By the way, Topre-branded keyboards and keyboards that use similar electrostatic capacitive key mechanisms are already much quieter than other mechanical keyboard designs. Thanks to a combined spring-and-dome mechanism, they have a “THONK” sound rather than a more audible “CLICK.”. Keycap Clicks 1 cherry mx clear switch Mechanical keyboard clicking. Different keys Cherry mx clear mechanical switches The Cherry MX Clear switch is a medium stiff, tactile, non-clicky mechanical keyboard switch in the Cherry MX family. The slider is not actually clear but colourless (in effect, translucent white). Thats why i bought black switches.I tested the red ones on a Black Widow Ultimate, so noisy. The black switches are awesome, much quieter than any keyboard i tested under 45E along with as i mentioned other mechanical ones which is rather awesome, and well i got to admit the feeling of pressing them down so they slide instead of clacking is rather better than the other CLACK CLACK CLACK easy.

What is a mechanical keyboard, anyway?

Most people think of mechanical keyboards as “clicky” keyboards like this:

Clicky keyboards are a good entry point to the larger world of mechanical keyboards, because most clicky keyboards are, in fact, mechanical keyboards. But not all mechanical keyboards are clicky keyboards. Some mechanical keyboards have a tactile typing sensation but no audible click. Some have smooth keys with no ‘bump’ at all. And there are dozens of variations on each type of switch — whatever typing sensation and sound you prefer, you can find a mechanical keyboard that fits your taste.

Mechanical keyboards…

• Have an individual switch under each key: This, rather than clickiness, is the #1 defining characteristic of mechanical keyboards. Unlike mass-produced keyboards that contain squishy rubber domes over a membrane contact sheet, mechanical keyboards have individual metal & plastic keyswitches, usually containing a spring, that determine the characteristics of a keypress. The switches determine how tactile or smooth a keypress is, how clicky or silent a keypress is, and how much force is required. While a keyboard’s materials and engineering also affect its overall feel, it’s fair to say that a mechanical keyboard is defined by its switches.

• Are often clicky: Many–but not all–mechanical keyboards are loud and clicky. Some are smooth and silent. It all depends on the type of switch. Your own choice of switch comes down to personal preference and what you plan to use the keyboard for. Are you primarily a typist? A gamer?

The benefits of using a mechanical keyboard include:

• Faster and more precise input: If you use your keyboard mostly for typing, you will likely want to select a clicky or tactile mechanical keyboard. Physiologically, clickiness and tactility promote typing rhythm, speed, and accuracy. Precision switches permit a lighter touch than squishy rubber domes, speeding you up even more and reducing the chances of repetitive stress injury. Similarly, if you use your keyboard for gaming, you will benefit from the faster, more precise input offered by gaming-centric (often linear) switches.

• Longevity: The switches on a mechanical keyboard are much more durable than the rubber-dome-over-membrane construction found in mass-produced keyboards. At minimum, they can withstand tens of millions of keystrokes. If one key starts to act up, you can just replace that switch–you don’t have to junk the whole keyboard.

• Appearance and Customizability: Most mass-produced keyboards look like what they are: unremarkable hunks of plastic. In contrast, mechanical keyboards tend to be more aesthetically pleasing–more like something you’d actually want to put on your desk. Plus, you can easily customize your mechanical keyboard’s appearance by purchasing aftermarket keycaps sets and other accessories.

• Desk Space and Ergonomics: Mechanical keyboards come in a variety of form factors, including smaller sizes such as tenkeyless and 60%. These slim designs are easier to center relative to your body and occupy much less space on your desk. They also allow you to bring your mouse closer to your body, which many people find beneficial for shoulder and other joint health.

• Zen: Simply put, mechanical keyboards feel good and are fun to use. Many people even find that they promote relaxation. For me, having a mechanical keyboard turns typing from a mundane, unremarkable task to a pleasurable activity I enjoy. Mechanical keyboards make computer work more fun.

Key Sound Generator Better Mechanical Keyboard Sound

Of course, strictly speaking, the term “mechanical keyboard” is wrong–after all, any keyboard that has moving parts is technically a mechanical device. (Here is a rare example of a non-mechanical keyboard.) “Mechanical keyboard” is actually short for “mechanical switch keyboard,” but that’s too long, so we drop the “switch” part.

How do mechanicals compare to mass-produced keyboards?

There are two issues at play — the typing mechanism and the overall build quality.

With regard to the typing mechanism, mechanical keyboards are categorically different than the cheap keyboards included with most computers, or the keyboards you see for sale at Best Buy. Open up a typical keyboard and you won’t find mechanical switches. Instead, you’ll find a sheet of doughy rubber bubbles (or scissor switches) atop a thin membrane. Without any tactile or aural feedback to signify a successful keypress, rubber dome keyboards are far less satisfying to type on than mechanicals.

Key Sound Generator Better Mechanical Keyboard Sounds

However, the typing mechanism is not the only determinant of keyboard quality and experience. The overall construction of a keyboard also affects the user experience. A weak frame, loose tolerances, or cheap plastic can negatively affect the typing experience whether a keyboard is a rubber dome or mechanical.

The distinction I want to make is this: rubber dome is not synonymous with poor quality. Rubber dome keyboards can be well-built, and in fact, many 1980s/1990s models were very high quality. I’d still take a good mechanical over most of them, but they aren’t half-bad to type on. Today’s rubber domes tend to be produced as cheaply as possible, which makes them extra bad.

Why is this distinction important? Because just as rubber dome is not necessarily synonymous with poor quality, mechanical is not necessarily synonymous with good quality. On average, mechanical keyboards do tend to have better build quality since their raison d’être is a better typing experience — but this isn’t always the case. A keyboard with mechanical switches but terrible construction can be an even worse experience than a rubber dome!

The takeaways are: 1) There are varying levels of quality even among mechanical keyboards, and 2) if you bash rubber domes (a popular topic of discussion online), at least be clear about what aspect you’re bashing — the domes themselves, or overall poor build quality.

Key Sound Generator Better Mechanical Keyboard Sound

Scissor Switches

Scissor switch keyboards are the other common type of keyboard in production today, and are used in thin keyboards and laptops. Think of laptops like the MacBook that have chiclet keys — those are scissor switch boards.

Underneath the keys of scissor switch keyboards are thin rubber domes stabilized by flat “X”-shaped, hinged mechanisms. So, scissor switches are fundamentally the same as rubber domes–there’s just an extra mechanism to hold the keycaps in place and regulate their travel.

Although some people like scissor switch keyboards, I and most other members of the mechanical keyboard community do not like them. Due to their short key travel, they tend to be very unremarkable, boring, and uncomfortable to type on. They’re great for thin design applications, but do not make much sense for extended typing or gaming.

So there you have it–the definition of mechanical keyboards and what sets them apart from mass-produced keyboards. Now, let me get philosophical and explain why you should switch to a mechanical keyboard RIGHT NOW. 🙂

You certainly didn’t spend your hard-earned cash on a quality keyboard and put in all that practice for your keyboard to sound bad. Buzzes, hums, and regular old noise can be our worst enemies, but you can conquer them. Use these four tips to ensure your keyboard sounds its best!

Gain staging for keyboard rigs

The idea behind gain staging is fairly simple: achieve clean sound by setting an appropriate volume (gain) at each step (or stage) in the audio chain. This is a critical component of maximizing your sound quality.

Figure 1 illustrates poor gain staging. This audio chain begins with a low signal, is boosted in the next step, then is lowered and raised in subsequent steps. At each yellow bar, noise and distortion is added to the signal, as the audio gear works harder to make up for the low gain of the previous stage.

To achieve proper gain staging, start with a healthy level and maintain it every step of the way (figure 2).

For keyboard players, this means a few things (watch this video to see the demonstrations):

1. Check your internal patch volume settings. Each sound has a MIDI volume level ranging from 0-127. There’s no great reason to set the MIDI volume below 100, so keep it in triple digits.

2. Back your keyboard’s master volume slider off to 80%. If it’s all the way up, you are pushing your keyboard’s output stage to the max. At that point, it’s bound to be distorting. The goal is to not overwork any part of the signal chain, so back the main volume slider down a bit.

3. If you are using a mixer to combine different keyboard/synth sources, aim to get each channel’s input, as well as the mixer output, to 0 db, or unity. Again, watch this video to see these techniques demonstrated.

Know your keyboard’s output options

Keyboards have have different numbers and types of output plugs. Your keyboard is most likely to have either one output or three. If your board has three outputs, two will be mono outputs, and the other a stereo headphone output. If you are sending your signal to a mixer, you ideally want to use the mono outputs. One will send the left side of the stereo signal, the other will send the right side. If your mixer has enough channels, send both of the mono outputs to the board. If there is only one mixer channel available, use just the left output with the right output unconnected. This way, both right and left channels will be mixed internally to one mono signal.

If your keyboard has only a stereo headphone output, you need to break out the signal into two mono signals. This is because whether you’re connecting to an amp or a mixer, you’re highly unlikely to find a single stereo connection to plug into. The solution is to use a splitter, like this one.

Use a DI box

The need for a $50-or-more DI box can be a tough pill to swallow for keyboardists. You look at the connections on your keyboard and the connections on your mixer and think, “Why can’t I just plug straight in with an instrument cable?” Technically, you can. But a good DI will improve your sound in three ways:

1. It reduces interference by converting your unbalanced keyboard signal to balanced. A balanced signal will have two wires conducting the signal. They work together to greatly reduce the possibility of interference to the signal. If you’ve ever heard a radio signal coming through a piece of electronic gear, you know about interference. Balanced signals virtually eliminate this possibility.

2. It maintains the integrity of the sound through your cables by converting your high-impedance keyboard signal to low-impedance. High-impedance signals will gradually lose more high frequencies with longer cable runs.

3. Another major advantage of using a DI is that the balancing transformer inside will fight ground‑loop problems and potential electrical safety issues. So that’s big for protecting your keyboard and yourself, but preventing ground loops also cuts out that low-level hum you sometimes hear from your board.

You can spend a little or a lot for DI’s; just don’t go too cheap. I recommend nothing less than the Whirlwind IMP.

Upgrade your keyboard cables

This is another area where it can be tough to fork over extra money, but please don’t run your $2000 keyboard through the flimsy cable that came with your first starter keyboard. Quality cables, with good connectors and wire, will help your keyboard sound its best – and do it reliably. Examples of brands to look for include Mogami, Canare, ProCo, Monster, and Planet Waves. If you’re up for assembling your own cables, check out Redco.com.

Consider a power conditioner

Noisy electricity can be another detriment to keyboard sound quality. Unlike basic power strips, power conditioners will actually filter out noise. If you’re after that last little bit of improvement to signal purity, a good power conditioner is worth a look.