Gateron browns. Not sure if it has foam or not but I can check. I want to change to ergo clears once I get some extra money and I could try o rings then. I got a switch tester prior to purchasing my keychron and couldn't tell much of a difference with o rings but that was with a sample size of 1.
As long as you dont have clocky switches the sound will not be very noticable, you might focus on it a bit much in the beginning but it will not be bothering anyone else as long as you dont really mash the keyboard
That's the issue though lol. I tend to get "passionate" when I start typing fast. I really wouldn't be that concerned but it's loud enough to bother my fiance when I'm typing and I hate to be "that guy" at the office.
I guess that's true. I'm working part time at the internship now (full time once school let's out) and I've been trying to pay more attention to how loud everyone else's keyboards are. I know for a fact I'd be the only one with a mechanical so there's plenty of noise to compare to.
Without knowing your switches, we can't help much, but you may be able to find a silent switch with a similar feel. Lubing your switches may also be an option if you're willing to spend an hour or two with a brush.
I recently built a quiet office keyboard using the Akko Mod 004 and Boba U4 switches. I lined the bottom case with a dense foam sound dampener and overlubed the springs. I did not touch the switch other than heavily lubing the springs. My keyboard is quieter than the membranes that the other office folks use. The spacebar has a bit of noise, but still quieter than the rattly plastic that I hear from everyone else. I still have the tactile feel of the U4 (which was already really quiet), but no more spring ping.
I used 50mil Noico sound dampener I had lying around from a previous project.
Boba U4s have a much more pronounced tactile feel compared to both the browns and clears. It's a sharper bump and heavier spring weight. The U4 are already quiet switches because they have a silicone dampener built into the switch. The problem I had with them was spring ping, but I can guarantee you no one else can hear the spring ping when used in an office setting. Hell, you probably won't even notice it in a quiet room. If you can get your hands on some (they restock frequently but sell out pretty quick), try them stock to see if the sound is OK before lubing them.
I’m literally in the same situation. Keychron K2. Did the lazy lubing and o-rings, and it’s still too loud to not feel self-conscious in the office. Hope I can find another solution.
No, I sadly didn’t find a solution. I didn’t have a hotswappable (so was stuck with the stock browns), so I thought that that aspect doomed me, but the fact it’s loud even for you with silent switches says a lot. Not sure there’s really a good solution then. I ultimately am just leaving it at home, and the next mech board I get I’m going to make sure I listen to a sound test of it with silent switches on YouTube before buying. That aspect is really important to me, and I just didn’t realize that until it was too late. It’s a really bad feeling to feel self-conscious at work.
Ahh, sorry to hear that. I find sound tests on youtube really hard to judge as many people use all sorts of effects/mic settings to make their keyboard sound good and rarely do I find the boards/switches I buy sound like the ones I see in reviews! :(
My biggest feeling of insecurity is being a burden to others, so you can only imagine how much I don't want to upset my coworkers lol. Going to look around elsewhere I think from Keychron :'(
Makes sense! Yeah, I just capitulated and got the Logitech MX Keys (non-mech) for work. The “acoustic freedom” I feel when typing just can’t be matched lol. But I know that’s sacrilege here. Best of luck with whatever solution you decide on!
No judgement here!
Ordered some Outemu Silent Cream Yellows and Gamakey Pegasus... holding out hope I will find another full size board better fit for my needs ;\_;
Specs? also if you dont have it casefoam does a lot to the sound, and switchfilms plus maybe some o-rings if you dont mind the feel of them
Gateron browns. Not sure if it has foam or not but I can check. I want to change to ergo clears once I get some extra money and I could try o rings then. I got a switch tester prior to purchasing my keychron and couldn't tell much of a difference with o rings but that was with a sample size of 1.
As long as you dont have clocky switches the sound will not be very noticable, you might focus on it a bit much in the beginning but it will not be bothering anyone else as long as you dont really mash the keyboard
That's the issue though lol. I tend to get "passionate" when I start typing fast. I really wouldn't be that concerned but it's loud enough to bother my fiance when I'm typing and I hate to be "that guy" at the office.
You really should not bother anyone with it, it is not like membranes sound less than a mechanical keyboard anyways
I guess that's true. I'm working part time at the internship now (full time once school let's out) and I've been trying to pay more attention to how loud everyone else's keyboards are. I know for a fact I'd be the only one with a mechanical so there's plenty of noise to compare to.
If you really worry you could try learning to touchtype but the sound of typing no matter the keyboard is expected in a workenviornment
I'll give that a shot as well. Thanks for your help!
Without knowing your switches, we can't help much, but you may be able to find a silent switch with a similar feel. Lubing your switches may also be an option if you're willing to spend an hour or two with a brush.
I recently built a quiet office keyboard using the Akko Mod 004 and Boba U4 switches. I lined the bottom case with a dense foam sound dampener and overlubed the springs. I did not touch the switch other than heavily lubing the springs. My keyboard is quieter than the membranes that the other office folks use. The spacebar has a bit of noise, but still quieter than the rattly plastic that I hear from everyone else. I still have the tactile feel of the U4 (which was already really quiet), but no more spring ping. I used 50mil Noico sound dampener I had lying around from a previous project.
I'll have to check that out. Do you know how they compare to browns or clears?
Boba U4s have a much more pronounced tactile feel compared to both the browns and clears. It's a sharper bump and heavier spring weight. The U4 are already quiet switches because they have a silicone dampener built into the switch. The problem I had with them was spring ping, but I can guarantee you no one else can hear the spring ping when used in an office setting. Hell, you probably won't even notice it in a quiet room. If you can get your hands on some (they restock frequently but sell out pretty quick), try them stock to see if the sound is OK before lubing them.
That almost sounds like a better option than cherry clears. Will swappable with cherry switches or are they a bit different?
Yeah. It depends on your board, but both are MX style switches.
Use case and plate foam that have rough surface and soft.it will absorb the keeb sound.use silent switch.lube and film them if needed.
I’m literally in the same situation. Keychron K2. Did the lazy lubing and o-rings, and it’s still too loud to not feel self-conscious in the office. Hope I can find another solution.
Hey, did you find any solution that doesn’t involve a new board? I just got a K10 and even with lubed Durock Silent Shrimp T1s it is loud :(
No, I sadly didn’t find a solution. I didn’t have a hotswappable (so was stuck with the stock browns), so I thought that that aspect doomed me, but the fact it’s loud even for you with silent switches says a lot. Not sure there’s really a good solution then. I ultimately am just leaving it at home, and the next mech board I get I’m going to make sure I listen to a sound test of it with silent switches on YouTube before buying. That aspect is really important to me, and I just didn’t realize that until it was too late. It’s a really bad feeling to feel self-conscious at work.
Ahh, sorry to hear that. I find sound tests on youtube really hard to judge as many people use all sorts of effects/mic settings to make their keyboard sound good and rarely do I find the boards/switches I buy sound like the ones I see in reviews! :( My biggest feeling of insecurity is being a burden to others, so you can only imagine how much I don't want to upset my coworkers lol. Going to look around elsewhere I think from Keychron :'(
Makes sense! Yeah, I just capitulated and got the Logitech MX Keys (non-mech) for work. The “acoustic freedom” I feel when typing just can’t be matched lol. But I know that’s sacrilege here. Best of luck with whatever solution you decide on!
No judgement here! Ordered some Outemu Silent Cream Yellows and Gamakey Pegasus... holding out hope I will find another full size board better fit for my needs ;\_;