Keyboard mats

[macguy80]

On many of the sound videos I see on YouTube, many people use keyboard mats, and sometimes even add a towel on top of that, to lessen the sound from the desk.

So do you guys do that just for the videos, or do you find you actually prefer the sounds of typing with a mat and/or towel added? I've never even thought of getting a mat until now.

[klennkellon]

I do. I have a glass desk so the vibrations reverbing through it are very audible and the desk kind of "rumbles" as I type on it. Putting it on a towel makes typing sound less.... violent, for lack of a better word.

[fohat.digs]

Might as well be shameless and plug my product again.

Between some sound absorption and increased stability, I continue to think that these EPDM mats have a good balance of qualities.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.msg1359377#msg1359377

[invariance]

I'm using a sheet of butyl rubber.
Originally purchased for car sound deadening but works equally as well as a keyboard mat.
Non-adhesive type of course. 

[Geroximo]

I couldn't live without a mat under my keyboard.

[macguy80]

Might as well be shameless and plug my product again.

Thanks for that! I appreciate the plug. One question: Since this is rubber, is there a rubber smell? I find I'm quite sensitive to that scent in particular, even after playing only a few minutes with a dog toy, for example.

[tp4tissue]

Might as well be shameless and plug my product again.

Thanks for that! I appreciate the plug. One question: Since this is rubber, is there a rubber smell? I find I'm quite sensitive to that scent in particular, even after playing only a few minutes with a dog toy, for example.

Well there's ur problem.

Dog toys are for dogs..

///hahaha

[macguy80]

Walked right into that one, I guess!

[fohat.digs]

Since this is rubber, is there a rubber smell?

My sense of smell is not as good as it used to be, but as far as I can tell there is hardly any smell at all.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EPDM_rubber

PS - I agree that dogs are disgusting

[macguy80]

PS - I agree that dogs are disgusting

I never said that, and never would, cause I love my dog. But I hate the smell of rubber after throwing the squeak toy for her for five minutes

If I do decide to get one, would you say that the AEK I got from you falls into the Large tier, as opposed to the Extra Large?

Thanks!

[fohat.digs]

If I do decide to get one, would you say that the AEK I got from you falls into the Large tier, as opposed to the Extra Large?

Yes, tell me whether you want it undersized by 1/4", exact fit, or oversized by 1/4". I have an AEK here to measure by.

[iamtootallforthis]

I came here to recommend the mats from Fohat.digs. I need to get some more for myself to be honest haha.

[OfTheWild]

I've recently started adding the foam into the keyboard itself - between the pcb and case. Its definitely a change in sound and feel. I dont need the mat underneath which for me helps a lot. I tend to move stuff out of the way on my desk at home quite regularly to work on something, cut something, solder something, etc. and having a mat to pull up means I've got to move everything off it first.

Anyway, heres a few foam inside ideas:
http://i.imgur.com/o5Tgzcr.jpg MiniVan 40%
http://i.imgur.com/POkeTKS.jpg Sentraq 60%
http://i.imgur.com/7wpxLvZ.jpg HHKB
http://i.imgur.com/9NPE1bx.jpg?1 V80

I had to buy a lot of foam to figure out what I was looking for.

[rowdy]

I use a folded sheet of drawer liner.

Apart from stopping the keyboard/s sliding across the desk, it does absorb a lot of the echo from the desk.

Although I am not using it with this SSK as I prefer the sound of the springs buckling through the office