Matias Quiet Click switches

[bastones]

Hello,

I am looking to buy a Matias Mini Quiet Pro keyboard with Matias Quiet Click switches. Can anyone tell me whether this switch still has an audible click when the actuation point is reached or if it is silent and you can only feel it? I am also interested to know whether the pressure to reach the actuation point on the Matias Quiet Click switches as the same as they are on the standard Matias Click switches.

I do find, compared to Cherry MX Blue and Greetech Blue switches (which are the two mechanical switches I have used extensively), the Matias Clicky switch is a lot stiffer to activate which does seem to require quite an adjustment for me since I do tend to type lighter since switching to mechanical keyboards.

Thanks.

[Hyde]

I've recorded the typing sound for comparison you can take a look:

Matias Tactile Pro

Matias Quiet Pro

So as you can see there is still a little bit of sound, but I guess not bad for mechanical stand point but still horrible compare to rubber domes.

As for typing pressure, Matias Tactile switches are a little bit heavier.  Matias Quiet Pro switches are a little bit lighter.

So like you said if you're coming from MX Blue, you'd find Tactile switch a little bit stiff, but Quiet switch should just be fine.

(I come from MX Red and MX Brown and I can use the Quiet switch just fine.)

Hope this helps. 

[jacobolus]

Matias quiet switches are quieter than any Cherry switches or most other mechanical keyswitches, but are indeed a bit louder than many rubber dome or scissor switch keyboards. To make any keyboard quieter, you can also stuff some kind of sound muffler inside the plastic case, and try to find a table that won’t resonate too much.

Both types of Matias switches feel almost identical (if you wore earplugs, you’d have to pay close attention to tell them apart), and are somewhere in between the weight of MX blue/red/brown and MX clear/green/black. Personally I wish they were about 5–10 centinewtons lighter, whereas MX blue would benefit from being about 5–10 cN heavier. Note that because the force drops away after the actuation/click point, whereas MX switches require increasing force as you press them further, comparing actuation force between MX and Alps-style switches is a bit misleading / not indicative of the total work your finger ends up doing.

[bastones]

Hello,

Thank you both for your helpful responses.

Do you know if there is a size/spacing difference between the keys on the Matias Mini and full-size Matias keyboard or are they otherwise identical to one another?

Thanks for your help.

[Hyde]

They should be the same spacing on both keyboard.

Also in your case I'd suggest go for Matias Quiet Pro. 

[bastones]

I wish I could but I find TKL layouts the most comfortable as I can keep my arm in a fairly neutral position when using my mouse.

Matias calls the switches "Quiet Click." Does this mean there is still an audible click when the actuation point is reached or is the actuation bump silent?

[chyros]

I wish I could but I find TKL layouts the most comfortable as I can keep my arm in a fairly neutral position when using my mouse.

Matias calls the switches "Quiet Click." Does this mean there is still an audible click when the actuation point is reached or is the actuation bump silent?

There is no click, the name is a terrible misnomer. I have absolutely no idea why Matias would choose such a confusing name.

[jacobolus]

I have absolutely no idea why Matias would choose such a confusing name.

They want to make sure to associate it with “clicky keyboards” in general, as compared to mushy rubber switches. Their target audience doesn’t have any established terminology like the “keyboard enthusiast” community does, so it’s a bit a bit tricky from a marketing perspective. I’m sure they realize the potential confusion. If you can think of a better name that would make sense to the general public, I’m sure they’d take feedback.

In my opinion, “mechanical keyboards” is an equally terrible confusing name.

[bastones]

I have absolutely no idea why Matias would choose such a confusing name.

They want to make sure to associate it with “clicky keyboards” in general, as compared to mushy rubber switches. Their target audience doesn’t have any established terminology like the “keyboard enthusiast” community does, so it’s a bit a bit tricky from a marketing perspective. I’m sure they realize the potential confusion. If you can think of a better name that would make sense to the general public, I’m sure they’d take feedback.

In my opinion, “mechanical keyboards” is an equally terrible confusing name.

I can understand it can come across misleading to some people though.

Thanks for everyone's help. I do hope one day Matias will release a Matias Mini Tactile Pro for PC in the future.

[chyros]

I have absolutely no idea why Matias would choose such a confusing name.

They want to make sure to associate it with “clicky keyboards” in general, as compared to mushy rubber switches. Their target audience doesn’t have any established terminology like the “keyboard enthusiast” community does, so it’s a bit a bit tricky from a marketing perspective. I’m sure they realize the potential confusion. If you can think of a better name that would make sense to the general public, I’m sure they’d take feedback.

In my opinion, “mechanical keyboards” is an equally terrible confusing name.

I think "quiet tactile"would work fine. Does exactly what it says on the tin, and it isn't an outright contradiction.

[Hypersphere]

I find that there is a bit of a muffled click in the Matias "Quiet Click" switches.

It is difficult to separate out the auditory and tactile components, but for whatever reasons, although I like both the Click and Quiet Click versions, I prefer the Matias Click switches. My speed and accuracy are somewhat better with the Click switches. There is a slight "rubbery" sensation in the Quiet Click switches that throws me off my typing somewhat. However, the Click switches are very loud, and when I am typing within earshot of others, I find it better to use my Quiet Click or my silenced Topre-switch keyboards.

If you would like to hear some audio samples, I have made some recordings over on DT:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/audio-and-waveforms-of-assorted-keyboards-t11269.html

[chyros]

I find that there is a bit of a muffled click in the Matias "Quiet Click" switches.

This is true, the tactile mechanism on Alps switches since Salmon hasn't been fully quiet. Still, no-one would consider them clicky switches, I'm sure - moreover, "quiet click"is either misleading, a contradiction, or an actual lie.

The interesting thing is, in my Matias video I actually made a real "quiet click" switch, or rather, a dampened click one. It was surprisingly nice, way better than the opposite alternative (an undampened tactile switch) IMO. I'm surprised Matias don't market them, seeing as they don't consist of new parts.

[bastones]

I find that there is a bit of a muffled click in the Matias "Quiet Click" switches.

It is difficult to separate out the auditory and tactile components, but for whatever reasons, although I like both the Click and Quiet Click versions, I prefer the Matias Click switches. My speed and accuracy are somewhat better with the Click switches. There is a slight "rubbery" sensation in the Quiet Click switches that throws me off my typing somewhat. However, the Click switches are very loud, and when I am typing within earshot of others, I find it better to use my Quiet Click or my silenced Topre-switch keyboards.

If you would like to hear some audio samples, I have made some recordings over on DT:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/audio-and-waveforms-of-assorted-keyboards-t11269.html

When you say you make typing errors, do you mean slipping onto other keys or missing key hits because of the differences in tactility?

[fohat.digs]

When you say you make typing errors, do you mean slipping onto other keys or missing key hits because of the differences in tactility?

Personally, I think that feedback, even slight tactility, is very important. Not everybody has to use a steampunk behemoth like I do, but feedback is recognized as a powerful reinforcer. When I type on my son's gaming keyboard, black MX with O-rings, I am completely disoriented.

[Hypersphere]

@bastones: I haven't done an analysis of the types of errors, I just know that I tend to be somewhat faster and more accurate when using the Click switches, which provide pronounced auditory and tactile feedback. I think it is also the more definitive feel of the Click switches. The damped switches feel a bit like Cherry mx with rubber O-rings, although I much prefer the feel of either Matias Click or Matias Quiet to any Cherry mx switch, with or without O-rings.

[jacobolus]

I think "quiet tactile"would work fine. Does exactly what it says on the tin, and it isn't an outright contradiction.

First, “quiet tactile” is a ****ty marketing name: it’s hard to say and hard to remember. Second, nobody has any idea what “tactile” means or how it compares to existing keyboards. Finally, Matias already has a line of keyboards called the “Tactile Pro” which use loud clicky switches (also a ****ty marketing name, but what can you do...).

[jacobolus]

When you say you make typing errors, do you mean slipping onto other keys or missing key hits because of the differences in tactility?

Fastest switches for me are Alps plate spring, followed by Model F / blue Alps / clicky SMK / IBM beam spring, which are all about the same speed despite using substantially different mechanisms with very varying key feel. I think 45g Topre with an added solenoid clicker would also be pretty good, but without any obvious sound or snap at the actuation point they just feel super mushy to me. I’m also partial to orange Alps, tactile SMK switches and Matias quiet switches for cases where it’s important to not make noise. I wish I could get a slightly less stiff version of Marquardt “butterfly” clicky switches with a more common keycap mount, as stiffness notwithstanding they are a dream to type on.

Important features for speed for me are: right amount of pre-actuation travel (my favorite is 1–1.5mm), sufficient post-actuation travel, noticeable force drop after actuation (the crisper the better), at least a bit of click sound (the crisper the better), a bit of bounce on the upstroke (Alps plate spring, beam spring, Marquardt butterfly switches and Topre all share this feature; MX switches unfortunately have an anti-bounce on the upstroke), and of course generic features such as lateral key stability and a very smooth press.

[chyros]

I think "quiet tactile"would work fine. Does exactly what it says on the tin, and it isn't an outright contradiction.

First, “quiet tactile” is a ****ty marketing name: it’s hard to say and hard to remember. Second, nobody has any idea what “tactile” means or how it compares to existing keyboards. Finally, Matias already has a line of keyboards called the “Tactile Pro” which use loud clicky switches (also a ****ty marketing name, but what can you do...).

Nobody knows who Matias are either, there's a pretty good chance that people who buy from them know what "tactile" means. "Tactile" has been used for marketing purposes for ages anyway, remember those old keyboard boxes? They're always on about "mechanical keyswitches" and "tactile feedback".

In any case, a word you don't know is still better than a word that's constitutes a contradiction to one you do know ("quiet click" - it just makes absolutely no sense at all) or an outright falsehood.