How can I silence my keyboard effectively?

[Springfox]

Hi Geekhack,

I've recently started a new job and I have already had enough of the gooey keyboards supplied, I'm looking to bring in one of my mechs but the sound will definitely be an issue.

What can I do to effectively quiet the thing? I normally use cherry browns and I really like the feel of those but even those in this environment would be far to loud. It's a small office and I don't want to go pissing people off already.

I don't know how effective o-rings would be, or what ones to get but it's something I'd like to get sorted as soon as possible. If at all possible I'd like to use cherry switch so I can bring along my own key caps and the like.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

[saturnotaku]

I use o-rings on my Cherry MX brown board and have had no complaints from my co-workers. That would be the quickest and easiest way to dampen noise. I have a couple extra packages that I don't need any more and would be willing to sell to you cheaply. One shortens the keystroke 0.4 mm, the other 0.2 mm. Both do a fine job of cutting the noise from when you bottom out. PM me if interested.

[jdcarpe]

Hi Geekhack,

I've recently started a new job and I have already had enough of the gooey keyboards supplied, I'm looking to bring in one of my mechs but the sound will definitely be an issue.

What can I do to effectively quiet the thing? I normally use cherry browns and I really like the feel of those but even those in this environment would be far to loud. It's a small office and I don't want to go pissing people off already.

I don't know how effective o-rings would be, or what ones to get but it's something I'd like to get sorted as soon as possible.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

You can try things like o-rings under the keycaps, soft landing pads on the plate, dampening material inside the case, using thicker keycaps, etc. But nothing is going to eliminate the sound of the switches returning, or "topping out."

If quietness is the goal, you can always try a silenced Topre, either a Realforce or HHKB Pro 2 Type-S. That's as close as you will come to making your keyboard silent. Sadly, the typical rubber dome over membrane is about the best in quiet keyboard tech. That, and also the fact that they are dirt cheap to produce, are why they are so popular in the workplace.

[Quardah]

Soft o-rings makes a less heavy hit on the keyboard when bottoming out and so it dampens the sound.

Else, the sillicon ball mods should logically reduce the sound outcome as well, since you are limitting the space in the stem, therefore the air used for sound to travel, it should make less noise.

But o-rings you'll need to put them on each keycaps and remove em if you switch your keycap set.
But sillicon balls you'll need to insert one into every switch on your board.

There might be some other options, they'll post them fast in here soon.

[Grim Fandango]

I have been in a similar situation.

I tried the 40AL O-rings. While they did work, they did not work well enough and my keyboard was still too loud for use in the office (Cherry MX browns).

Eventually all the rattle and pinging noise of my keyboard(s) got too much for me (or rather, for those around me) and I now only use switches that are much quieter than any of the Cherry MX's. The only Cherry MX board I have literally goes unused now. Too loud for the office, too loud of the living room. Could only use it in the study with the door closed. I am always slightly surprised how little the issue of noise comes up here on geekhack. Either many people do not use their keyboards around others, or they are surrounded by much more tolerant people than I am.

[gameaholic]

Do lighter springs make less noise when they "top out"?

[fohat.digs]

Buy one of my EPDM mats, of course!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.0

[Grim Fandango]

Buy one of my EPDM mats, of course!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59308.0

Ah yes. I forgot to point this out. A lot of the noise on some keyboard actually comes from the desk resonating with the keyboard. This is a much bigger issue with some cases than it is with others. Putting something under it can (depending on both the keyboard you use and the desk you use it on) actually make a lot of difference in the sound. You can test this out with a towel or putting a cloth mousepad under the keyboard.

[SonOfSonOfSpock]

The Matias quiet keyboards are a good option. Both bottoming out and the upstroke are dampened. It's much quieter than the Cherry MX boards I have. I don't have any Topre boards to compare to.

Here is a good quietness/loudness comparison:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56648.0

[Grim Fandango]

The Matias quiet keyboards are a good option. Both bottoming out and the upstroke are dampened. It's much quieter than the Cherry MX boards I have. I don't have any Topre boards to compare to.

Here is a good quietness/loudness comparison:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56648.0

I have the Matias Quiet Pro mini and Topre boards. The quiet pro is at work so I can not compare it head to head.

However, I would say that both the Topre and the Quiet Pro have about the same amount of noise as just any other rubber dome keyboard. And I found both to be fine in a work situation. Neither will stand out in terms of sound. I think the Topre might be a bit louder, but it is such a low pitched "thock" sound that it is not nearly as disruptive as most/all Cherry MX keyboards. It is still in that "normal keyboard sound" range.

The Topre silent switches are even quieter than "normal" rubber dome keyboards. Those things hardly make any noise at all and are the quietest switches I have ever heard. Even quieter than the Matias Quiet Pro. They are definitely nice if for some reason you really can not make any sound at all. But for normal work conditions, I found that topre already works ok.

[fatchoi]

Other than the board itself, I think it's better to change the typing behavior by not bottoming out. Or use switches that are heavier, tends to be quieter, IMO.

[nathairtras]

I use MX Greens in a cube farm.  Ask your coworkers if it bothers them.  Repeatedly.  If yes, then deal with the problem.  If no, happy fingers. 

In the process (hah) of picking out / buying a 60%.  I have repeatedly said "Ok, I'm about to buy a new keyboard.  Here is your chance to tell me if my old one was too loud."  Not once have I gotten a request to get different switches.

[Novus]

Speaking of silencing.
What is that mat the Leopold 750 uses?

[spiceBar]

Hi Geekhack,

I've recently started a new job and I have already had enough of the gooey keyboards supplied, I'm looking to bring in one of my mechs but the sound will definitely be an issue.

What can I do to effectively quiet the thing? I normally use cherry browns and I really like the feel of those but even those in this environment would be far to loud. It's a small office and I don't want to go pissing people off already.

I don't know how effective o-rings would be, or what ones to get but it's something I'd like to get sorted as soon as possible.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

You can try things like o-rings under the keycaps, soft landing pads on the plate, dampening material inside the case, using thicker keycaps, etc. But nothing is going to eliminate the sound of the switches returning, or "topping out."

If quietness is the goal, you can always try a silenced Topre, either a Realforce or HHKB Pro 2 Type-S. That's as close as you will come to making your keyboard silent. Sadly, the typical rubber dome over membrane is about the best in quiet keyboard tech. That, and also the fact that they are dirt cheap to produce, are why they are so popular in the workplace.

It is possible to silence the upstroke of Cherry MX by putting a good amount of grease on the sliders in the switches. It is not even necessary to open the switches. I have been doing that on my MX browns and reds since last year and it works really well. I know it must NOT be done on blues. I believe it would also work in blacks and clears, but I have not tried yet.

I have never talked about it because I'm not sure the method is safe in the long term, but the switches are really quiet. I have started doing this last year, so after a full year I can say that there has been no degradation. The 5 keyboard on which I have tested the method still work perfectly.

O-ring + grease = very quiet Cherry MX browns and reds. As quiet or more than rubber dome keyboards.

I'm not recommending you to do it, yet, but it's possible to silence browns to a very low sound level.

[dorkvader]

You can try things like o-rings under the keycaps, soft landing pads on the plate, dampening material inside the case, using thicker keycaps, etc. But nothing is going to eliminate the sound of the switches returning, or "topping out."

If quietness is the goal, you can always try a silenced Topre, either a Realforce or HHKB Pro 2 Type-S. That's as close as you will come to making your keyboard silent. Sadly, the typical rubber dome over membrane is about the best in quiet keyboard tech. That, and also the fact that they are dirt cheap to produce, are why they are so popular in the workplace.

Agreed 100%. Another option for a keybaord that's quiet on the upstroke (and downstroke of course) is the Matias quiet pro with quiet matias switches.

[Defect]

Lube the springs if they are making too much noise.

Grease the stabilizers

Lube the stem (internal, very minimal effect on sound)

Use O-Rings or practice typing without bottoming out.

Line the inside with shelf liner

[Findecanor]

* Read in the "Trampoline mod" thread for how to put latex inside the switch to dampen upstroke.
* Thicker, shorter caps are said to be more silent.
* Good keyboard feet and possibly even a large mousepad under the keyboard could make a difference.
* Use Cherry MX Clear and learn not to bottom out.

Also, what keyboard do you use? Some keyboards are more silent than others. It is not just about the key you have pressed but also how the key press makes the plate/PCB/case resonate and how that travels and reverberates through the keyboard.

[Lastpilot]

Lube the springs if they are making too much noise.

Grease the stabilizers

Lube the stem (internal, very minimal effect on sound)

Yes, totally on board with lubing switches and oiling stems. Not to mention it makes your keyboard feel awesome.

[davkol]

I've used keyboards with MX Red/Clear switches and thick PBT/POM keycaps for months/years in classes without any complaints; I never bottom out hard, thus dampeners don't really make any noticeable difference and I dislike the feel (shorter travel).

Dampened (Matias) Alps are even quieter. So are some better scissor switches, especially if you put a rubber skin over them (like these for thinkpads, macbooks or typematrix). Actually, nearly any rubber dome will sound similar, provided sliders aren't mounted in a creaky plastic case, but rather on a metal plate or something—sort of like Topre, although it doesn't have to be Topre.

Everything I've mentioned will make some sound, but a not the horrible creaking noise when someone smashes a cheap rubber dome over membrane, rather a distinct clacky sound.

More importantly though, put your keyboard (whatever it is) on a soft surface, like a thick cloth mousepad, a towel, your lap or one of those faux leather deskpads. It's amazing how much noise it absorbs.

[Oobly]

Trampoline mod.