When you press a key, does your keyboard not emit that satisfying “thock” sound? A “thock” keyboard sounds great to keyboard enthusiasts. Many keyboards can’t create that kind of sound out of the box, but some can. With a few household items and small accessories, you can achieve such desired sounds. You can make a great-sounding keyboard by following these ergonomic tips.
1. Tape for painting
There’s a lot of open space inside your keyboard case that affects the sound. Increasing the area inside makes it more likely that sounds will echo, resulting in worse distortion. Painter’s tape can double as a sound deadener, masking off areas you don’t want to paint. The bottom housing of the keyboard case is one of the main places to put painter’s tape.
In addition to painter’s tape, some manufacturers add a foam pad to achieve the same sound deadening effect. You can reduce clackiness on keyboards by covering the bottom surface area of the case. Cover any plastic exposed on the keyboard, so it doesn’t get dirty.
2. Switches need to be lubed
Lubricating mechanical key switches reduces the amount of resistance on the internal contacts, like any moving part. With the right tools, lubricating keyboard switches shouldn’t be too hard. Your keyboard will sound better and be more comfortable if you lube your switches.
Typically, enthusiasts use GLUBE oil to reduce the friction between plastic components. The cost of this stuff is a little higher than generic lubricants, but it’s got its advantages. Dielectric grease can be bought at any auto parts store for a few dollars and works just as well.
3. Dampening switches
Under the switch, foam pads can act like suspension on passenger vehicles. It’s easy to buy pre-cut foam pads online that fit mechanical switches. Because not all switches are the same, a little trimming or modifying may be needed.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time and effort on your keyboard, this is generally a quick installation.
4. A dampener for stabilizers
You can go a long way in improving the sound of your keyboard by dampening your stabilizers. Along with lubricating them, you can tape the bottom of the stabilizer to its contact patch with painter’s tape.
Painting the painter’s tape onto the contact patch will dampen the sound, whether it’s on the keyboard casing itself or the board with the mechanical switches.
5. Switching mechanical switches
You might have to swap out the physical switches themselves if all those changes still don’t give you the sound and action you want. Mechanical switches come in three kinds: linear, tactile, and clicky. Noises and experiences are different because each is designed for a different application.
Simple modifications that make a big difference
Hopefully, you’ll be able to get the “thock” sound with one or more of these modifications. You can drastically improve one of your daily tasks with all these changes for under $100.
It depends on what kind of sound you want to make with your keyboard how far you want to go with these mods!