Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
> Will these PCBs fit a "standard" case?
At present, there are no supported aftermarket case options for this board. The board design is fairly unique and uses a different plate mounting mechanism than any Cherry or Alps boards. It would be very easy for someone to manufacture a new case but this is not something we're pursuing at present.
> How are the stabilizers?
We've gone with a new stabilizer design for these boards and they are MUCH better! They are Costar-like. They are not Costar - namely, Costar inserts and stabilizing wires will not work - but they do have much less binding than the old design, particularly for off center key presses. We needed something more forgiving of the wider tolerances that a natural material such as bamboo has to offer.
> Can you post a force curve?
There is no force curve at present. The Round 1 force curves were provided as a favor by my friends at Input Club. We will try to offer force curves at a later date.
> Are there any kit options available?
Sorry, we are only offering fully assembled boards at the moment.
> What size is the wrist rest?
The wrist rest is designed to be as wide as the board, and as tall as the front edge. So, yes, there are five different wrist rest options!
> Can you explain why the larger boards are more expensive?
The price differences directly reflect the fact that larger boards require larger PCBs, more components, and a larger case.
> Can you tell me more about the ABS key caps on some boards?
We had problems sourcing doubleshot PBT key caps in the correct sizes and profiles and legends for the 98- and 120-key boards so some of the function keys on these boards will be in lasered ABS.
> I'm having some issues with the remapping tool, particularly on a 60% board. Can you help with this?
Please contact support@xmitkeyboards.com if you are having issues with the remapping tool on smaller boards. At present, the remapping tool is provided by an outside contractor. The only course of action at the moment is to raise issues with the contractor for fixing. In the long term I'd love to move toward an open source firmware and remapping tool but there is no schedule for this at present. The fact that the Fn key location cannot be removed is a known issue.
> Can you tell me about upstroke damping?
Round 2 boards have modified sliders that allow for some upstroke damping. This was present in Round 1. Unfortunately I do not have a video or any audio of the comparison. But, this is not a new feature for Round 2.
> How do I convert my tactile or clicky switches to linear?
The clicky and tactile switches have a small wire leaf in the switch that provides this feedback. To convert to linear, remove and disassemble the key slider mechanism and remove the wire leaf. Once the rear of the keyboard is removed, disassembly is straightforward.
> How may I buy an acrylic or other material board with black key caps?
We will make additional case and color options available in a future offering. Unfortunately the manufacturer was having issues sourcing acrylic material that met our quality standards.
> When will you introduce an ISO layout board?
ISO layout boards are tricky for us to manufacture. We would need to spin a new PCB design and a new case layout. Massdrop and I are continuing to assess interest in ISO boards and may offer this option in the future.
> I'm disappointed with the quality of the board. What can I do about this, and why should I buy a Round 2 board?
Quality control with our manufacturing partners is an ongoing issue. Short of sending someone from Massdrop or XMIT Keyboards to the factory floor to police each and every single board, it is regrettably inevitable that a few bad apples will be shipped. By design, Round 2 boards will have fewer quality issues as they offer a more robust case design and many other things we've learned from Round 1. That being said, if you have any issues at all - including issues with a Round 1 board - your first step is to contact Massdrop support.
> I don't need backlighting, could you please offer a version of the board without backlighting?
No. The reduced cost of not stuffing the LED pads on the PCB is offset by the increased cost of tracking an additional SKU. If you do not want lighting, simply turn it off!
> Do you have any more detailed photos of the key switches or board internals?
Community member "merlin64" is borrowing a 60% Round 2 board at the moment. He is free to do whatever he wants with the board and say whatever he wants about it, good or bad. I'm hoping to see a review from him including a teardown in the next week or so.
> I don't see the ideal keyboard configuration. The case is too high! Or, it's too low! The logo is in the wrong place! The key caps are the wrong color! The layout is wrong! Can you please introduce my preference?
It's impossible to satisfy everyone. We've picked our offerings very carefully based on community feedback. In fact, the very existence of the rimless 60% board and the 1800-style 98-key board are directly based on community feedback. So, please keep speaking up, and we'll see what we can do. :)
> I see similar boards for sale on Alibaba.com or another site. Why should I buy this one?
XMIT Keyboards and Massdrop have an exclusive arrangement for these particular boards. While you may be able to get similar boards on the open market, for now, this is the only place to buy these custom-made boards that are built to our quality standards.