What is SpaceFN and why you should give it a try
The SpaceFN concept - setting up your space key as a layer switch when held - is probably one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby. Let me explain how it works. My SpaceFN article on kbd.news made some rounds recently - quite surprisingly given the age of this concept. This piece you're reading is a condensed version of the full post. If you're left with unanswered questions, you'll most likely find the info you're looking for in the original write-up. On my imaginary top list of the most useful keyboard features, tweaks and hacks, SpaceFN would deserve a podium finish for sure. But what makes it so special? In short: SpaceFN is easy to implement, easy to learn, costs nothing, can be used with any keyboard, and can improve your productivity instantly. I will list its benefits below, but can state right at this point that the SpaceFN concept, setting up your space key as a layer switch when held, is clearly one of the most useful tweaks in the keyboard hobby....
Apr 30, 2024
This means that if you're planning on getting a new keyset you'll need to get a blank set or else put the arrow keys on the num pad.
Edit: I'd also like to add that, despite what the description and CM site say, this is not a programmable board. This is a standard board with programmable backlighting. The macros mentioned are backlighting macros, not keypress macros.
Also, the process of recording is not documented... they have a video on youtube but no other explanation of the process is written or explained anywhere else.
I will note though, that if the macro feature is not needed, the layout of the board is fantastic. I became very use to turning the NUMPAD on and off to jump between the DEL/HOME/PGUP etc and the numpad when needed. I am not sure why, but the MX Brown switches on mine actually feel much more tactile than my other MX Brown boards. Not sure why at all, a Brown should be a Brown, right? The keys are not high end but I actually liked them. For me this was needed as a utilitarian board rather than a fashion statement so I quickly moved off the desire to replace the keys. I had some Shine 3 keys that fit in perfect so I did change a few modifiers just for a "corner of the eye" reference point when returning my hand from the mouse.
If this had a decent macro system it would actually be a perfect work board. Cheap enough to leave at the office without having to lock it up when I leave and fast enough to do all my data entry work and create dynamic macros on the fly when having to deactivate a few hundred pieces of equipment.
The LED's can also be programmed on the board, but I have no interest in that so cannot comment on that feature. The details on how to program them are also in the video on youtube where they explain the macro recording.
Here is the process for recording keystroke macros...
1) Press Profile to record on... FN+[P1 / P2 / P3 / P4] P1 is [!/1] key, P2 is [@/2] etc 2) Start Macro Mode, press FN+F11... keys available will light up 3) Select the Key you want [from available lit up keys] 4) Input your keystrokes 5) Select Mode to finish programming either FN+SCRLK = TOGGLE or FN+PAUSE = LOOP 6) FN+ESC to exit programming 7) Macros ready for playback. If you recorded a macro on Profile 1, Press FN+P1,for Profile 2 use P2 etc. When you press FN+P1 the LED's go off and the keys with macro's on them will light up. 8) To delete a macro select the profile the macro is recorded on and press FN+F12, macro keys will light up and you can press the keys you want to delete. Once that keys macro is deleted it's LED goes off.
The confusing part is having to end macro recording by choosing the TOGGLE or LOOP part. This choice gets recorded with the macro, so you may want a single macro that will sometimes loop and other times play once... but then you have to record that macro twice with the two different endings. The printed manual says that FN+PRT SC is a "Single Macro Loop" but in my tests it does nothing and does not end the macro recording... only the FN+SCR LK for TOGGLE and the FN+PAUSE for Infinite Loop. I guess this is very handy for when you want a REALLY slow macro to just go on and on forever until you computer crashes??
Other than the useless macro system, I love the layout and build for the Masterkeys Pro M. I feel $70 is a reasonable price for a near TKL sized board that has the Tenkeys also.