Noise dampening - keyboard mat?

[detritus]

I've been looking for ways to reduce the noise my Filco (with browns) makes, and have done the usual stuff like fitting rubber ring dampeners, learning to type without bottoming out the keys, etc.

I've not seen anyone mention the sound the vibrations going through the desk make, but tonight I tried putting a folded microfibre cloth under and the difference is huge - far more than anything else I've done so far. The desk is just standard ~20mm thick wood.

Anyone else do/done anything similar? Anything "proper" available or is DIY the best I'm going to get?

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

I have two Ducky Shines, both with MX blue switches, one at home and one at work.  Although otherwise identical (apart from backlight colour), they sound completely different.  I put that down to the much thicker wood my work desk is made of.

Thus I would say yes, it would have an impact, as the keycaps bottoming out would transmit their force and thus sound through the keyboard case and into the desk.

I have not heard of any commercial offering in this area, however at my work there used to be a couple of big padded mats with built-in wrist rests.  I was looking for one a few weeks ago, but couldn't find any.  Something like that might have an effect, and I was hoping to try one except I think they might have been discarded a couple of years ago.

[laffindude]

I just use a small piece of shelf liner supporting the entire bottom of the board. I find that cuts down the resonance in both the case and the desk. Your way probably does the same thing, but shelf liner will prevent the board from sliding around.

[jeroplane]

The "towel mod" has been relatively popular around here, haha. I had a towel under my board for a while too. But my "proper" solution has been a large desk mat like the Razer Goliathus Extended mousepad, which goes under both my board and mouse. Other (better looking) options are the XTrac Ripper XXL and there was another UK brand that makes desk mats that large that I can't remember right now. Otherwise, you could just use any large mousepad to place under your keyboard only if you don't need to fit your mouse on it.

[davkol]

If it's tenkeyless, you may consider some cloth mousepad, e.g. SteelSeries QCK+. Uniform thickness, more or less reasonable price, rubberized bottom side, nice to touch surface,...

[detritus]

Funny you should mention the SteelSeries QcK+ as that's what I have Gave that a try but doesn't make as much difference as hoped - guess I'm a member of the towel mod club

[davkol]

It really depends on your table and the way you type. QCK+ works perfectly for me. However, I'm toying with the idea of thicker pads, for example CM Storm Speed-RX.

[tp4tissue]

HAHAHAHA....

You could also get the Ripper XXL
 
http://www.amazon.com/XTracPads-Ripper-XXL-Desktop-Gaming/dp/B000HTDBWI

[absyrd]

HAHAHAHA....

You could also get the Ripper XXL
 
http://www.amazon.com/XTracPads-Ripper-XXL-Desktop-Gaming/dp/B000HTDBWI

I have one of these and it is a nice touch of padding for my wrists, elbows, keyboard(s), etc depending on what I am doing at my desk or workbench.

[Binge]

Mod-mats are a personal favorite

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11675/pad-200/ModRight_Super_Large_Anti-Static_Mod-Mat_Work_and_Assembly_Surface_Over_47_x_23_in_Size.html

[TotalChaos]

I've not seen anyone mention the sound the vibrations going through the desk make, but tonight I tried putting a folded microfibre cloth under and the difference is huge - far more than anything else I've done so far. The desk is just standard ~20mm thick wood.

Anyone else do/done anything similar? Anything "proper" available or is DIY the best I'm going to get?

  Yep.  I've had a rubbery squishy cloth under my keyboard for several years.  Keeps it from sliding around.  Lowers noise.  Good deal all around.  I got mine from the Dollar Store.  Cut it to the size of my keyboard.  Job done.  Super cheap.

[cytoSiN]

Mod-mats are a personal favorite

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11675/pad-200/ModRight_Super_Large_Anti-Static_Mod-Mat_Work_and_Assembly_Surface_Over_47_x_23_in_Size.html

Does that thing actually lay flat?  Looks like the edges will forever be rolling inwards...

[Binge]

It definitely lays flat.  You can use it as a surface/mod on it/cut it up/it's electro-static/heat resistant.  Don't be afraid to spill crap on it.  That mat is some serious sh!t

[Glod]

Mod-mats are a personal favorite

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11675/pad-200/ModRight_Super_Large_Anti-Static_Mod-Mat_Work_and_Assembly_Surface_Over_47_x_23_in_Size.html

oh wow, this thing looks like exactly the thing i needed for the project workbench i'm building

I hate the fan size graphic on it but i think i can manage to ignore it

[Soarer]

Mod Mat will be fairly hard rubber though, right? The harder it is, the more noise will still be transmitted through to the desk. Something roughly the density of the packing foam in hard disk boxes is about right - hardly any noise gets through, and it's still firm enough that you don't notice it when typing/playing (honestly - sure your finger dives into it when you press the foam directly, but when that same force is spread over the size of a keyboard you have to push a whole lot harder to notice the squish!).

[daerid]

I'm saddened by all the recent noise hate. IMO, keyboards are supposed to make noise.

[davkol]

Keyboards are a tool for entering text into a computer. Nothing about noise here. If noise can't be tolerated, the keyboard can't be used. Game over.

[cytoSiN]

I'm saddened by all the recent noise hate. IMO, keyboards are supposed to make noise.

QFT!

[detritus]

Noise is fine - it's all about making the Right™ kind of noise

[lazerpointer]

For me it's all about the feel because I touch type, purely. Actually paying attention to the sounds can distract me and slow down productivity cause I have ADD like that... but anyways, I've found the quietest board I've used thus far would be what I'm typing on right now; a QFR reds with 50A o-rings. Still looking for a way to reduce the sound of the keys popping up. I've been considering actually modifying the stems inside the switch itself.

[rowdy]

I'm saddened by all the recent noise hate. IMO, keyboards are supposed to make noise.

QFT!

+1 (typed on MX blues)

[Hyde]

The "towel mod" has been relatively popular around here, haha. I had a towel under my board for a while too.

lol I'm still using towel method.  It's just that when I tell people about it they always look at me and think I'm crazy or something.

I think it's in a threat somewhere that one guy's filco is wobbly and not laying flat on table.  And I suggested it but only 1 guy end up doing it 

[jeroplane]

The "towel mod" has been relatively popular around here, haha. I had a towel under my board for a while too.

lol I'm still using towel method.  It's just that when I tell people about it they always look at me and think I'm crazy or something.

I think it's in a threat somewhere that one guy's filco is wobbly and not laying flat on table.  And I suggested it but only 1 guy end up doing it 

I was that guy

[Hyde]

+10 points for jeroplane lol