For the tech-savvy and gaming enthusiasts, there’s more to a keyboard than meets the eye or even the touch. The sound it produces holds its own charm, crafting an auditory experience that enhances your interactions with the device. A significant influencer of this unique soundscape? Keycaps. So, let’s explore the symphony of clicks and clacks, and how keycaps can fine-tune your keyboard’s sonic personality.
The Impact of Material
Keycaps can be made from a variety of materials, each producing a unique sound when struck by the switch underneath. For instance, keycaps manufactured from denser materials like ABS plastic or PBT plastic tend to produce louder sounds compared to those made from softer and thinner materials such as rubber or silicone. For hard hitters who love a resounding clack with each keystroke, metal keycaps are even louder, although some might find the sound too sharp for their liking. To learn more about different keycap materials and how they impact your typing experience, check out this comprehensive guide.
Shape and Profile
The sound created by a keyboard isn’t solely dependent on the material used; the shape and profile of the keycap also play crucial roles. Some users prefer taller keycaps with sculpted profiles for their quieter nature while others have a liking for shorter ones that generate a sharper click sound.
Switches and Springs
The heart of every mechanical keyboard lies in its switches, which house tiny springs that also contribute to the overall noise level. Stiffer springs often create more noise than their softer counterparts. Therefore, when choosing a keyboard or customizing your own, it’s essential to consider this factor.
Customization: The Key to Your Ideal Sound Profile
Custom keyboards offer unlimited possibilities when it comes to personalizing your device’s sound profile. Every single aspect—from case material and mounting style to unique design elements—can make a difference in how your keyboard sounds.
A popular modification among custom keyboard users is the PE foam mod, which involves placing a sheet of PE foam over the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) between switches for a deeper, thockier sound profile. However, filling empty spaces with foam might dampen the keyboard’s unique sound character if done excessively.
The selection of switches also significantly affects your keyboard’s sound profile. For instance, NovelKeys Cream switches are renowned for their clacky sounds while Cobalt POM and Anubis switches are excellent choices if you prefer thocky noises.
Lubing and filming techniques can further refine your chosen sound profile where thick lube lowers pitch whereas film can tighten housing for cleaner sounds. If you’re keen on exploring these modifications further, this guide on choosing appropriate keycaps could prove invaluable.
ABS vs PBT: A Tale of Two Plastics
Two types of plastics reign supreme in keycap manufacturing—ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic and PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) plastic—with each lending distinct characteristics to their respective keyboards’ soundscape.
Keyboards fitted with ABS plastic caps tend to produce higher-pitched sounds compared to PBT plastics which offer deeper tones. GMK keycaps are particularly known for their clacky sounds due to their double-shot ABS construction and low profile design.
Interested in learning more about PBT keycaps? Here’s an article about the best PBT keycaps available.
An Unsung Hero: Deskmats
Lastly but not leastly—a good deskmat can also influence your keyboard’s acoustics by removing resonance from the table beneath it. In extreme cases where additional dampening is needed, multiple deskmats may be employed.
The Art of Sound Dampening
Typing can sometimes create a cacophony that’s not exactly music to the ears. To minimize the noise, some users resort to sound dampening techniques. One such method involves adding O-rings to keycaps. These tiny pieces of rubber are placed on the stem of a keycap, reducing the distance it travels and softening the sound produced when bottoming out.
Silicone or rubber dome sheets are another popular option for sound dampening. Placed between the keyboard plate and PCB, these sheets absorb vibrations and reduce noise output.
Keycap Thickness and Its Role in Sound Profile
The thickness of a keycap can also influence how a keyboard sounds. Thicker keycaps, due to their increased mass, often yield a deeper and more resonant sound than thinner ones. This is because they have more material to vibrate when struck, which results in richer acoustics.
However, thicker is not always better. Some users might prefer the lighter sound that thinner keycaps produce. Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference.
Manufacturing Process: Double-Shot vs Dye-Sublimated Keycaps
Not all plastic keycaps are created equal—how they’re made matters too! Two common production methods are double-shot molding and dye-sublimation.
Double-shot molded keycaps are made using two layers of plastic—usually ABS—for extra durability. The process results in dual-color keys with legends (the characters on keys) that never fade away because they’re part of the actual keycap. These types of caps often produce a crispier click that some users find satisfying.
Meanwhile, dye-sublimated keycaps use heat to impregnate the legend into PBT plastic. The result is long-lasting legends that don’t rub off easily. Besides durability, these keycaps are known to provide deeper sounding acoustics compared to their double-shot counterparts.
Keyboard Case Material: The Unseen Factor
While not directly related to keycaps, it’s worth mentioning that keyboard case material can heavily influence how your keystrokes sound. Cases made from materials like aluminum or steel generally produce brighter sounds while those from wood or plastic lend a warmer tone.
Remember: every single piece of your keyboard contributes to its unique sound signature!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What type of material produces quieter keystrokes?
A: Materials like silicone or rubber tend to soften keystrokes and therefore generate less sound compared to harder substances like ABS or PBT plastic.
Q: Can I adjust my keyboard’s sound profile without changing my entire set of keycaps?
A: Absolutely! Modifying your switches, adding foam inside your keyboard case or even placing your keyboard on a deskmat can help change its sound profile.
Q: Which is louder—ABS or PBT plastic?
A: Generally speaking, ABS plastic tends to create higher-pitched sounds which might seem louder than PBT’s lower-pitched tones.
Q: How do I choose between double-shot and dye-sublimated keycaps?
A: While both types offer durable legends that won’t fade away easily, you may want to consider their different acoustic properties—double-shot ABS being crisper while dye-sublimated PBT leans towards deeper sounds.
In Conclusion
The quest for achieving that perfect typing ‘clack’ or ‘thock’ is indeed an intricate one filled with many considerations—from material type and shape to highly customizable aspects like switches and mods—all contributing towards creating an ideal sound profile suited uniquely to you.
For those interested in adding some color into their setup while maintaining great acoustics, why not learn how to paint your own keycaps?.