[IC] ATM98 – A Silent-First 98% Custom Keyboard by Dry Studio

[DryStudio]

[IC] ATM98 – A Silent-First 98% Custom Keyboard by Dry Studio




TL;DR

• Layout: 98 keys, nearly full-size
  
• Typing: Silent-first with custom Light Sakura switch; moddable for a thocky profile
  
• Build: CNC aluminum bottom + semi-transparent acrylic top
  
• Mount: Multi-layer dampening (FR4, Poron, EDPM, etc.)
  
• Colorways: Misty Dusk / Frost Whisper / Night Ink
  
• Comfort: 18.8 mm front height + 8° typing angle
  

1. Introducing Dry Studio & ATM98
We’re Dry Studio, a sub-brand of Angry Miao. We’ve released several custom mechanical and hall effect keyboards before, and ATM98 is our latest project.

ATM98 is a 98-key, nearly full-size custom board, built for silent and comfortable office use, while staying flexible enough for those who love swapping switches and tuning sound.

The design is Bauhaus-inspired, combining CNC aluminum with semi-transparent acrylic, making it both a productivity tool and a sculptural statement piece.


2. Features

• Silent-first design with custom Light Sakura switches
  
• 8-layer dampening system (Poron, FR4, EDPM, etc.)
• Crisp but quiet typing feel
• CNC aluminum + frosted acrylic case
• Ergonomic 18.8 mm front height, 8° typing angle
• Subtle edge glow lighting

3. The Knob
When we first shared renders, some people jokingly called it “Ashtray 98” or “Dyson 98” 😂. 
In reality, the knob is functional:

• Controls volume and scrolls pages
• RGB ring shows Caps Lock state & battery level
• Fully customizable through VIA

4. Switch: Light Sakura

• Developed with Bsun
  
• S-shaped damping: reduces noise but keeps a crisp bottom-out
  
• LY stem: low friction, smooth & stable
  
• Tuned molds for better consistency than common silent switches

Compared to others:

• Quieter and less mushy than standard silent switches
• Crisper feel than typical silent linear solutions
• Still swappable if you prefer a louder, thockier sound

5. Colorways


Misty Dusk (Grey) 
– Inspired by Tadao Ando’s concrete architecture 
– Matte powder-coated grey, subtle and calm 
Summary: refined light-grey “concrete” look 

Frost Whisper (White) 
– Off-White inspired. White electrophoresis aluminum + frosted acrylic 
– Accented with orange for bold contrast 
Summary: modern white + orange pop, streetwear vibe 

Night Ink (Black) 
– Tribute to Chicago’s Willis Tower. Dark tones with amber undertones 
Summary: deep charcoal with warm highlights, metropolitan aesthetic 



6. Specifications

• Layout: 98-key, nearly full-size
  
• Case: CNC aluminum bottom, semi-transparent acrylic top
  
• Mounting: Multi-layer acoustic dampening system (FR4, Poron, EDPM, etc.)
  
• Switches: Bsun Light Sakura Silent Switch
  
• Typing angle: 8°
  
• Front height: 18.8 mm
  
• Lighting: Subtle edge glow diffusion
  
• Colorways: Misty Dusk / Frost Whisper / Night Ink
  

Closing 
ATM98 is designed to be quiet enough for the office, premium enough for enthusiasts, and flexible enough to fit your sound preference. 

👉 Join the discussion on Dry Studio Discord for updates. 

Thanks for reading — looking forward to your feedback!

[nebben42]

The knob/volume wheel ruins the look for me. If there was a version without it that would be great. Love the rest of the board, the design, and especially the silent first focused aspect. Would definitely be a buy without the knob.

[Bagri]

Very interesting project ! I think the concept of designing for office purpose is really relevant for the hobby, with a focus on silent build and the integration of a numpad for productivity, as opposed to home builds where people are looking to save space most of the time. I wish this could be achieved with less foam though, and backed up with a little more objective data on what makes a build silent.

I also really like how you've assembled the acrylic top with the alu bottom. It doesn't look like a hollowed out piece resulting in a thin shell (which often looks "weak" to me). It really is a thick mass with a shadow gap at the junction rather than covering the bottom piece, which, to me, is very interesting.

However, not a fan of the knob, it is more connected to a "playful" aesthetic and use in my view which is not cohesive with the main concept.
Also I think the triangle shaped riser at the rear of the bottom to form the keyboard angle could be nicer...

GLWIC ! 

[DryStudio]

The knob/volume wheel ruins the look for me. If there was a version without it that would be great. Love the rest of the board, the design, and especially the silent first focused aspect. Would definitely be a buy without the knob.

Thanks for the feedback,  and we know the knob design can be polarizing, some people love the added functionality, others prefer a cleaner look. For this project we focused on making the knob both practical and customizable. Really glad you like the overall design and the silent-first concept, that means a lot to us!

[DryStudio]

Very interesting project ! I think the concept of designing for office purpose is really relevant for the hobby, with a focus on silent build and the integration of a numpad for productivity, as opposed to home builds where people are looking to save space most of the time. I wish this could be achieved with less foam though, and backed up with a little more objective data on what makes a build silent.

I also really like how you've assembled the acrylic top with the alu bottom. It doesn't look like a hollowed out piece resulting in a thin shell (which often looks "weak" to me). It really is a thick mass with a shadow gap at the junction rather than covering the bottom piece, which, to me, is very interesting.

However, not a fan of the knob, it is more connected to a "playful" aesthetic and use in my view which is not cohesive with the main concept.
Also I think the triangle shaped riser at the rear of the bottom to form the keyboard angle could be nicer...

GLWIC ! 

Really glad the office-focused, silent-first direction and the alu + acrylic build resonated with you. The knob was meant to add functionality and personality, but we understand it can feel at odds with the more professional concept. Thanks again for taking the time to share such constructive feedback！

[DryStudio]

Update for the knob:

ATM98 features a multifunctional knob we call the Star Ring, designed for volume control and full customization.
To get it right, we went through 15 different design iterations. In the end, we all agreed the very first version was still the best.
But the process wasn’t wasted — along the way, we discovered the optimal light diffusion solution for the lower acrylic section, making the final design far more expressive than before.