. The ones I need to work on:
Frogger To Frogger - I don't recall seeing this one in the initial version of Elements. It's just pulling a leg back to turn, instead of moving a leg forward. The tricky part for me is the placement of the hand that is needed for support.
180 Monkey - This transition was in the original Elements, but I seem to have forgotten how to do it properly.
Shoulder is feeling much better, and the calf flexibility is improved.
Focus: Transitions
Most of the transitions were ok for me. The ones I need to work on:
Frogger To Frogger - I don't recall seeing this one in the initial version of Elements. It's just pulling a leg back to turn, instead of moving a leg forward. The tricky part for me is the placement of the hand that is needed for support.
180 Monkey - This transition was in the original Elements, but I seem to have forgotten how to do it properly.
Shoulder is feeling much better, and the calf flexibility is improved.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
Today's Music Discoveries
Earache Records: Carcass - Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious [UK] [1991] [FLAC] (Full Album)
Clan Of Xymox - Louise
The Hope Blister - Spider And I
Pale Saints - Fine Friend (All Virgos Are Mad version)
A Guy Called Gerald ft Lisa May Voodoo Ray Official Music Video HQ
Michael Hedges / Holiday
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/track/sound-valentine-from-birdsong-of-the-mesozoic-ep
Heidi Berry - Below The Waves
Jon Hopkins - Light Through The Veins (Full 9 Minute HQ Version)
Clan Of Xymox - Louise
The Hope Blister - Spider And I
Pale Saints - Fine Friend (All Virgos Are Mad version)
A Guy Called Gerald ft Lisa May Voodoo Ray Official Music Video HQ
Michael Hedges / Holiday
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/track/sound-valentine-from-birdsong-of-the-mesozoic-ep
Heidi Berry - Below The Waves
Jon Hopkins - Light Through The Veins (Full 9 Minute HQ Version)
Friday, March 09, 2018
Elements: Week 2, Day 5
Day 4 was active recovery day, on which I practiced the Elements warmups, did some cando bar work and zhan zhuang, then some stretches.
My right knee as well as the left knee was starting to feel the effects of being a bit overzealous with the GMB foot health routine. It's important that any sideways motion of the ankle is not accompanied by sideways motion of the knee, which is easy enough to do when seated, but more difficult when I'm putting weight on the foot. The lack of an arch in my flat feet is probably contributing to instep soreness, plus I have turf toe from jamming the big toe on the mat in dojos, but adding knee pain to my feet pain is not an answer either. I will cut any weightbearing foot exercise that involves lateral motion of the ankle
Push focus: Monkey
Practice of the 3 animals was ok.
Push section was ok as well, though by that point, my wrists were fatigued. We're instructed to maintain a strong push throughout the Frogger, but it's particularly important for my questionable shoulder.
My right knee as well as the left knee was starting to feel the effects of being a bit overzealous with the GMB foot health routine. It's important that any sideways motion of the ankle is not accompanied by sideways motion of the knee, which is easy enough to do when seated, but more difficult when I'm putting weight on the foot. The lack of an arch in my flat feet is probably contributing to instep soreness, plus I have turf toe from jamming the big toe on the mat in dojos, but adding knee pain to my feet pain is not an answer either. I will cut any weightbearing foot exercise that involves lateral motion of the ankle
Push focus: Monkey
Practice of the 3 animals was ok.
Push section was ok as well, though by that point, my wrists were fatigued. We're instructed to maintain a strong push throughout the Frogger, but it's particularly important for my questionable shoulder.
Wednesday, March 07, 2018
Elements: Week 2 Day 3
Day 2 of course was an active recovery day.
Push focus: Monkey
I did the 3 5-min. sessions (one per animal) without a break between sessions, since breaks are allowed within each session anyway. Decent conditioning workout for me, as I hardly do any endurance training these days - biking to work time has been all but eliminated by a combination of injuries (the bruised calf a couple of months ago), needing time to clean the house for visitors, practicing Taijiquan stuff, etc.
I got through the Push Monkey portion of the workout - easy enough to do a 1-min. round when the movement is done as slowly as possible. Really trying to work on keeping the lower body airborne as long as possible.
Finished up with just a couple of reps of the Quadruped Twist to Roll to Plow from GMB's BJJ Mobility Routine. This is just a move I want to practice every now and then, because a lack of mobility is causing trouble in the "roll to plow" movement. Then finished with the prescribed cooldowns.
Push focus: Monkey
I did the 3 5-min. sessions (one per animal) without a break between sessions, since breaks are allowed within each session anyway. Decent conditioning workout for me, as I hardly do any endurance training these days - biking to work time has been all but eliminated by a combination of injuries (the bruised calf a couple of months ago), needing time to clean the house for visitors, practicing Taijiquan stuff, etc.
I got through the Push Monkey portion of the workout - easy enough to do a 1-min. round when the movement is done as slowly as possible. Really trying to work on keeping the lower body airborne as long as possible.
Finished up with just a couple of reps of the Quadruped Twist to Roll to Plow from GMB's BJJ Mobility Routine. This is just a move I want to practice every now and then, because a lack of mobility is causing trouble in the "roll to plow" movement. Then finished with the prescribed cooldowns.
Monday, March 05, 2018
Elements Week 2, Day 1
Push Day: Bear
This is the first Push day of the program. Apparently, it's practice of the 3 animal movements, followed by a "push" session in which the animal of the day is practiced for X number of rounds, finishing with stretches specific for that animal.
Bear - Seemed ok during the first couple of minutes the regular practice portion of the workout, but as fatigue began to accumulate, keeping my butt as high as possible got harder - or I would simply forget about it for a few seconds here and there. One sign that I've got my butt as high as possible, at my current level, is a stretch on the hamstrings. Once that stretch is lost, I know the butt is not at the height that it should be.
Monkey - Focused on rocking back into the full deep squat before initiating the next movement. I noticed I had a tendency to rush through the squat, instead of resetting into the squat, then rocking forward onto my toes to load the hands and arms.
Frogger - Too tired at this point to really concentrate on my form in the Floating Table Top, but did reasonably ok.
Push Bear - Was able to do full 1-min. rounds without stopping, but the butt wasn't as high as it could have been.
This is the first Push day of the program. Apparently, it's practice of the 3 animal movements, followed by a "push" session in which the animal of the day is practiced for X number of rounds, finishing with stretches specific for that animal.
Bear - Seemed ok during the first couple of minutes the regular practice portion of the workout, but as fatigue began to accumulate, keeping my butt as high as possible got harder - or I would simply forget about it for a few seconds here and there. One sign that I've got my butt as high as possible, at my current level, is a stretch on the hamstrings. Once that stretch is lost, I know the butt is not at the height that it should be.
Monkey - Focused on rocking back into the full deep squat before initiating the next movement. I noticed I had a tendency to rush through the squat, instead of resetting into the squat, then rocking forward onto my toes to load the hands and arms.
Frogger - Too tired at this point to really concentrate on my form in the Floating Table Top, but did reasonably ok.
Push Bear - Was able to do full 1-min. rounds without stopping, but the butt wasn't as high as it could have been.
Thursday, March 01, 2018
Elements: Week 1 Day 5
Focus: Review/practice all three animal movements.
Bear - A little better than last time, as far as keeping the butt in the air. As with the animals, taking it slow gives me a better opportunity to observe where I'm at with this movement and refine. One effect of keeping the butt in the air is the legs are getting less bent, adding a slight stretch to the hamstrings. I had previously achieved hamstring stretches while moving backwards in the Bear, but with stricter observation of butt height, the hammies get stretched in the forward direction too.
Monkey - Pretty much same as yesterday.
Frogger - Pretty much same as couple of days ago.
Cooldown - Got my heels onto the ground more easily in the A-Frame stretch. Exciting progress, as unlocking the calves is a good milestone on my quests to unlock the hamstrings and improve the strength and mobility of my feet.
Bear - A little better than last time, as far as keeping the butt in the air. As with the animals, taking it slow gives me a better opportunity to observe where I'm at with this movement and refine. One effect of keeping the butt in the air is the legs are getting less bent, adding a slight stretch to the hamstrings. I had previously achieved hamstring stretches while moving backwards in the Bear, but with stricter observation of butt height, the hammies get stretched in the forward direction too.
Monkey - Pretty much same as yesterday.
Frogger - Pretty much same as couple of days ago.
Cooldown - Got my heels onto the ground more easily in the A-Frame stretch. Exciting progress, as unlocking the calves is a good milestone on my quests to unlock the hamstrings and improve the strength and mobility of my feet.
Elements: Week 1 Day 4
Focus: Monkey
Squat - Tried to deliberately introduce an arch into my feet to relieve the instep soreness. I found that it was more effective to just put more weight toward the balls of the feet rather than the heels. Made lifting the chest a bit more of a challenge.
Monkey - All the BAP positions seemed to feel ok. Just have to be careful when moving to the left, because of the left shoulder. Focused on trying to swing the feet over as slowly as possible.
Squat - Tried to deliberately introduce an arch into my feet to relieve the instep soreness. I found that it was more effective to just put more weight toward the balls of the feet rather than the heels. Made lifting the chest a bit more of a challenge.
Monkey - All the BAP positions seemed to feel ok. Just have to be careful when moving to the left, because of the left shoulder. Focused on trying to swing the feet over as slowly as possible.
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