Using multiple MX switch types and weights on a single keyboard

[wlhlm]

I've seen several pictures of keyboards that have multiple types of switches on them often with one type on the modifiers and one type on the alphas.

On of the most extreme examples of this is the Ducky Shine 4 69 Fire Version:


I have a Poker II with MX Clears and using modifiers sometimes feels awkward due to the tactile bump. When I'm using them I always bottom them out and the bump is just a hurdle. I think putting linear switches for example is a good option here and in fact I've seen people go that route.

What do you think about this approach? Do you think it makes sense or would it give an awkward feeling at best? What are interesting combinations one could go for?

[wlhlm]

Example from ptramo:

Planck ortholinear

[TalkingTree]

What do you think about this approach? Do you think it makes sense or would it give an awkward feeling at best? What are interesting combinations one could go for?

I'm totally for this. I like linear switches especially MX blacks, although I'd replace the modifiers with reds, because it would be easier to hold them down with pinkies, eventually I would also replace locks with MX greens.

[suicidal_orange]

I've been thinking about using different spring weights for different switches because I like heavy springs but my pinkies would probably tire if I used them all over.  Perhaps Red edges, a couple of rows of Black mid-sides and linear Greys in the middle?  Could probably get a similar effect by using Browns, Clears and tactile Greys, if you want bumps...

Weak pinkies is the only reason I could think of to do different switches but linear mods with tactile main makes sense too.  The bump is pointless if you're bottoming them out (and who doesn't?  It would be weird to hold a floating switch...) so may as well get rid of it.

What feels weird to one person feels great to another, the only person who can decide what you like is you and you don't like tactile mods so get them gone!

[wlhlm]

I've been thinking about using different spring weights for different switches because I like heavy springs but my pinkies would probably tire if I used them all over.  Perhaps Red edges, a couple of rows of Black mid-sides and linear Greys in the middle?  Could probably get a similar effect by using Browns, Clears and tactile Greys, if you want bumps...

I can imagine you can get a pretty good gradual force change using sprit's springs (because there are so many weights). I believe there are Topre keyboards with similar characteristics, aren't there?

[chyros]

On of the most extreme examples of this is the Ducky Shine 4 69 Fire Version:
(Attachment Link)

That's just idiotic. Other than the novelty factor, there is no genuine reason to be THIS anal with key switches.

[ConscienceDrop]

i can really really understand the idea for like the backspace on an otherwise greens board, but some people to way too stupid with like 4 diff switch types and ****.

[wlhlm]

I forgot a thing that Cherry has been doing for a long time: Put a stiffer switch on the spacebar. For example Linear Grey with Black or Tactile Grey with Clears

[ConscienceDrop]

Part of me always thought it would be funny to track down an MX super black and make an entire board with reds and just put the super black on the e key or something.

[wlhlm]

Part of me always thought it would be funny to track down an MX super black and make an entire board with read and just but the super black on the e key or something.

Haha, great idea!

[chyros]

I forgot a thing that Cherry has been doing for a long time: Put a stiffer switch on the spacebar. For example Linear Grey with Black or Tactile Grey with Clears
(Attachment Link)

Yeah, quite a few manufacturers put stiffer switches on the spacebar. Bizarrely, that disco keyboard in the opening post actually has a LOOSER switch on the spacebar Oo .

[katushkin]

I think using different switches for mods/alphas is a good idea, can make sense if you are that way inclined, but things like the Ducky 69 thing are a bit over the top.

It's not really for any purpose other than to have the most types of switches on a board as possible.

[Data]

This is what I did with my Octagon.

[wlhlm]

Show Image

This is what I did with my Octagon.

Interesting! So, you went for stiffer switches on the modifiers. That's different from the Clear/Red combination posted earlier.

It makes sense though when you think about how you generally press modifiers.

[falkentyne]

Meh.
I don't like linears on my mods.
I had a K70 MX red before, and I kept accidentally pressing shift in FPS games because I like to rest my pinky on it.  With no tactile bump on space or shift, well...I'm sure you can see what happened.

The MX brown shine 3 and 4 (even my g710+) performed MUCH better.

This is why I have TWO...not one....but TWO ducky shine 69 fire editions.
I love me some MX greens.  And having the lighter blues on the weak pinky finger switches works for me.  (and having a lighter, but tactile, switch on the spacebar is good, as I can still easily press it without accidentally doing it).

I have  shine 4 MX brown, and I use that if it gets cold or I get extremely tired.  Otherwise, the fire 69 is just too much fun.

[wlhlm]

Meh.
I don't like linears on my mods.
I had a K70 MX red before, and I kept accidentally pressing shift in FPS games because I like to rest my pinky on it.  With no tactile bump on space or shift, well...I'm sure you can see what happened.

The MX brown shine 3 and 4 (even my g710+) performed MUCH better.

This is why I have TWO...not one....but TWO ducky shine 69 fire editions.
I love me some MX greens.  And having the lighter blues on the weak pinky finger switches works for me.  (and having a lighter, but tactile, switch on the spacebar is good, as I can still easily press it without accidentally doing it).

I have  shine 4 MX brown, and I use that if it gets cold or I get extremely tired.  Otherwise, the fire 69 is just too much fun.

Interesting. Would you say that maybe a stiffer switch (like Blacks) would've worked as well?

I think clicky/tactile (Brown) switches could work as well since their bump isn't as pronounced as is with the Clears. A Blue switch would also give a sound cue when activating ("modifier engaged").

Concerning the Ducky 69:  Are the Blues/Greens in the main area mostly important to you, or do the other switches make a difference? What do you think about having the Black switches on the arrow keys?

[sakai4eva]

Stiffer ones on Enter and spacebar, but it's like 62g vs 35g gaterons all over...

Oh, all linears of course.

[wlhlm]

Stiffer ones on Enter and spacebar, but it's like 62g vs 35g gaterons all over...

I can see that. Especially for 35g a stiffer spacebar is practically a must.

[falkentyne]

Meh.
I don't like linears on my mods.
I had a K70 MX red before, and I kept accidentally pressing shift in FPS games because I like to rest my pinky on it.  With no tactile bump on space or shift, well...I'm sure you can see what happened.

The MX brown shine 3 and 4 (even my g710+) performed MUCH better.

This is why I have TWO...not one....but TWO ducky shine 69 fire editions.
I love me some MX greens.  And having the lighter blues on the weak pinky finger switches works for me.  (and having a lighter, but tactile, switch on the spacebar is good, as I can still easily press it without accidentally doing it).

I have  shine 4 MX brown, and I use that if it gets cold or I get extremely tired.  Otherwise, the fire 69 is just too much fun.

Interesting. Would you say that maybe a stiffer switch (like Blacks) would've worked as well?

I think clicky/tactile (Brown) switches could work as well since their bump isn't as pronounced as is with the Clears. A Blue switch would also give a sound cue when activating ("modifier engaged").

Concerning the Ducky 69:  Are the Blues/Greens in the main area mostly important to you, or do the other switches make a difference? What do you think about having the Black switches on the arrow keys?

The greens and blues do make a difference for gaming.  for typing I can understand how people might want a really stiff space bar, but you have to understand I already have a mx brown keyboard, with browns on the space and shift, so I already know what it feels like.

The blues are a nice chance of pace for me.  And no, I would not want a super stiff space bar (like a MX tactile grey), because I need to press it fast. In games, that wouldn't work too well.  The blue feels perfect to me.
The browns work well too on the mx brown keyboard, but it's even easier not to accidentally press on the shine 69.  The enhanced feedback I get makes it even funner to use, but that's just me.

I switch back to the shine 4 with mx brown from time to time.
I don't care about the blacks on the arrows.  I don't use the arrows to game.

[KHAANNN]

I think mixing tactile/clicky/linears is a bad idea, here's my experience

Single black spacebar on a red board: beautiful, the spacebar requires a stronger switch, the keyboard feels great
Single tactile spacebar on a green board: off putting, the spacebar is soothing, yet the difference of the feedback type throws me off, which nullifies the positive aspect and pushes things to the negative

So my suggestion would be, try browns instead of linears for modifiers, makes more sense, it would be less off putting

A better idea is to use weaker springs on the modifiers, since you want them to be easier to press, which makes sense, yet a linear would make your brain seek the tactility and get micro confused

[wlhlm]

I think mixing tactile/clicky/linears is a bad idea, here's my experience

Single black spacebar on a red board: beautiful, the spacebar requires a stronger switch, the keyboard feels great
Single tactile spacebar on a green board: off putting, the spacebar is soothing, yet the difference of the feedback type throws me off, which nullifies the positive aspect and pushes things to the negative

So my suggestion would be, try browns instead of linears for modifiers, makes more sense, it would be less off putting

A better idea is to use weaker springs on the modifiers, since you want them to be easier to press, which makes sense, yet a linear would make your brain seek the tactility and get micro confused

Thanks! Interesting ideas...

[CPTBadAss]

I had the chance to try a bunch of the mixed boards that Ducky put out last year. I really didn't like them. I know the logic is that the thumbs are stronger and the pinky/ring fingers are weaker so you would distribute the switches accordingly. But to me it felt extremely awkward and distracting. I really didn't enjoy them and prefer uniform boards.

[KHAANNN]

I had the chance to try a bunch of the mixed boards that Ducky put out last year. I really didn't like them. I know the logic is that the thumbs are stronger and the pinky/ring fingers are weaker so you would distribute the switches accordingly. But to me it felt extremely awkward and distracting. I really didn't enjoy them and prefer uniform boards.

I totally agree with you, on the thought level, it's a great idea, yet when you actually try it, it's mostly off putting, confusing and unnecessary, however I think everyone should try it once, to see and experience for themselves

The experience might be different for children, since the reflexes and keypress expectations aren't in place, yet when the reflexes and expectations are there, it just causes confusion, whatever the configuration is - It's also a bad idea to get used to non-uniform forces, since one would seek the same experience later on and it's hard to achieve

I think spacebar is the one exception, especially on a red board, as it is, it's off putting as it's much lighter than the other keys, since the keycap is heavier, swapping the spring evens things out, makes things uniform feeling-wise

[CPTBadAss]

I think the stronger switch on the spacebar would make more sense if I hit the spacebar with both thumbs. I usually hit it with my right thumb and not my left so for me, the heavier switch made it feel far too heavy and threw me off. I found mytextlooking lik e this because I was mashing my spacebar trying to get the spaces right.

[wlhlm]

I had the chance to try a bunch of the mixed boards that Ducky put out last year. I really didn't like them. I know the logic is that the thumbs are stronger and the pinky/ring fingers are weaker so you would distribute the switches accordingly. But to me it felt extremely awkward and distracting. I really didn't enjoy them and prefer uniform boards.

Do you feel the same for Clears?

[KHAANNN]

I think the stronger switch on the spacebar would make more sense if I hit the spacebar with both thumbs. I usually hit it with my right thumb and not my left so for me, the heavier switch made it feel far too heavy and threw me off. I found mytextlooking lik e this because I was mashing my spacebar trying to get the spaces right.

I also use one thumb, but with a red switch, my text was looking    like  this, with extra spaces all over, a black switch is almost 2x hard as a red one, so I agree that a black is slightly heavier than it should be, with 6*g springs on the way, I might replace it with a slightly less strong spring

Anyway, a single black spacebar solved my problem, I've been using the board with no issues for some time now, just sharing my experience :)

[Dihedral]

Part of me always thought it would be funny to track down an MX super black and make an entire board with reds and just put the super black on the e key or something.

Even better, gateron clears