YOU Make Your Keyboard Clack or Thock - Featuring Wind X65

Summary

This video explores the art of tuning a gaming keyboard's sound profile, demonstrating how the Windex 65 keyboard can be adjusted to achieve both clacky and thonky sounds. The host discusses the impact of foam, switches, keycaps, and case materials on sound, and provides a science-based explanation of how these elements influence the keyboard's acoustics.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Building a gaming keyboard with a specific sound profile involves considering multiple factors, not just the switch type.
• 🔊 Keyboard sound is influenced by a combination of the keyboard case, keycaps, switches, plate, and foam inside.
• 📐 The Windex 65 is a gasket-mounted keyboard, which naturally dampens sound and feel.
• 🔩 To experiment with sound tuning, the creator used milmax sockets to convert a solderable PCB into a hot swap PCB.
• 📉 For a clacky sound, thicker foam is used, as it reduces higher frequency sounds, creating a higher pitched sound.
• 📏 Thinner foam is used to reduce lower frequency sounds, resulting in a deeper, thockier sound.
• 🔨 The sound profile of a keyboard can be tuned by adjusting the amount and type of foam, keycaps, and switches.
• 🎵 The Windex 65 can be tuned to be either clacky or thonky, demonstrating the flexibility in sound tuning.
• 🔧 The creator used Aqua Jelly Whites for a clacky build and Ink Black V2s for a thonky build, highlighting the role of switch choice in sound profile.
• 📚 Understanding the science behind sound, specifically the frequency of sound waves, helps in tuning the keyboard sound to desired pitches.
• 🎨 The final keyboard build can be as unique as the user desires, with sound tuning allowing for a personalized experience.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script?

The main focus of the video script is to demonstrate how the sound profile of a gaming keyboard, specifically the Windex 65, can be tuned to be either clacky or thonky by adjusting various components such as switches, keycaps, foam, and the keyboard case.

What factors contribute to the sound of a keyboard?

The sound of a keyboard is influenced by a combination of factors including the keyboard case materials and design, the plate design and material, the switches, the keycaps and their profile and materials, and any foam or other fillers inside the keyboard.

What is the Windex 65 keyboard?

The Windex 65 is the second rendition of the original Windex keyboard from Wind Studios. It is a gasket-mounted keyboard known for its bright orange color, sharp angular lines, and brass weight. It comes with a variety of components including palm plates, a PCB, foam, and the keyboard itself.

Why is the Windex 65 considered a gasket-mounted keyboard?

The Windex 65 is considered a gasket-mounted keyboard because it uses a gasket to mount the keyboard, which should provide a naturally dampened sound and feel.

What issue did the creator face with the solderable PCB of the Windex 65?

The creator faced the issue of not being able to easily swap out switches with a solderable PCB, as it would require soldering and desoldering, which is not easily done.

How did the creator solve the issue of not being able to swap switches on the solderable PCB?

The creator solved the issue by using Milmax sockets. These sockets were soldered into the solder PCB, converting it into a hot swap PCB, which works similarly to the KO hot swap socket.

What switches were used for the clacky setup in the video?

For the clacky setup, the creator used Aqua Jelly Whites. These switches were chosen because they are known for their clacky and higher-pitched sound.

What is the difference between clack and thock sounds in keyboard switches?

Clack is a high-pitched sound created by high-frequency waves, which are fast and have low penetration. Thock is a low-pitched sound created by low-frequency waves, which are slow and have high penetration.

How does foam affect the sound of a keyboard?

Foam acts as an energy converting device, converting the mechanical energy from sound waves into heat through friction. Thicker foam reduces low-frequency sounds (thock), while thinner foam reduces high-frequency sounds (clack).

What keycaps were used for the ultimate thonky build in the video?

For the ultimate thonky build, the creator used MT3 keycaps. These keycaps, due to their added mass and volume, emphasize the base notes in a keyboard build, contributing to a deeper sound.