Older cubers discussions

Very nice.. One tip for fast Letter orientation. First remember the A, E, I, M, Q and U. If you can point them with a finger (Blind) in one second then it is quite easy to spot N or a P or L or what ever.. And after doing some solves you will find that some come without thinking.

Actually, I don't use Speffz. I use my own system but yes, I remember where a few letters are like where 'A' is to figure out B, C, D...
 
Nice!! I just now realise you are not far off my times. I just had a new Pb with my CX3 ao12 00:22.07 and then the next solve was 19.XX making a new ao12 PB of 21.78 ;)

Indeed... You are quite close. I need to get faster ;) I'm still getting used to the brighter colours.
 
Marcel, how do you practice BLD? Because I have been practicing different parts so far... not really doing the full thing. Like, a couple days ago I was writing down the letter pairs and then solving the cube without looking at the cube but looking at the "cheat sheet" instead. I think I would practice some more like this sometimes. And then yesterday and today I practiced some edges only with memo. So I actually didn't write down the letter pairs. I practiced finding the letters/stickers faster (I'm getting better) as well as setup and undo setup moves (more comfortable now) and did only edges. Sometimes I failed though and I wish I had not used a hand scramble so I could see what I did wrong. I still have not done any timing.

Also, I think the way I memo the edges is called "audio"? Can someone confirm this? Take Marcel's example: UJ OW IH DA NG
I would just read it as written something like "ujow ih dang" or "a joe ihh dang" making the H more pronounced in the sound. Sometimes if there are many consonants in a row like "PT JK MS" I would memo as something like "pot joke mess" and I don't seem to get confused about where the real vowels are.

Oh yeah, and for corners, I haven't yet figured out what memo system I'm going to use for it. I was thinking that in practice I would memo corners first (and safer) and then do memo edges because memory maybe more short term? I've heard of visual, numbers and tapping the corner, letter pairs (again), roman rooms, journey, making long detailed story (images). Sorry if some of these are actually the same thing. I'm totally a BLD noob. But I was thinking that I am always good at memorizing music so was trying to think if there is a system where I can memorize it like a tune and maybe also numbers (I'm pretty good with numbers too). I wonder if this has been tried before. I have no idea if it will be any good. I'm just thinking...
 
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Marcel, how do you practice BLD?

Well, I do like this.. I handscramble the cube. Then, I solve cross on any side that I like. Then I make one or two pairs. This leaves about 5 - 6 edges and 4- 5 corners. Then I just start memo. I always do edges first since these are the hardest. This may sound as a stupid way to practice. But it gives me more successes and it helps me get used to memo/letter finding etc.

I use words for letter pairs. UJ = huge NG = nacht (ducth word for night).. I must confess that after my second BLD success I have not tried once.. I am little bumped out about how hard it is. I will pick it up again one of these days because I going to two competitions where I registered BLD ;)
 
BLD is not that hard, really. Keep doing it and it well eventually come easy. (That said after doing 5 dnfs on a row in the build up for today's comp, keep an eye on cubecomps!)
 
Also, I think the way I memo the edges is called "audio"? Can someone confirm this? Take Marcel's example: UJ OW IH DA NG
I would just read it as written something like "ujow ih dang" or "a joe ihh dang" making the H more pronounced in the sound. Sometimes if there are many consonants in a row like "PT JK MS" I would memo as something like "pot joke mess" and I don't seem to get confused about where the real vowels are.
Oh yeah, and for corners, I haven't yet figured out what memo system I'm going to use for it. I was thinking that in practice I would memo corners first (and safer) and then do memo edges because memory maybe more short term? I've heard of visual, numbers and tapping the corner, letter pairs (again), roman rooms, journey, making long detailed story (images). Sorry if some of these are actually the same thing.
That is indeed audio, where you make a one syllable sound that you can automatically associate with the letter pair that you are memorizing.
This is usually a very short term memory specially if you are making those associations on the spot. Best is to create a table with the best short words that you can think of so that next time is automatic. Personally I use it for corners, since there are usually around 7 targets, instead of the ~11, for edges.
Since it's usually impossible to associate these short words in a meaningful sequence, this method is usually used to memorize last and solve first, while those that use more powerful images that last longer in your memory to last.
My utmost respect to you for trying to practice BLD with a handful of small kids running around. I can only assume it's easier to make like an ice sculpt exhibition in central Africa :)
 
My utmost respect to you for trying to practice BLD with a handful of small kids running around. I can only assume it's easier to make like an ice sculpt exhibition in central Africa :)

LOL, ditto that. I also do not understand She got a 13 second sinlge on the first competition.. Melody is hardcore cuber ;)

Marcel, have you been practicing colour neutrality?
Because I saw you do an orange cross solve in your cx3 unboxing.

No, I do not practice CN, I am CN. I only solve CN, I made the switch december 2012. Have been using CN ever since then. Right know I try to get back to single cross color (to see if it speeds up my times) but my times are worse on single color.
 
You may like to know that I have a 19.42 Ao5 video in the works. I may be uploading that if I don't get any faster averages on camera. But no promises yet...

EDIT: I would if I can convert MP4 to something that Windows Movie Maker accepts...
 
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You may like to know that I have a 19.42 Ao5 video in the works. I may be uploading that if I don't get any faster averages on camera. But no promises yet...

EDIT: I would if I can convert MP4 to something that Windows Movie Maker accepts...

Isn't it funny that Windows Movie Maker can work with m2ts streams but not with mp4? Lol
 
That is indeed audio, where you make a one syllable sound that you can automatically associate with the letter pair that you are memorizing.
This is usually a very short term memory specially if you are making those associations on the spot. Best is to create a table with the best short words that you can think of so that next time is automatic. Personally I use it for corners, since there are usually around 7 targets, instead of the ~11, for edges.
Since it's usually impossible to associate these short words in a meaningful sequence, this method is usually used to memorize last and solve first, while those that use more powerful images that last longer in your memory to last.
Thanks for confirming about it being audio memo. Yes, I make the associations on the spot right now (I guess cuz I'm still a noob?) but if two letter pairs in a row make a sound easy to memorize (like the DA NG) then I will memorize it as one sound instead of two. And sometimes if it looks better between letter pairs like "HC UB EA" for example I will remember "H CUBE A" instead. I also picture the letters in my mind while I do the audio thing actually. Yes, I was thinking I would memo it last and do edges first with the audio method. Also I look around the cube at the start and see if there are any flipped edges in place. I don't memorize letters for those but instead leave those edges to last and just remember where it is on the cube. I guess that part of it is "visual"?

My utmost respect to you for trying to practice BLD with a handful of small kids running around. I can only assume it's easier to make like an ice sculpt exhibition in central Africa :)
Oh, I have a lot of help at home right now. (We have a nanny and my father who comes a few times a week and my husband.) They mainly help with the three older kids while I am nursing the two babies all day and all night long... (feels like that anyway... I only got about 2 hours of sleep total in a bed in the last 24 hours and dozed in a recliner for short periods at a time). When I'm sitting there nursing and not sleeping I don't have much better to do so I grab my cube and stare at it and practice BLD. It's better than sighted solving because BLD doesn't require me to turn the cube and make noise to disturb the babies. And when I am doing the solving part, I can turn more slowly and carefully to stay quiet. Funny how everytime I had a baby I practiced something different. Last time I practiced OH because of only having one hand at a time.

LOL, ditto that. I also do not understand She got a 13 second sinlge on the first competition.. Melody is hardcore cuber ;)
Nah, I'm not hardcore. If I didn't have all the kids running around, then maybe I'd be. And I would be doing big cubes too. As it is, I'm not even into 4x4. If you didn't go to comp until you were much faster you could also boast awesome times for your "first competition". I would have gone to competition the year previous and probably would only get ~23 at best... my 3rd kid was barely a month then though so that's why I didn't go.

Edit: Just timed my first BLD (edges only) solve. 2:05.89 memo and execution.
 
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