Mechanical keyboard and family members...

[vasouv]

Hello everyone I'd like some advice on using a mechanical keyboard with family members around, I'll post a short and a long version, choose which you like depending on your mood to read

Short version: Do Brown Switches make so much noise during nighttime, that other family members may wake from typing? Do they make that much noise that it might irritate others to a point I can't use the keyboard anymore?

Long version: I've wanted a mechanical keyboard for the last couple of years, I love the sound of them, the robust built of them and I basically love typing (I even type urls in the browser, i have auto-complete disabled ).

Thing is, I still live with my parents. Given the nature of the switches, they are louder than membrane keyboards. I fear that if I buy a mechanical keyboard, it might be so loud that I won't be able to use it during nighttime. Sure, I've watched Youtube videos but I cannot judge correctly, can I?

Also, Greece doesn't have a market really for mechanical keyboards, stores don't have a variety of them (a couple of Razers and that's it) so if I buy one online, it'll be a blind purchase which is risky, because I'll have to live with it if I don't like it.

So I'm stuck here, I have no way of trying mechanical keyboards, all I can do is purchase online from the US, and I have no way of knowing if they'll be noisy as hell...

I can always use my laptop during nighttime though, if the mechanical keyboard is too noisy, that's a good thing hehe

I'm drooling over a Leopold Tenkeyless with Brown switches, I've read they're quite noiseless so...

What do you guys say about mechanical keyboards and leaving with other people? Can it be done or is too risky? (especially on my case...)

[phx]

I would say Brown is the most common and quietest switch. The only sound it makes is when it bottoms out (when you press it all the way down), so technically, if you are careful, you can ninja type without making a sound.

or you can try some o-rings or landing pads to reduce the sound it makes when it bottoms out, but imo it ruins the experience for when you dont have to worry about sound.

[Quardah]

Brown isn't loud. It's neat. If you want as less sound as possible with a mechanical keyboard i believe brown would fit you best. Blacks/Reds are also very quiet.

Just don't take anything clicky like Blue or Green MX.

[SpAmRaY]

Unless your very close to them I do not think it would bother them.

 Late night's on the internet usually only require a mouse anyways j/k

[Puddsy]

I was on my blues until midnight last night, and my parents didn't seem to mind. Whatever you get should be fine.

[vasouv]

I really appreciate the responses guys, you literally give me courage to go for it

SpAmRaY mentioned proximity, my bedroom is right next to theirs but I don't always type like a gorilla, I can type pretty quietly I guess. Even when I code, I don't type constantly. I mean NOONE types constantly unless they're typing a letter or something.

I have a Roccat Arvo right now and although it's not a mechanical, it's louder than most membrane keyboards and never raised an issue.

I'm pretty much sold on getting that Leopold I've been ogling for some time, maybe I'm making the sound issue to much of a deal...

[CPTBadAss]

Get linears and learn to type without bottoming out. Or scoop a Matias Quiet if you're really concerned

Oh and welcome to GH ^__^

[Dubsgalore]

Typing on MX Blacks wake up my family more then it does when i type on clears :/

[korrelate]

I've tried a couple of different Filcos (Blue and Red) and returned them both. I tried a Rosewill with Blue switches also and sent it back immediately. My daily driver is the first version that Leopold sold with Brown switches and this has been my standard bearer for some time now: I'm pretty happy with this board.

The only sound that you're going to get from your board, really is the sound of the keys bottoming out. And here's the way that I think about your situation: sometimes a sound as faint as water dripping in a faucet on the same level as your bedroom can keep you awake and this keyboard can definitely be louder than a faucet. Your mileage is going to vary here, and it's difficult to tell before hand if this sound is going to keep your parents awake.

But let's say it will definitely keep them up, it might not, but just for the sake of argument, let's say it will. You have a few choices all of which should work well:

1. Buy the o-ring silencers from WASD Keyboards. I've tried the blue silencers on the entire keyboard and they will dramatically reduce the amount of noise generated when you bottom out. I've also tried the sampler pack (red, black and blue).
2. Buy the silencers that EliteKeyboards sells on their website (probably the same place where you're buying your Leopold Keyboard).

I haven't tried EK's soft landing pads, but I would seriously look into them if I were in your shoes. They are less expensive than those sold by WASD and, because I was not a fan of the way that the silencers sold on the WASD site changed the feel of the keys, I am very curious to know how EliteKeyboard's "soft landing pads" work. I would try the firm option.

Another thing to try that I have not yet attempted: opening your keyboard and lining the bottom of it with silicone drawer liners (like the ones that you might put in your kitchen shelves). This is a very well documented topic here on GH so tuck in!

Cheers,

K

[vasouv]

Well then, since there are key silencers I might be quite set! Alright, I'll go for it. I'll buy those EliteKeyboards silencers and hope for the best

Anyone that wishes to object upon my union with this Leopold keyboard, speak now or forever be silent! (or whatever you say at weddings hahahaha)

[CPTBadAss]

I wrote a review on soft-landing pads and o-rings and I had soft landing pads on my Leopold FC700R for a long time. They don't really make the board quieter if you have Blues unfortunately.

[snoopy]

Get a Model M or F and improve your typing speed. Your parents will love you...

[davkol]

That's impossible to say, as others have mentioned.

I mean, if there is a solid wall between your rooms, any non-clicky switches should be fine as long as you don't bottom out like with a hammer. For example,I type on an MX Red 'board in classes, and nobody has had any issues with that (although few people noted that they could hear the sound, but it didn't bother them too much). On the other hand, my dad has sleeping issues and when I come to his place, I try to avoid mouse clicking and using any keyboard but scissor-switch typematrix w/ a skin at night.

[Burz]

Getting a Quiet Pro has already made a difference in my case. Whereas before I got comments about the sound of my typing (both day and nighttime), now there is no issue with it even at 3AM. Before I was using my Dell AT-101W which is comparable in loudness to boards with Cherry brown switches.

There is a direct audio comparison between the Quiet Pro and Cherry browns at the Matias site: http://matias.ca/miniquietpro/pc/

FWIW, most laptop keyboards are even quieter than a Quiet Pro, the latter being quieter than other mechanicals but definitely not silent.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

MX clears have an interesting force curve that makes bottoming out so unpleasant that you stop doing it pretty quickly The force rises so sharply after the actuation point that it's actually quite easy to get used to letting go of the switch before it bottoms out, unlike pretty much every other switch. That means that you lose the loud clack that is the greatest source of noise. (Key return, and the play within the switch itself, will remain.)

[tp4tissue]

MX clears have an interesting force curve that makes bottoming out so unpleasant that you stop doing it pretty quickly The force rises so sharply after the actuation point that it's actually quite easy to get used to letting go of the switch before it bottoms out, unlike pretty much every other switch. That means that you lose the loud clack that is the greatest source of noise. (Key return, and the play within the switch itself, will remain.)

if you're typing fast, you always bottom out

[Daniel Beardsmore]

You ever tried clears? The rise in force after actuation is extremely high (finishing at 100 cN), and if you do bottom them out, it knackers your fingers very quickly. The tactile bump is sufficiently strong that you really do learn to not bottom out with them. Otherwise, you end up like this:

It's a strange switch, but a good switch. I just need clears in something less flimsy than a G80-3000

[rowdy]

Compared to several MX and BS, Topre is reasonably quiet, even when lightly bottoming out (on HHKP Pro 2).

[vasouv]

Now there's no turning back, I placed the order last night Along with the keyboard, I got the "firm" landing pads and that wired key remover. MAN the shipping costs hurt a lot, ~58$! The total sum was 122euro (162$) which to be honest is about right, if I got some other keyboard online from stores in Greece (a couple Coolmaster), with shipping costs it'd still be around 110euro so... yeah.

Cross my fingers that I like it

And something else, you guys and this site are evil! I haven't even got the keyboard yet and I'm already thinking of getting custom keys! I definitely want that Minecraft creeper face I saw somewhere...

Hopefully soon I'll be one of you

[rowdy]

Now there's no turning back, I placed the order last night Along with the keyboard, I got the "firm" landing pads and that wired key remover. MAN the shipping costs hurt a lot, ~58$! The total sum was 122euro (162$) which to be honest is about right, if I got some other keyboard online from stores in Greece (a couple Coolmaster), with shipping costs it'd still be around 110euro so... yeah.

Cross my fingers that I like it

And something else, you guys and this site are evil! I haven't even got the keyboard yet and I'm already thinking of getting custom keys! I definitely want that Minecraft creeper face I saw somewhere...

Hopefully soon I'll be one of you

Now you get to find out how deep the rabbit hole goes

[spiceBar]

Now there's no turning back, I placed the order last night Along with the keyboard, I got the "firm" landing pads and that wired key remover. MAN the shipping costs hurt a lot, ~58$! The total sum was 122euro (162$) which to be honest is about right, if I got some other keyboard online from stores in Greece (a couple Coolmaster), with shipping costs it'd still be around 110euro so... yeah.

Cross my fingers that I like it

And something else, you guys and this site are evil! I haven't even got the keyboard yet and I'm already thinking of getting custom keys! I definitely want that Minecraft creeper face I saw somewhere...

Hopefully soon I'll be one of you

OK I'm a little bit late, but maybe it's not too late.

If you have purchased at EliteKeyboard, the soft landing pads (the black ones) are better. They silence the keyboard even more.

I have a KBT Pure Pro with browns that I have silenced so much that I can type with my girlfriend and our baby in the same room, and it doesn't awake them.

But the landing pads are only half of the trick. Silencing bottoming out is great, but a lot of noise is generated when you release the key, and this noise is very hard to avoid by changing the way you type. Fortunately I have an advice for you.

What you need is not only the soft landing pads from EK:

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,slpads&pid=sl120_cs

but also their low-viscosity switch lubricant (it's not oil, it's grease):

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,misc&pid=mechlube_2

You need to lube every switch, but as you are going to remove every keycap to put a landing pad anyway, it will not take much longer. Try with just a key first. You need to put the lube inside the switch, so you use the pipe to push the switch to the bottom (as if the key was pressed) while you press on the syringe. You apply the lube on the left and right inner side of the switch housing, holding the plunger down. You need to put quite a lot of lube in each switch, but try with one switch first.

The result of the operation (landing pads + lube) is an incredibly silent keyboard. You don't hear anything when you bottom out. You don't hear much when the key goes back in its "released" position (which is the part of the key press that is the loudest generally and that will only be silenced with grease - I know of no other way to do it). You will feel that the switches have slightly more resistance, which is due to the grease. This is how the silencing on the release of the key works. The key will go "up" slightly slower, and hit the housing less hard.

I guess it's not too late to contact EK and have them modify your order. The lube is only $6.00 and it's excellent.

[spiceBar]

Now there's no turning back, I placed the order last night Along with the keyboard, I got the "firm" landing pads and that wired key remover. MAN the shipping costs hurt a lot, ~58$! The total sum was 122euro (162$) which to be honest is about right, if I got some other keyboard online from stores in Greece (a couple Coolmaster), with shipping costs it'd still be around 110euro so... yeah.

Cross my fingers that I like it

And something else, you guys and this site are evil! I haven't even got the keyboard yet and I'm already thinking of getting custom keys! I definitely want that Minecraft creeper face I saw somewhere...

Hopefully soon I'll be one of you

OK I'm a little bit late, but maybe it's not too late.

If you have purchased at EliteKeyboard, the soft landing pads (the black ones) are better. They silence the keyboard even more.

I have a KBT Pure Pro with browns that I have silenced so much that I can type with my girlfriend and our baby in the same room, and it doesn't wake them up.

But the landing pads are only half of the trick. Silencing bottoming out is great, but a lot of noise is generated when you release the key, and this noise is very hard to avoid by changing the way you type. Fortunately I have an advice for you.

What you need is not only the soft landing pads from EK:

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,slpads&pid=sl120_cs

but also their low-viscosity switch lubricant (it's not oil, it's grease):

http://www.elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,misc&pid=mechlube_2

You need to lube every switch, but as you are going to remove every keycap to put a landing pad anyway, it will not take much longer. Try with just a key first. You need to put the lube inside the switch, so you use the pipe to push the switch to the bottom (as if the key was pressed) while you press on the syringe. You apply the lube on the left and right inner side of the switch housing, holding the plunger down. You need to put quite a lot of lube in each switch, but try with one switch first.

The result of the operation (landing pads + lube) is an incredibly silent keyboard. You don't hear anything when you bottom out. You don't hear much when the key goes back in its "released" position (which is the part of the key press that is the loudest generally and that will only be silenced with grease - I know of no other way to do it). You will feel that the switches have slightly more resistance, which is due to the grease. This is how the silencing on the release of the key works. The key will go "up" slightly slower, and hit the housing less hard.

I guess it's not too late to contact EK and have them modify your order. The lube is only $6.00 and it's excellent.

[dorkvader]

Get linears and learn to type without bottoming out. Or scoop a Matias Quiet if you're really concerned

Oh and welcome to GH ^__^

Also important for noise is learning to type without "topping out". All my cherry keyboards make some noise when the slider returns to it's rest position. Slowing down a little makes it easier to quiet this top out noise. Bottoming out noise can be effective silenced by the installation of o-rings or soft landing pads.

[1391406]

Unless you and your parents share a room, even the sound of MX Blues wouldn't be an issue. Now if we're talking about a Model M, that may be another story.

[Burz]

Get linears and learn to type without bottoming out. Or scoop a Matias Quiet if you're really concerned

Oh and welcome to GH ^__^

Also important for noise is learning to type without "topping out".

Really? I can't wait to try that. The Matias switches are sound-dampened at the top as well as the bottom so it hasn't occurred to me to try.

All my cherry keyboards make some noise when the slider returns to it's rest position. Slowing down a little makes it easier to quiet this top out noise. Bottoming out noise can be effective silenced by the installation of o-rings or soft landing pads.

Hmmm...

1) requires some dis-assembly of the keyboard
2) does only half the job

[spiceBar]

Get linears and learn to type without bottoming out. Or scoop a Matias Quiet if you're really concerned

Oh and welcome to GH ^__^

Also important for noise is learning to type without "topping out".

Really? I can't wait to try that. The Matias switches are sound-dampened at the top as well as the bottom so it hasn't occurred to me to try.

All my cherry keyboards make some noise when the slider returns to it's rest position. Slowing down a little makes it easier to quiet this top out noise. Bottoming out noise can be effective silenced by the installation of o-rings or soft landing pads.

Hmmm...

1) requires some dis-assembly of the keyboard
2) does only half the job

I don't think so.

1. No disassembly. You just remove the keycaps.
2. O-rings or soft landing pads reduce the sound of bottoming out. Soft landing pads are the best here. Grease dampen a lot the "back to up position" (is there a better term for that?). On Cherry MX you can apply grease without opening the switch so, again, just removing the keycaps are necessary. I know it can be done even better by opening the switch, but from my experience you don't even need to do that.

[Thimplum]

Reds are nearly silent if you don't bottom out.

[Burz]

Get linears and learn to type without bottoming out. Or scoop a Matias Quiet if you're really concerned

Oh and welcome to GH ^__^

Also important for noise is learning to type without "topping out".

Really? I can't wait to try that. The Matias switches are sound-dampened at the top as well as the bottom so it hasn't occurred to me to try.

All my cherry keyboards make some noise when the slider returns to it's rest position. Slowing down a little makes it easier to quiet this top out noise. Bottoming out noise can be effective silenced by the installation of o-rings or soft landing pads.

Hmmm...

1) requires some dis-assembly of the keyboard
2) does only half the job

I don't think so.

1. No disassembly. You just remove the keycaps.
2. O-rings or soft landing pads reduce the sound of bottoming out. Soft landing pads are the best here. Grease dampen a lot the "back to up position" (is there a better term for that?). On Cherry MX you can apply grease without opening the switch so, again, just removing the keycaps are necessary. I know it can be done even better by opening the switch, but from my experience you don't even need to do that.

Yeah, from any sane consumer perspective, removing keycaps (especially all of them) is disassembly. But I understand that GH wasn't intended to be a bastion of sanity.

[singaporean123]

most of the noise comes from the keycap hitting the pcb really. if you touchtype there's no sound from most common switches(other than blue)

[spiceBar]

most of the noise comes from the keycap hitting the pcb really. if you touchtype there's no sound from most common switches(other than blue)

You know, the keycap never touches the PCB. It doesn't even touch the metal plate (if your keyboard has one).

Anyway... If you touchtype (which is not very practical for many), you realize that the sound of the key release is both difficult to avoid and a significant part of the overall noise of a mechanical keyboard.

[vasouv]

I did read your suggestion about getting the key lube, but I decided not to get it. I mean, part of the fun using a mechanical keyboard is the sound right? I definitely don't want a totally silent keyboard In the mornings I can hammer away all I want hehehe

I have a good feeling about this after all, I believe it won't be a problem. And if it is, I'll get some lube when I order some custom keys from somewhere, I'm DEFINITELY getting some of those form somewhere!

[microsoft windows]

IF YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE YOUR CLICKY KEYBOARD, YOU CAN ALWAYS WHOP 'EM ON THE HEAD WITH IT. THAT'LL SHUT THEM UP FOR A WHILE.

[Thimplum]

IF YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE YOUR CLICKY KEYBOARD, YOU CAN ALWAYS WHOP 'EM ON THE HEAD WITH IT. THAT'LL SHUT THEM UP FOR A WHILE.

THAT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL.

[Quardah]

IF YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE YOUR CLICKY KEYBOARD, YOU CAN ALWAYS WHOP 'EM ON THE HEAD WITH IT. THAT'LL SHUT THEM UP FOR A WHILE.

THAT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL.

YES IT IS VIOLENCE SOLVES EVERYTHING!

[Thimplum]

IF YOUR FAMILY DOESN'T LIKE YOUR CLICKY KEYBOARD, YOU CAN ALWAYS WHOP 'EM ON THE HEAD WITH IT. THAT'LL SHUT THEM UP FOR A WHILE.

THAT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL.

YES IT IS VIOLENCE SOLVES EVERYTHING!

O RLY

[vasouv]

After almost 3 weeks with my Leopold Tenkeyless (Brown Switches), I believe it's time to report eh?

There's NO issue when using the keyboard late at night. Of course I don't go bat-sh*t crazy "Hulk SMASH" bottoming the keys at night but still, there's no way I could wake my parents from typing.

I don't have to use the silencing rings I bought, I'm pretty good at touch-typing and it definitely helps. Brown switches are really silent if you want them to be.

[rowdy]

After almost 3 weeks with my Leopold Tenkeyless (Brown Switches), I believe it's time to report eh?

There's NO issue when using the keyboard late at night. Of course I don't go bat-sh*t crazy "Hulk SMASH" bottoming the keys at night but still, there's no way I could wake my parents from typing.

I don't have to use the silencing rings I bought, I'm pretty good at touch-typing and it definitely helps. Brown switches are really silent if you want them to be.

Fantastic!  Thanks for the update.

MX blues have that high pitched constant clicking that might disturb others - you have chosen well with browns.

[Chau]

Yasu re vasoun. Do you live in Athens. We could have a 2 person meet up Would like to try browns. I have reds.

[Morwrath]

I was in the same situation as you two years ago. Decided to go for brown switches aswell, and they barely make any more sound than my old rubberdomes.
Great switches to go for when chosing your first mechanical keyboard.

[Linkbane]

Long answer short, unless you're using Topres or an MX Blue equivalent, the amount of noise you make is largely determined by the amount of force you press with. A brown/black will make next to no sound if you rarely bottom out, as that causes all of the noise. Not bottoming out also has a host of other benefits such as increasing speed and accuracy significantly (increased my speed by almost 10%, which is a lot as all I do is speed type). Browns might actually be quieter than Reds, because your hands stop more naturally at the actuation point.

However, even using Blues like me, I still don't make that much noise; the sound level is probably half of what it would be if I pressed the keys hard.

[tbc]

imo, i don't think blues are 'loud' in terms of 'decibels', they just have an annoying sound to most people (not me!!! ).

based on what I've heard on youtube sound comparisons, blues are barely lourder than topres when you exclude the frequency differences (topre is exceptionally low-pitched (a more relaxing sound) compared to BS and blues)

[1391406]

they just have an annoying sound to most people (not me!!! ).

I don't know if they annoy most people, but I rather like the way they sound.

[rowdy]

imo, i don't think blues are 'loud' in terms of 'decibels', they just have an annoying sound to most people (not me!!! ).

based on what I've heard on youtube sound comparisons, blues are barely lourder than topres when you exclude the frequency differences (topre is exceptionally low-pitched (a more relaxing sound) compared to BS and blues)

They are louder bottoming out than clicking, but the pitch of the click does annoy some people - it is like an irregular high-pitched tick.

[Linkbane]

imo, i don't think blues are 'loud' in terms of 'decibels', they just have an annoying sound to most people (not me!!! ).

based on what I've heard on youtube sound comparisons, blues are barely lourder than topres when you exclude the frequency differences (topre is exceptionally low-pitched (a more relaxing sound) compared to BS and blues)

They are louder bottoming out than clicking, but the pitch of the click does annoy some people - it is like an irregular high-pitched tick.

All about preference. That's why we have so many flavors of three different concepts in Cherry, eh?

[Tony]

I mostly use brown and I confirm that brown are still noisier than rubber domes. If you bottom out frequently it would be click clack.

For real sound you can search "cherry sound comparison" on Youtube

[Oobly]

I may just be weird, but I actually prefer the feel of browns with o-rings to without. I like the slightly softer landing when I bottom out, although I try not to all the time. The silence is nice, too. Of course the release sound is still there, but I tend to not actually pull my fingers up off the keys too quickly, so this is fairly soft, too. May change as my speed increases, though. I find typing on browns with o-rings and stock Ducky ABS caps to be quieter than the Dell rubber dome I use at work. Hopefully will be even quieter when I get my POM keycaps set

OT - I hate those key switch sound videos where the user just hammers the keys, so all you hear is heavy bottoming out. Makes me want to yell at them to stay away from my keyboards!

[YoungMichael88]

imo, i don't think blues are 'loud' in terms of 'decibels', they just have an annoying sound to most people (not me!!! ).

based on what I've heard on youtube sound comparisons, blues are barely lourder than topres when you exclude the frequency differences (topre is exceptionally low-pitched (a more relaxing sound) compared to BS and blues)

Anything with a higher frequency (to a certain extent) like the "click" of blues will sound louder than things at the same dB with a lower frequency like the "thock" of a Topre. It's just the way the human ear works. They are more sensitive to that range of frequency. You could blast a very low tone at a very high dB level and not even hear it as a human. This is why the voice of a small child talking normally seems to pierce through more than an adult voice. It's not technically louder. The same principal can be used to compare a "click" to a "thock". For anyone that is interested, the human voice has an approximate frequency range between 300Hz - 3400Hz. This is the range that the human ear is designed to hear best.

EDIT: yea, I like sound....

[vasouv]

Another thing that greatly helps with sound (in relation to not bottoming out) is repositioning my fingers on the keyboard (the "correct" way). This way I type almost dead silently, albeit a lot slower; I wouldn't wake a baby even if its ears were right next to my keyboard!

It's really nice not bottoming out, I release when I feel the actuation point and all the fingers sweep nice and smooth, like when I write in cursive and it's all one whole big motion.

To anyone having similar thoughts, go for Brown! The guys here taught me well and I have proof of my own.

Yasu re vasoun. Do you live in Athens. We could have a 2 person meet up Would like to try browns. I have reds.

Elladaaaa!! Sadly no, I live in Xanthi. Have a couple of friends in Athens though, if I come to visit them I'll let you know.

[Chau]

Yep that's pretty far away. Glad you are enjoying your kb with browns.

[ZeodoHokill]

Happy to see another satisfied mechanical keyboard lover!