How to build a whisper quiet mechanical keyboard (modded GMMK + Aqua Zilents + Matrix Keycaps)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2024
- How to build an extremely silent #MechanicalKeyboard, without soldering, without spending a fortune and without waiting forever on group buys? Follow me on this very comprehensive tutorial where I modify a 'Glorious' #GMMK hot-swappable keyboard (with damping foam), GMK stabs (with lube, clipping and band-aid mods) and #ZealPC Aqua #Zilent switches (lubed with #Krytox 205 & 105) for a quiet and smooth typing experience. I also review the quality and features of the #MatrixKeyboards PBT keycaps as well as the GMMK TKL keyboard I used on this build.
🟢 MAIN FEATURED PRODUCT (affiliate links):
Glorious GMMK (all models)👉 gloriousgaming.pxf.io/gmmk1
Zeal PC Aqua Zilents (67 grams)👉 bit.ly/zealaquazilent
🟢 SOCIAL LINKS:
Web: www.iosamfranco.com
Twitter: / iosamfranco
Mastodon: bitbang.social/@iosam
Instagram: / iosamfranco
Reddit: / io_sam
TH-cam: / iosam
🟢 PRODUCTS LINKS (some links are part of affiliate programs):
- Glorious Padded Wrist Rest: gloriousgaming.pxf.io/wristpa...
- Krytox 205 grade 2: amzn.to/3GDHAkk | ebay.us/zttJch
- Krytox 205 grade 0: bit.ly/3FS1nw1 | fave.co/413mV19
- Krytox 105: amzn.to/2NjBSuB | ebay.us/L2Bf31
- Permatex Dielectric Grease: amzn.to/3hhMbsk
- Matrix Keyboards PBT keycaps: matrixkeyboards.com/collectio...
- GMK Cherry Stabilizers (Plate Mounted): bit.ly/gmkstbs
- Cherry Stabilizers (Plate Mounted): amzn.to/3cp68wW
- Sorbothane Sheet (2.5 mm thick / 30 x 30 cm / 50 Duro): amzn.to/3ad9WkX
- Sorbothane Sheet (1 mm thick / 17.5 x 17.5 cm / 60 Duro): amzn.to/3u6mAKa
- 1.5 mm Silicon Mat: amzn.to/3lg27jc
- 4 mm O-rings: amzn.to/3b2GNbA
- DeWalt Box Cutter: amzn.to/3bLgF4N
- KBDFANS X AI03 2-IN-1 Switch Opener: 🌏» kbdfans.com/r?id=rpgrn0 | US » bit.ly/3GKWXpt
- MX Switch Top Removal Tool: bit.ly/switch-top-open
- KiiBoss MX KiiOpener: kiiboss.studio/products/kiiop...
- Nylon Hair Brush Set: amzn.to/3rUYMr1
- Wiha Precision bits: amzn.to/3pjpuZ1
- Wiha Long Nose Plier: amzn.to/2ZbBgKc
- Xool Tweezers: amzn.to/3rPrE3X
- Jeweler Pick-Up Tool: amzn.to/3b01qFq
- Wiha Flush Cutter: amzn.to/2Rkq3mt
- Hakko Flush Cutter: amzn.to/3dctIzc
- Architect Alu Rulers: amzn.to/3b3XF1F
- Aventor Digital Caliper: amzn.to/378CLxk
- Cutting Mat: amzn.to/3qgNHjS
- Youkoyi Magnifier Lamp: amzn.to/3pmI56w
- Precision Milligram Scale: amzn.to/37cfBpP
- Wiha Scisors: amzn.to/3aXEg2p
- Glorious Model O-: gloriousgaming.pxf.io/modelo-
- Razer Tartarus v2: amzn.to/3uK3oBP
🟢 REFERENCE VIDEOS:
@uploadtwashe8246 - The Zilent 67g Switch Review👉 • The Zilent 67g Switch ...
@JoeGaz - How to Lube Mechanical Keyboard Switches!👉 • How to Lube Mechanical...
@WalkersKeyboardScience 👉 / @walkerskeyboardscience
@Hellborecannon - Silencing stabs the Walker way👉 • Silencing stabs the Wa...
🟢 TIME CODES:
00:00 - Welcome
00:48 - Introduction
02:30 - Budget and Priorities: Intro
04:54 - Budget and Priorities: Switches
05:31 - Budget and Priorities: "Lube"
06:03 - Budget and Priorities: Keycaps
07:04 - Budget and Priorities: "Stabs"
07:59 - Budget and Priorities: Damping Foam
09:19 - Budget and Priorities: Case & PCB
10:20 - Parts List: Zeal PC Aqua Zilents (67 grams)
12:07 - Parts List: Krytox 205 & 105 / Permatex Dielectric Tune-Up Grease
13:35 - Parts List: Matrix Keyboards PBT doubleshot back-lit "Caribbean" set
15:01 - Parts List: GMK Cherry Style Stabilizers (Plate Mounted)
16:18 - Parts List: "Isolate It!" Sorbothane Sheet
17:14 - Parts List: "Glorious" PC Gaming Race GMMK TKL
18:31 - Tools
23:53 - Building Process: Opening the switches
24:26 - Building Process: "Lubing" Switches
29:37 - Building Process: Clipping Switches
31:05 - Building Process: Opening the GMMK's Case
33:07 - Building Process: Testing the PCB
33:51 - Building Process: Modding the "Stabs"
38:36 - Building Process: Measuring/Cutting the Damping foam
39:32 - Building Process: Installing the foam
41:22 - Building Process: Installing the Switches
41:49 - Building Process: Installing the Keycaps
42:10 - Building Process: Retunning the "Stabs"
44:40 - Building Process: Final Touches
45:55 - Final Product Review: Showcase
46:49 - Final Product Review: Sound Test
48:23 - Final Product Review: Sound Comparisons
50:47 - Final Product Review: Build Considerations
51:04 - Final Product Review: GMMK TKL Features
53:59 - Final Product Review: Software (RGB Controls)
56:28 - Final Product Review: RGB Lights' Brightness
57:38 - Final Product Review: Software (Macros)
58:25 - Build's Final/Total Cost
59:20 - Conclusion - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
![[ไฮไลต์] ฟุตบอลชาย ฝรั่งเศส vs อเมริกา รอบแบ่งกลุ่ม | โอลิมปิก 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/oZ9aSS0NEEg/mqdefault.jpg)
The quality of this video is insane
Thank you!!! The goal here is to keep this same quality standard on all videos on this channel 👍
Yeah maintaining this quality of production will get him very far, with the knowledge he has I think the channel would benefit from also having shorter videos to make the content more digestible for a bigger audience
I guess im randomly asking but does any of you know a way to log back into an Instagram account..?
I was stupid lost the account password. I love any help you can give me
@Devin Cedric Instablaster :)
@Cruz Westin i really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process atm.
Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
This is such an i depth tutorial, I know it must have taken you a ages to film and edit and WOW, it is so very greatly appreciated by a complete beginner like me. I am very much looking forward to all your content, especially the coil cable tutorial! 😊
Thank you so much!!! And yes... it took forever to produce this thing... 😆 I know it is not very practical for most TH-cam channels to make videos like this, but I plan to do at least one or two a year since I know how useful these can be to beginners.
And the coiled cables one is still being produced as we speak! That is another video that has been taking a looong time to make (it took a lot of trial and error to improve my coiled cable making technique)... But it will be worth it! ;)
The number one video on youtube when it comes to learning about custom mechanical keyboards. I don't think it can possibly get any better than this! great job!
Wow, thank you so much man! I'm happy to accept that title!!! 😁
But jokes aside, knowing that our videos are being useful to the community is the best motivation possible for creators like me to continue putting the hard work into making more content like this! Thanks again for taking the time to leave such positive feedback!
This video should have a million views! Amazing job and work effort, wow. Can tell the editing took time and very well thought out. Thank you! Saving this for my future haha.
Thank you so much!!! And you're right... The editing here took a LOT of time and work! :) While this level of production is not practical for every video on a TH-cam channel, I want to have these "specials" produced at least once or twice a year, since I believe that full blown guides like these are super helpful (specially for beginners) and very difficult to find out there.
P
I love videos with thorough explanations, but so often that means repeating information over and over again, or dumbing things down to a level that feels condescending. But you nailed it! You struck the perfect balance of informative, entertaining, professional, and personable. There seems to be an abundance of circle-jerking in the mechanical keyboard community for buying only the most incredible, expensive, impossible-to-find parts, making it extremely refreshing to see a video that "the rest of us" might have a chance of building. I would like this video twice if I could. Can't wait to hear your take on the Pandas!
Your words are highly appreciated! And I share your views on the unfortunate elitism that plagues some corners of the mechanical keyboards community... I'm hoping to give a small contribution in changing that for the better (and point people to the more reasonable and sensible side of this community).
As for the "Panda Wars", stay tunned! Been working on this for a while and should be uploading it this week... And it will be a doozy! :D
Just the work and dedication to put this video together. I barely subscribe, but you deserve it.
Thank you!!! And yeah... This one took a lot of time and work indeed! 😆👍
Wow, this video is so in-depth! The GMMK TKL is my first keyboard and I’m happy to have such a thorough step by step guide!
Hey Kiana! Glad to know it was helpful! While this video is a bit old now, most of the tips I showed here still apply to the latest versions of the GMMK TKL (the newer versions are, in fact, easier to mod than the old ones like mine).
A whole hour of great information. such a video deserves more views
Your support is much appreciated! And as one line in one of my favorite movies of all times (th-cam.com/video/7SB16il97yw/w-d-xo.html) once said on the thunderous voice of James Earl Jones: If you build it, "people will come!" ;)
Just watched your gmmk review, would just like to say I love how you make your videos so professional yet friendly at the same time! Keep up the amazing work!
Thank you so much!!! My target audience for this channel has been, from the beginning, young professionals who enjoy PC hardware and peripherals (people like me :), so the professional vibe is not an accident, of course...
And I'm so happy to see that my approach seems to be working, since most of my audience falls exactly within my target demographic. So, welcome to the channel! You can rest assured this is the style you'll se on all my videos here!
This video is excellent, thank you for taking the time to put it together. I think this is what is convincing me to go down the rabbit hole of building my own keyboard!
Happy to know it was helpful and that it inspired you to pull the trigger on your first keyboard build! ;)
This is the single best keyboard modding tutorial I have ever seen anywhere on the web. I have been learning to get into this hobby for about 6 months now, steadily watching TH-cam videos of all kinds and this channel is by far the best one. Amazing job, if I had money I would be throwing it at the monitor
Yo! Thank you so much for your words my friend!!!
Knowing that my videos have been so helpful to someone just getting started in this hobby is worth more than money to me! :)
I feel like I’m watching a rocket scientist explain his craft. I’m so amazed of how you articulated a high level information and broke it down into detail that most people would understand. Amazing
Hehe... Thank you Steven! Happy to know I was able to break such a long project into parts that actually make sense even to people who are new to this hobby! If there was one goal I had in mind when I started this channel, that would be it! :)
Rest assured all my future videos will always strive to maintain this quality (I want this channel to be as friendly to newcomers as to veterans!). By the way, I am working on an update to this video, where I build an even cheaper version of this silent keyboard (using an updated version of the GMMK TKL and Gazzew Boba U4 switches). So, stay tuned!
@@IOSam Sam!! My first ever "DIY kit" actually just came in and I'm re-watching your video while attempting to mod my first keeb! Thank you for the amazing content and I'll be tuning in
Thank you so much for this in-depth guide! I was planning to get the gmmk tkl for my very first (so excited!!) custom keyboard and this guide is coming in SO HANDY to get all the parts I needed for a good first custom build :)
Hey, glad I could help!!! Let me know how it goes (always nice to hear the stories of people's first custom keyboard builds :)!
Wow! That was a super thorough look at exactly what I was planning on building! Thanks.
Awesome!!! Glad I could help!
This was the most helpful video I’ve seen on TH-cam. I’m building my first keyboard and so many of my questions (like “where do I begin” and “what key caps are the right ones.”) were answered. Thank you so much!!
Hey Amanda! Thank YOU for your nice words!! So happy to read your comment!!! It’s funny how when I set out to make this video, my idea wasn’t even to necessarily put out a general guide about how to build your own mechanical keyboard on a given budget… It was mostly focused on helping professionals to solve the problem of noisy mechanical keyboards in the work environment.
But because I’m a bit too obsessed about giving context to everything I say, this video ended up, kinda by accident, becoming a pretty good general guide about how to build your own keyboard within a constrained budget! 🤷♂️
And while there are thousands upon thousands of videos about mechanical keyboards on TH-cam, it is very surprising how few of those actually go through the trouble of taking you step-by-step into the process. I think one of the reasons for that is TH-camrs obsession with “audience retention” and “average view duration” (how many people watch the whole video), which forces these creators to make the shortest possible videos, where all the context and nuance (that is super helpful to beginners) gets dropped.
And because I don’t give a crap about video retention (😂), I made this ultra-detailed and slow paced guide that even after 2 and ½ years, continues to be this “beacon” for people trying to build their first mechanical keyboards…
And that makes me very happy! It also makes it obvious to me that I have to revisit this topic and try to create the “ultimate mechanical keyboard” guide for beginners, with more up-to-date information… Which would possibly be the most challenging video I could possibly ever make… And that I’m still tempted to do it anyway!😆
Thank you so much for this video! I plan to do the exact things on this exact keyboard, and stumpled upon the perfect video for it. I cannot be thankful enough!
Awesome!!! You'll love the results!
so far I have not seen this quality of production and content on youtube. Thank you for the detailed instructions. Sick!
Thank you my good sir!!! Feedback like this is always appreciated!!! :)
Comment from a first time viewer:
Wow! You are a very great communicator and the thought, effort, and time you put into this video really shows! Liked, subbed, and even set alerts on! Looking forward to digging through your channel- keep up the great work!
Thank you so much my friend!!! Loved the feedback!
And welcome aboard! While there aren't many videos in the channel yet (2022 was a very busy year where I struggled to dedicate enough time to this project), I'm currently working hard to change my schedule this year.
So, you can expect much more to come... starting sometime later this week! ;)
Man you deserve more. Absolute stunning work you've put right there, it is very informative and easy to follow you the whole hour. Definetly subbed and can't wait to see more of that high quality content you provide.
Much appreciated!!! And thank you so much for the sub!!! There is a lot more good stuff on the way on this channel... :)
I just found you but you are a god! So concise, well-spoken, and knowledgeable. Subbed and will keep an eye for more uploads!
Thanks a million!!! I'm humbled by your nice words!
And there is definitely more to come to this channel indeed!
Awesome! Clipping the two remaining legs on the stabilizer stems on my silent build has eliminated the topping out noise on my space & enter keys. I can't believe this simple trick isn't talked about more, thanks for the tip!
Right? When I first saw this mod by Walker I was afraid it could make the stabs unstable somehow. But it not only worked great, but it has been holding up for all this time since I published this video! So, definitely a recommended mod for silent builds indeed!
Love this! The detailed explanation of even the secondary stab mod was so clear, I'm new to the modded keyboard hobby and this was so helpful! :D
Glad I could help man! And welcome to the hobby!!! :)
just found your channel and must say. its damn impressive. the productivity, the information, knowledge, and all around the style are great. keep up the great work man.
Thank you so much!!! Highly appreciated!!!
And you can bet there is a lot more to come!
This is the video I've been looking for! Very good walkthrough, 10/10.
Thank you so much! Happy to hear it!!
I'd never modded a keyboard before but this guide seemed thorough and easy enough to follow that I ordered the products used along with the newer version of the gmmk (white ice) tkl.
I do prefer linear switches so had great results with using cherry silent reds. This video was a perfect guide for me.
I can confirm that the newer gmmk tkl does not have the extra pcb tabs.
Glad to know this guide worked out well for you! And thank you for confirming the change on the PCB retention tabs on the new version of this board (very useful info for who picks up the new model)!
Didn't even notice it was a full hour. Great job, great information and great keyboard!
Thank you!!! I appreciate the compliment!!
Always a big challenge to keep an audience entertained AND informed for 1 full hour! 😁
I wouldn't click this video if I notice it's an hour+ long tutorial, but with this high quality one, it is worth every second.
😂 Thank you so much!!! I know my videos don't fit the usual TH-cam quick reviews... So I am always happy to hear feedback such as yours. It validates all the hard work and care I put into my detailed reviews and tutorials!
Your video quality is top notch and you calm voice is soothing while watching it. Thank you.
Thank you!!! I do my best to make my videos as enjoyable and easy to follow as possible (glad to know the voice helps XD)!
@@IOSam A friend of mine is a little bit interested in the GMMK, so I sent him this video to help him decide wether or not he is going to buy it. At first he was like "A ONE HOUR VIDEO?!" but at the very same evening he said: "Okay, the time flew by and it was easy to understand." Again: Props to you!
After receiving confirmation from a few people who have bought GMMK keyboards from late 2020 forward, it seems Glorious made some changes to the case design:
1) they removed the aluminium tabs that secured the PCB to the plate, which means it is now easier to apply band-aid mods;
2) they reduced the empty space between the PCB and the bottom case (thicker case walls and ridges), which means you now have less available height to add foam or sorbothane and 2mm foam sheets will no longer fit. My advice would be to use 1mm silicone baking sheets instead.
Superb video! You really started with a bang for a new channel.
Thank you my good sir! That was exactly what I had in mind at that time! :)
Mate, you just got a sub.
I can count on my hand the youtube videos I have ever watched with this quality
Yo!!! Thank you man!!! Appreciated!!!
It was my first video on this channel, so you can expect everything that came (and will come) after that to hopefully be even better! ;)
Great video! Very thorough that show your clear thinking. Thanks for your time creating this :)
And thank you for your time watching it (and for your kind words)! Highly appreciated!
Incredibly detailed, entertaining and helpful video. Great work!
Thank you for your nice words my friend!!! Already working on an updated version of this video with updated switch recommendations... Stay tuned!
The duration bar at the top on each segment is awesome!
Thank you! I'll give Gamers Nexus' Weekly News videos (where they have it on the left side of the screen) credit for this idea. I figured this adaptation would be perfect for such a long video, with so many different segments, to help viewers to quickly (and visually) navigate through the whole thing.
It looks like I'm not the only person who thought the quality of the editing here was worth typing up a comment. Very good stuff.
Hehe... Thank you!!! This was my first video on the channel and, to this day, I feel humbled by the amount of positive and encoraging messages and feedback I still get for this one!
This outpouring of support is what actually motivated me to keep producing videos for this channel! While I don't post as often as big TH-camrs do, I hope that when I do post people love the content and keep coming back!
PS: Detailed video about the new GMMK Pro is being edited as we speak and should drop soon! ;)
@@IOSam That's really warming to hear- and I'm definitely looking forward to the GMMK Pro video. I picked up the GMMK recently (hence finding this video) as I'm too impatient to wait for the Pro to arrive. Thanks again.
Amazing! Silencing the GMMK is no small feat!
Lubed damped switches, sorbothane and modded stabs can do miracles to almost any keyboard! :)
Best, and most in-depth, modding video I have seen so far on TH-cam. Must have taken ages to put this together.... easily deserves a like and sub, good work Sam
Thank you so much for the feedback!!! And yeah... My videos kinda take forever to produce XD (which is why I haven't been able to upload much so far).
But we go with quality over quantity around here! :)
By the way, I'm putting the finishing touches on my next hour-long super in-depth review and modding guide for the new GMMK Pro. Dropping this weekend... ⏳
@@IOSam looking forward to it. I think the GMMK Pro form factor may be my ideal layout.. and it is coming in ISO-UK layout so may be an option for me. Cheers Sam
Awesome video and great startingpoint to get in the world of custom keyboards. Instantly subscribed 👍🏻
Thank you! And thanks for subbing as well!! You'll not be disapointed with the content coming up in the channel!!!
I've always wanted to build my own keyboard but was put off with the lack of good information for a noob like me. I found your vid very helpful in all the different aspects of a custom build. I now feel confident in building a board at last. Thanks for a very Informative tutorial and parts breakdown list :)
This guide was built to assist people in the precise situation you're in! I'm so glad to hear your story and to know this video was instrumental to lead you to build your own keyboard with confidence!!!
Good luck with your build and please report back on your progress. Also, please keep an eye on this channel for more ideas and inspiration (much more to come! :).
@@IOSam ..have already subbed and liked :)
Looking forward to the cable-making guide! My soldering iron is ready to get warmed up.
Oh, that one is brewing and coming soon! I learned sooo much about cable making since I put out my first video (I made all the mistakes so you don't have to ;)
The final guide will be worth the wait!
HOT DAM! That’s one quiet keyboard and one incredibly detailed video. Can’t wait to mod the hell out of my gmmk
Haha Thank you! I have to admit that even though I have a rather extensive collection of keyboards (many of them costing way more than this), this modded GMMK is still the one I use the most.
It's hard to beat the overall package here: dead silent, perfect weight to carry around, not too expensive (that I'd be worried about leaving it in the office), good looking (quite the conversation piece at work!) and super practical layout!
I hope you enjoy your new GMMK (and that you get as much use out of it as I get from this one :)!!!
The Loud Volume In: counter is awesome!
Right? As they say: "show me, don't tell me" it's a quiet keyboard! XD
I just want to put this out there, that is absolutely INCREDIBLE, WOW! Hey man you did an amazing job on that keyboard. I seen a bunch of people do mods to there keyboards and they're all great, but this one takes the CAKE. I don't think any of the other people modding keyboards out there got their keyboard this quiet, hats off to you my friend and God Bless.
Thank you my good Sir!!! After more than 2 years and dozens and dozens of keyboards tested and modded, this GMMK TKL still has the record of the quietest keyboard I’ve ever typed on! It is a bit unreal really… 😆
I will be revisiting this video with a follow up this year, where I’ll try to beat this board’s record for silence, but spending far less money on it. We’ll see how it goes... ⏳
@@IOSam Ah dude, I want to see that video. It's going to be real good. I just bought a GMMK 1 full and I love it. I been watching hypo tech, but most of the keyboards that he builds have a deep thocky sound to them kinda cool, but I know that would get pretty annoying, pretty quick. I just always thought the reason you lube everything was to make it smoother and to see if you couldn't quiet it up. I just thought that was the hole point of modding these keyboards. The space bar stabilizer is a little rattly in my new GMMK 1 Full, but I am super impressed with the rest of them. I would still like to get my feet wet and try what you did, plus I love to tinker with things. I think I will watch your new revision of this video first just to see, you know wink-wink-. You have a good one be safe God Bless I'm excited to see the new video, oh by the way I have this video saved on my youtube saves because the Lord knows I will need to go back and reference it.
Spectacular video, going to have to check out some more on the channel, and maybe build a nice quiet keyboard :)
Thank you Mark!!! And I hope you enjoy the other 5 (soon to be 6 ;) videos on this channel!!
And in case you decide to build yourself a silent "ninja" keyboard, feel free to ask me any questions here about this project and I'll be happy to assist!
simply wow....I love such indepth videos....lot of food for thought for my GMMK1 full size keyboard (that I bought maybe 2016 and some gateron brown switches are starting to fail and I am slowly running out of spares)
I really don't feel like hand lubing 104 switches though so I'll get some pre-lubed ones
Thank you!!! Not a lot of hour long tutorials out there these days, eh? 😂 While this was my first video on the channel, I'm still very proud of this one!
As for lubing switches, yeah... There are so many good pre-lubed switches on the market today that (thankfully!) no one needs to spend an entire afternoon on this chore anymore. 🙏
top tier content right here! extremely informative and very well put together. now i'm thinking about modifying my full size gmmk :) p.s. kinda happy to be in the first thousand of subs
Thank you!!! And also thanks for the highly appreciated sub (and for being an "early bird" to the channel :)!!!
And hey, now you know how much better you can make your GMMK if you're willing to put some work into it... If you're going for a silent board, these mods are totally worth it!
@@IOSam i wanna get more consistent feel for my board, waiting for some good switches to arrive to my local shop, cause unfortunately mk hobby is not very popular in Ukraine, and shipping to here internationally is a pain in the ass :( but thanks to you, now i got a much better understanding of what i want to do. you deserve millions of views.
this is the verry best video im looking to make a most silent keyboard for a long while now but this is exact what i needed
Hey Bjorn, thanks man! Happy to know this has been helpful!!
I have an updated video about how to build an ultra-silent budget keyboard for 2023 that should come out in the next couple of months (if all goes to plan :). On that one, I’ll have updated suggestions for better value silent switches, cases and sound damping materials. So, stay tuned!
Awesome content and quality. Congrats!
Much appreciated! 😊🙏
Sick video this was amazing.
thankyouu for this one! planning to build a budget silent keyboard, i gonna get the rk61 and change the switch to gazzew bubba gum and do a silicone and weight mods, thankyouu you for your tips, i will surely cut the stabs to reduce noise thankyouu you so much earn my subs and your video is way way way damn cooler than others, u deserved millions view thankyouu again mate!
Happy to read this!!! While a few people who watch this (now old) video sometimes mistake my intention as to promote the super expensive Zeal Zilents, you got the right idea here: which was just to give an overall blueprint for a silent build.
Besides, back in 2020 we still didn't have as many options as we have today for good and inexpensive hot-swap keyboards and silent switches. So a Royal Kludge board with Gazzew switches definitely make more sense in 2022 than the options I had back then (by the way, Gazzew silent switches are my standard recommendation for damped/silent switches today, since they work as well or better than Zilents and cost half the price).
I will publish an updated version of this video later this year to clarify these points, and in that video I'll cover some of the other popular choices for good silent switches in 2022.
Thank you so much for your awesome feedback!!!
@@IOSam hey man got my new rk 61 just waiting for the bubba gum switches! thanks a lot!
Thank you. Someone who finally puts some audio expertise into mechanical keyboard videos.
Hehe... Thank YOU for your awesome feedback!
(by the way, since this first video on this channel, I have improved my audio game even further ;)
@@IOSam Ah, I meant that I was surprised to hear some audio concepts being explained when you brought out the acoustic materials - especially the part of density vs fundamental frequency. A lot of TH-cam channels get the audio down well, but I haven’t seen someone actually explain in audio terms why they chose the materials they did :))
@@officialvisaural Ahh, now I see what you meant! Yeah... I reaaaly geek out on the sound properties of damping materials for keyboards 😂. I even wrote an article giving a bit more information about this topic in my blog if you want to check it out: www.iosamfranco.com/post/what-is-the-best-filler-material-to-reduce-mechanical-keyboards-unwanted-noises
Absolutely amazing video, subscribed thanks!Greetings from Spain.
Gracias y bienvenido!!! Loved your feedback and sub! :)
i did this build that using the sorbothane exclusively and using tealios instead of the silent switches and it came out incredibly! somehow I think the lubed / filmed tealios ended up quieter than your silent switches! wasn't necessarily going for that but it is butter! thanks dude
Tealios are some of the smoothest linears you'll ever find! So if you lube, film and install them on a well tuned keyboard (stabs, sorbothane, etc) you'll get a super quiet keyboard for sure!
I have an entire linear switches comparison coming soon where I'll pit Tealios against a bunch of JWKs, Inks, Vintage Cherry and more and I can tell you now that Tealios come on top for smoothness. Amazing switches!
very informative video and great step by step commentary
Thank you for the feedback mate! Very much appreciated!!
This is an excellent and detailed guide, great job. A couple of things I do slightly differently is to use foam stickers on the top of the PCB that go under each switch. Does a good job of damping any switch noise. Also, I've switched to using two-part silicone rubber instead of foam for the bottom the case. Adds weight and dampening. It's also translucent so it doesn't interfere with RGB LEDs under the board.
Thank you my friend!!! As for the sticker you placed under the switches, are those PE foam stickers (such as the ones I used on this build here👉 th-cam.com/video/7K0567kU5bE/w-d-xo.html )? I have used them many times before, but never with silent switches (since they tend to change the sound of switches to a lower and deeper pitch). So now I’m curious to try those with silent switches to see what happen…
As for using only silicone as a damper (instead of the expensive sorbothane) I have a long-awaited update to this video where I do just that, to test the difference the two materials make in a silent build. So, stay tuned for that one around here soon! ⏳
@@IOSam you make a good point about the pcb stickers and sound but I haven’t done an A/B test with or without them. The advantage of the liquid silicone is that if fills the nooks and crannies of the case really well. Again, I haven’t compared with foam on the same keyboard though. The finished result with silicone looks more professional, imo.
This is great stuff. I have an old corsair K70 that got shelved because of the rattle and ping. It's a bit of work for a DIY project like this but it pays off. Shame there's no commercial prebuilts that come with this quality. Looking forward to watching more.
If you have the equipment to open good production boards and desolder their switches and tune their stabs, it is the best the way to get a good typing experience in "the cheap". GMMKs are, at least for now, basically the only other alternative for a decent barebones kit you can use to build on without breaking the bank.
You, Sir, are brilliant. I bought a Filco Majestouch 2 TKL with Cherry MX Brown switches two years ago and it was fine for the time then, but now, during Corona and home office, my Filco started to bother my better half. I then switched to a cheap rubber dome, but I regretted that pretty soon. I was just about to buy a new keyboard when I stumbled upon your video and you have inspired me to mod my Filco. I will do pretty much what you did (just with Zilent V2, because the Aqua has been sold out everywhere I checked and a Filco instead of the GMMK).
Haha Thank you! And Zilent V2s and Aquas have basically the same silent mechanism, so on that front you'll do perfectly fine to silence your Filco.
By the way, I love Filcos! And I'm currently working on a 2 parts video about modding the living daylight out of a Majestouch TKL which I think you'll like! :) So, if you can indeed desolder the MX Browns of your Filco and replace them with Zilents, you'll reach the best of both worlds (the best custom silent switches on the best production keyboard).
@@IOSam small follow up: I actually did it and it worked out great! I made a reddit post about it where I also referenced you and your work: www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/linvpj/filco_majestouch_2_zilent_v2_78g_tactile - so: thanks again! Keep up the good work :)
@@tobiaswinkler9539 Wow! Loved that post man!!! And your modded Filco looks stunning with those caps!
There is something about Filcos and Leopolds that I can't explain why, but I love these boards so much!
Glad I could be of any help!!! And my own version of a modded Filco is coming to this channel by the way (suuuper delayed 😂, but it is definitely coming!).
Loved the video! You convinced me to go silent for my second keyboard. Got a GMMK case, sorbothane sheet, thick pbt caps, and a set of boba u4 switches on the way. Fingers crossed it sounds nearly as good as yours!
Thank you!!! Bobas are awesome silent switches (they were not available when I built my board last year, but today they would be my choice for a silent build)!! You chose very wisely and I think you'll love your new keeb!
@@IOSam fingers crossed. They were a pain to track down, but I’m looking forward to it. Planning on also painting the GMMK case, hopefully it won’t effect the sound too much.
@@Praxtra_ Paint shouldn't affect the sound. Just remember to sand and prime well before coating (and not paint the are inner areas were the top and bottom parts touch each other) and you'll be fine 👍
I really felt that the stabs part was overlooked. The keyboard is indeed super silent, but it just feels dead lol. doesn't sound like it feels good to type on. Great content, the switch lubing part was really in-depth
Well, you are "dead on" (pun intended 😆)! I went for total silence with this build... And by fully clipping the stabs, thats basically what I got: they are absolutely dead silent! My coworkers still cannot believe there is a mechanical keyboard this quiet! 😏
And while I don't find it to be "mushy" with the crazy tactility of the Zilents (and because sometimes I don't even bottom out on this board), the complete lack of auditory feedback is indeed weird in the beginning and it took me a while to get used to. So this mod would not be recommend for people who feel the need for that kind of feedback on stabilized keys.
Bro that b roll is amazing!
Thank you!!! And I have been trying to improve on it even more since this video... It is a never ending quest! XD
Great video. Well done!
Thank you Andy!!! Very much appreciated!
Thanks, you basically helped me figure out what to do for my SOs Christmas present
Nice!!! Glad I could help! :)
(and let me know how your build goes when you're done)
@@IOSam well, a couple of days after I posted this plans got changed, but I'm still going to be doing something very similar for myself. I've been interested but have never done keyboard modding before. This video is what I'll be following for a keyboard I want to make to take to work with me when I go back to working in the office full time, though I'm probably going to go with Boba U4 switches
@@CreativityNull If you want silent switches these days, Bobas (U4 for tactile and Bobagum for linear) are definitely the way to go! By far the best bang for your buck in silent switches!
Thank you so much for this video!! I've been trying to spec out a build for days, this is saving me a lot of time.
You're welcome!!! And THANK YOU for checking out my video!
Happy to know it's been helpful! If you don't mind me asking: have you chosen a switch for your build already?
@@IOSam yes, I plan to use zilent V2. I want something quiet but still provide some feedback.
@@zacharymilos392 Cool! I obviously love Zilents, but I always like to remember folks that if they are on tighter budget, they can always go for Gazzew Boba U4 or Gateron Aliaz (for high tactility), or Kailh Box Silent Brown (for low tactility) switches for a lot less money.
These are not "super tactiles" such as the Zilent (which has an insanely sharp bump), but will get you close for less money.
@@IOSam thanks for the suggestions! I am planning to get a hot swap board, so perhaps I can buy a bag of all of them to test out. Also, will ask the switches you suggested work with GPBT key caps?
@@zacharymilos392 Yes, they all will be compatible with Glorious GPBT sets for sure! The only issue to pay attention would be if would use backlit keycaps instead... In that case you'd want to ensure you go with fully translucent switches such as Zilents, Gat Aliazes or some Durock T1s or otherwise you wouldn't get enough light through the keycaps legends.
Idk why you hace only 923 visits your videos are kinda crazy (like and a new subscriber
Haha thank you! We're just getting started... :)
By the way, new video reviewing 3 types of Holy Panda switches coming soon!
Amazing video! It must have taken forever to build, film, and narrate. Wonderful guide!
Thank you so much for your nice words!!! Happy to know this video is helping people out after 2 years! And yes... You wouldn't believe how long it took me to produce this first video in my channel 😂 (considering I had a lot less experience with video production back then)!
But it was worth it... And I'm so proud of it!
Dude I'm so happy I'm subbed!
Hey, so am I that you're here! :)
Thanks a lot for subbing!
This video is out of this world, gj
Yo! Thank you mate!!!
Highly appreciated!
this is just amazing
Just wanted to thank you for a fantastic tutorial and parts list. I needed a super quiet keyboard to please my significant other while not breaking the bank and built this with your advice and I am super happy with the finished product. Thank you again!
Wow! That is so nice to hear!! Really happy to know this was helpful!!! Thanks for such lovely feedback!
Awsome! Waiting the next new videos!
There is a Holy Pandas "battle royale" one coming next week... Stay tuned! :)
@@IOSam Nice!
Man quality of this is amazing, the amount of opinion that isn't openly clarified that it's opinion is as well.
😂 I see what you mean… But that is a conscious effort I make in all my videos to be very careful when stating my opinions, simply because most of the times I don't want people to think I'm saying something is DEFINITIVELY good or bad, since so much of this hobby is based on personal preference.
I know it can sound like a copout sometimes, but that is the price to pay when you don't want to create too much unnecessary drama when issuing opinions about products and things that people feel so strongly about.
If I may make some suggestions. If not ignore me lol.
Zeal is very much falling out of the spot light as THE premium company and a lot of people even say they are the SUPREME of switches lol.
As for the other suggestion offer other items maybe in the same realm gmk stabs are good for the price however if you wanted crem de le crem of stabs get durock plate mounts. Just my idea as a lowly shy keeb to nervous to get in the camera lol.
@@Poisonieer No worries... I appreciate feedback from my viewers!
And you're not the first one to make those suggestions... XD
I actually agree with everything you said there. If I was building this keyboard today, my choice of components would have been very different!
This keyboard was built in early 2020 and the parts were bought in 2019. Back then, Zeal's Zilents were pretty much the only game in town for smooth premium tactile switches. Today however, things are much different! You can go with the amazing Gazzew Boba U4, for example, for half the price of Zilents. Same thing for the stabs... I have a pile of old stock GMK stabs here that I bought in 2018 and 2019, but the stabs I buy today are all Durock for sure!
Looks sick, great tip on the stabs! I'll do that on my GMMK :D I have the same barebones kit, but I used Holy Pandas v2 and GMK Red Samurai :D
Another cool set of keycaps you can use on this keyboard (which is surprising for me tbh) is the Razor PBT black set. It's fairly cheap (35$) and doesn't have the Razer look, it uses a neutral font and look :)
I saw your board on Instagram! Looking sharp!!!
As for the Razer PBT sets, you make a great point! By the way, you might wanna check the next video coming up on the Home Office Keyboards Part II, since that tip might show up there... 👀
This is great! I want to build a custom keyboard because I type a lot at work, but I want to be able to use it in the office when COVID is gone and I have to return from home office.
I hear ya! It's funny that when I finished building this board it was right before the whole COVID thing hit... And since then I have used it more at home than in the office.
But you know what? Even at home it was nice to have a silent board! Specially spending hours on video calls where noisy keyboards are a nuisance.
So, overall I'm still super happy with this keyboard build, even after more than a year! I hope you enjoy yours as much I do this one!
Really enjoyed the video I really appreciate the detail and explanation of each choice I am considering doing this exact build with different keycaps I like it so much
Glad it was helpful!!! The goal of such a long and detailed video was exactly this: to help newcomers to feel confident that they can easily use readily available parts like these to build a fantastic keyboard for a reasonable price.
@@IOSam I'm tempted to do the GMMK pro since it's only 10 more than the regular, also I might use tribosis 3203 to keep a bit of tactility not sure if it will make it louder though.
@@brozzi9951 The GMMK Pro will certainly be much better then the regular one, given its construction, features and mounting system. But the Pro will cost US$ 170, while you can get the barebones regular GMMK for $60 nowadays. So the difference is not insignificant, but if you can wait for the Pro and pay the price difference, you'll get a board on a completely different class.
As for the lube, if you want to prioritize tactility, Tribosys 3203 will give you more of that, since it is thinner and will create less drag on the stem. But if you're going for silence, I'd say 3204 will be more effective, since it is thicker (on par with Krytox 205 G0) and will mute the switch a bit better. At any rate, if you're using Zeal tactile switches, don't worry about losing tactility, since they are crazy tactile and not even thick lube can completely numb their tactile bump.
@@IOSam Oops I had seen the reserving price and mistaken it for the full cost in that case regular GMMK it is
Pun not intended
Thank you! u did a great job. so much useful informations.. awesome, just awesome.👍🏻👌🏻💪🏼
You're so welcome! And thank you for your support!!!
This is the kind of build I need 🥺
Hi grace! In 2022 it is easier and cheaper to build a silent mechanical keyboard as ever before! I will post an update to this video soon showing other options of quality silent switches that are much cheaper than the Zeal Zilents I used on my build in 2020.
Also, today we have a vastly larger pool of decent hot-swappable keyboards in the market (with very competitive prices) that you could easily modify to turn them into silent keyboards with just a bit of silicone or high-density foam, clipped and lubed stabs and some good silent switches.
So, you might still be able to get your dream silent mechanical keyboard without breaking the bank! ;)
@@IOSam thank you so much for your reply, Sam! A quiet build is a need but a quiet keyboard that doesn’t break the bank is need-er. I’m looking forward to your update!
Great tutorial.😀👍
Thank you! ✌️
Wow what an amazing video
Thank you for the kind words my friend (and for taking the time to leave amazing feedback)!!! 😎🙏
Works great
went with cherry silent reds and drop skylight keycaps
coundnt fit the sound dampening inside, still plenty quiet
thanks for the tutorial
Great choices! Cherry Silent Reds are a great light linear quiet option for switches and Drop's Skylight keycaps are some of the best backlit PBT sets in the market! I'm glad my video was helpful for your buid!
@@IOSam
I'm so glad I finally have a quiet keyboard. I couldn't really find a difference between stock stabilizers and the aftermarket ones, so I just clipped and lubed the stock ones. Its possible that they upgraded them since you made the video, or I'm just not very observant. If they did update them, you might want to make a note of that in the video so people don't buy them. At least I now have some spare stabilizers in case I want to build another board.
@@sirwaffleburger9195 Good point! Honestly, the included stabs that came with my GMMK were not complete trash (as I've seen from way more expensive production boards in the past), so it is indeed unfair to Glorious to completely dismiss their included stabs and I should have mentioned that in the video (will add a note in the description or link to a blog post about this topic, which is a super relevant one!).
Sure, the tolerances of a GMK or Durock stabs will be tighter and that can have an important effect on sound and feel, but you can 100% keep using the included stabs if you mod them well. The difference between the well modded stock and an expensive aftermarket one will be greatly diminished it you do the "mod homework" well.
Thanks!
Yooo! Thank you so much for your generosity my friend!! Incredibly appreciated!!! 🙏
Now I gotta add, your build is waaaay quieter than mine, holy s* hahaha
I am sure gonna mod it at some point as well :D
Really nice:)
Thank you man! I had no idea how much I would end up using this silent build when I first envisioned it! Now, with endless conference calls through Zoom and Skype, silent mechanical keyboards are absolutelly essential!
wow. I just watched the whole video, I'm 100% sold on this. I was unsure about buying a Gmmk keyboard and what switches to get bc I was afraid tactiles were not good for gaming but the difference in sound is amazin. I need to type while I have people sleeping in the same room so I'll def get the zilents. many people said it was just snake oil but they are almost twice the price of normal switches
When I produced this video, Zilents were basically the only game in town for smooth damped/silent tactiles. But today, you have more options for better price. I'd suggest you try to get Gazzew Boba U4 (not the U4T, that is not silent). Bobas are way cheaper than Zilents and are as smooth. The only problem with Bobas is that they are not translucent. So if you need RGB light to come through, then you'll need either Zilents or Gateron Aliaz ( drop.com/buy/gateron-aliaz-silent-mx-mechanical-switch-packs?referer=J2NSDA ), which have translucent polycarbonate housings.
@@IOSam thank you! Yeah I want backlit keys (they seem almost impossible to find somehow it’s all out of stock) I’ll check out the gaterons as well! You know any shop with good inventory aside bangood with int shipping (all the EU ones have 0 stocks even on the basic caps sets :( )
@@FedericoTrentonGame Aside from Drop and FlashQuark ( flashquark.com/product/aliaz-silent-switches-pcb-mount-pack-of-50/ ) here in the US (which do ship internationally), I know KBDfans also has the Aliaz in stock ( kbdfans.com/products/pre-orderaliaz-silent-switch-tactile ), but their shipping can be a bit expensive since the pandemic started (they seem to be shipping exclusively through DHL and FEDEX now).
For Zilents, I know 1UP Keyboards always have them in stock ( 1upkeyboards.com/shop/switches/set-packs/zilent-v2-switch-packs/ ) and I'm pretty sure they also ship internationally.
@@IOSam omg those zilents v2 are so cheap o.o I don’t think they are that different from the acqua ones 🤔
Than you so much you are very helpful 💯
@@FedericoTrentonGame The Zilents V2 I linked above (1UP Keyboards) are the standard Zilents (not the Aqua). Honestly, outside of their clear color, I don't think anyone would be able to tell the difference between them and Aquas in terms of smoothness. They are based on the Gateron Aliaz design, but with better tolerances and the famous Zeal PC quality control. But if you are on a budget, get some Aliazes (get 20% more than you'll need and cherry pick the best ones) and you'll get 90% of the result for half the price!
Really enjoying your videos ! Coming from a K95 plat and G513, the gmmk i built with lubed + filmed gateron yellow , modded stabs, modded gmmk case + ABS SA keycaps made me forget these other boards and I now understand the appeal of customs. Practiced my soldering skills on the K95 (now an expensive led light behind the monitor) and next project will be to mod a Drop Entr keyboard with Halo True to become a lubed Yok Holy Panda's board. I wonder what would be the result of a MX Speed switch + Halo True stem and coil as a frankenswitch......will try.
Thank you! Interesting that you mention modding production keyboards... I'll be doing a lot of that around here in the near future! ;)
To me there is always a certain apeal in turning an entry level keyboard into something that looks and feels twice as nice...
Great Video! Appreciate the detail and everything :) Going to build my own keyboard in a few days when the switches arrive. I am also using a GMMK TKL but with Durock silent dolphin switches. I might also add some dampening foam now after i have seen you do it. I am not looking forward to lubing and filming all the switches tho :D Keep it up!
Thank you! Appreciated!! As for lubing and filming switches, I agree: it is a lot of work indeed. But that is the nicest thing about going with a hot-swappable board, you can always go back to mod the switches later if you want. Although with Durock switches you don't really need to, since they already come pre-lubed (filming them might help with sound though).
@@IOSam What bothers me a bit is that i have to cut off the two leg things which feels a bit like mutilating the switches but i guess it should be fine, i don't plan on soldering. I just ordered dampening foam a few minutes ago btw. :D
Oh, i didn't know they are pre-lubed. i got the info that they are pretty much the same as silent alpacas and those seem to benefit greatly from using films. Now that i know this, i might skip the lubing. :D
@@Marlonlon1991 The switch clipping is just an extra annoyance in this case, but don't worry... It will not damage anything (and even if you decide to solder them to another PCB later, clipping won't necessarily be a problem).
Yes, JWK/Durock switches come lubed from the factory. Obviously, it is not the same type of lubing one does manually with Krytox/TriboSys, but it is a very effective thin coating of a similar industrial lube that gives these switches their smoothness out the box (although they'll not feel "buttery" as when you lube them manually of course).
@@IOSam I finished 'building' the keyboard now :) it took me about 13 hours to lube and film the switches because i had to reopen some of them and i guess i was just very slow in general. I am very happy with how everything turned out. The switches feel great and the RGB is better than i expected, in reviews i heard that the rgb is pretty dim but it is fine for me.
Your tip with clipping the 2 extra legs of the stabilizers helped me alot! Even tho i use the stock stabilizers, the board is very quiet now.
I had some weird issue with the RGB at the start tho. It looked like it was flickering/pulsating every second and i was thinking about returning it. But then the keyboard crashed once and since then the RGB works fine.
Anyway, wishing you the best for this channel. Looking forward to future videos.
@@Marlonlon1991 So happy to know everything worked out well for you with this build!
As for the RGB problems, it could be caused by the Glorious GMMK software crashing or, believe it or not, by a faulty cable (in case it is supplying less current than the keyboard needs to lit the LEDs to their max brightness).
As for the software, I heard Glorious is coming with a unified app to control their peripherals (mice and keyboards) and I'm hopping they include support for all their GMMK models released until now, since I think the current GMMK software is probably the weakest point of this keyboard.
Damn! This is an outstanding video. Thumbs and SUB for you!
Thank you!!! Highly appreciated!!!
More good stuff coming to the channel soon! :)
This channel deserve more owo
super good video! instant subscribe :)
Thanks for the sub my good sir! Lots more good stuff to come!
Well
This video alone - replaces everything else on youtube
Thank you! Now I know what I need to finally stop trying and building again and again :-)
Happy to know this video was super helpful!!! And thank YOU for the amazing feedback!!!
@@IOSamWelcome :-) I type a lot. A LOT (writing texts). I need 2 keyboards, 1 for office, 1 for home. Both silent and with top performance. After ~10 tryouts I have found that tactile (brown) are the best for me. I have Kailh Box Brown now on 1 device, Gateron Low Profile Brown on Keychron K1V4 and Keychron Optical on K3V2. I would say, except the layout, K3V2 is on top of my list. So I assume that Kailh Silent Brown (lubed and with oring damper to reduce travel a bit) and modded GMMK board will solve my problem :-)
@@xvoidee While I don't have Kailh Silent Browns myself, I know it uses the same type of silicone dampers as the Zilents I used here. So, if you lube and put them on a "foamed" (and stabs tuned) GMMK, you should get very similar results.
I have dozens of keyboards in my collection (many costing way more than I spent on this one) and, to this day, I could not find a quieter keyboard (that also feels great to type on) than this one I built in this video. So it is definitely worth it for anyone who needs a silent board without breaking the bank!
@@IOSam Thank you for the advice! :)
@@IOSam So I did it :D GMMK TKL White on stock stabs + lubed Kailh Silent Browns + Gameboy keycaps (XDA). Some magic with sound absorption foam from nearest hardware store (there is not much space under the pcb, I've spend 1.5h hour optimizing foam's size), lubrication - and I'm totally surprised how smooth and quiet it is still being tactile! Thanks again for tutorial!
the way you tested the audio with a zippo lighter was cool lol
Thank you!!! What started almost as a joke, is now one this channel's trademarks... 😆👍
Wait. You only have 3 videos so far? That means I've...watched all of your videos. Huh. I NEED MORE! Can you please review that Logitech G Pro keyboard? I love Romer G switches for gaming, and I wonder how you feel about them.
Thank you my good sir!!! Appreciate your time and you can rest assured there will be more (next one starting a series of ideal keyboards for home office work is coming this week).
As for my old G Pro, yes! There will be a video on it, where we'll go where no one has even gone before with Romer-G switches... 😏
So, stay tuned!
8:18 tks for the engineer insight
You're welcome! While I'm not an engineer by degree or by trade, I do like to research the technical side of things and I try to do the best I can to pass that along to my audience here in a "digestible" manner.
And THANK YOU for checking out my video!!! :)
@@IOSam blessed ur heart
i did a very similar build without having seen your video. sure would have saved me a bunch of time lol
Hehe, I know... I always try to learn from other people's mistakes myself whenever possible too. But as long as you got there in the end, it's all good! Did you use silent switches as well?
Excellent video! You covered this build very comprehensively and answered so many of my beginner questions. I hope this channel takes off, would love to see more of this. Quick question, what are some good examples of rough, thick PBT keycaps? I hear Tai Hao are quite rough, but are they thick like the Matrix ones you used here?
Thank you so much!! And yes, there are a bunch more videos in the works as we speak... So, please stay tuned!
As for decent budget backlit double-shot PBT keycaps, Tai-Hao has acceptable quality and texture, but they are much thinner than Matrix's sets Another option for backlit PBT sets with similar quality to Matrix (still a tad bit thinner) would be NPKC, but these are harder to find in the backlit variety. I'd suggest you keep an eye on Drop.com, since they have these sets every once in a while (don't buy them from KPrepublic though!).
Razer also has some reasonably thick backlit PBT sets (still slightly thinner than Matrix) for around $30. The color options are very basic (white, black, pink and green), but the legends are super sharp.
If you don't care for backlighting then Ducky (they only have backlit sets in black or white) and Varmilo have some thick PBT sets in a variety of nice colors with very sharp legends for about $60.
Also remember that most of these sets would not fit 65% and 75% boards (i.e. no small size shift keys). You'd be limited to 60%, TKL and Full Size.
It is really unfortunate that it can be so hard to find decent quality budget backlit PBT sets (don't even waste time with 90% of those on Amazon for example)... But the manufacturing process with double-shot PBT seems to be quite difficult compared to ABS.
@@IOSam Thanks for the info mate! Those white ducky backlits seem to fit the bill and theyre readily available here so I think thats the one. All the best!
@@defector1643 I bought some cheap pbt backlit doubleshot keycaps from amazon since the ones from matrix were all sold out (at least the colors i wanted) and i really needed some caps now. They are kind of inconsistent and rough on the edges but for the price of 20 euros i think they are still worth the money. I am planning on upgrading to Matrix keycaps tho once they are available again.
This video is a gold mine of information for beginners like myself, thank you! For the switches, why did you choose tactile? Wouldn't linear switches be quieter? (like cherry red silents, 45g)
Thank you Ryan!!! Happy to know it helped!
And yes, high quality linears (such as options from Zeal/Gateron, Kailh and Gazzew/Outemu) will indeed be a bit quieter if you want to go for the lowest possible noise level. Although my experience with regular Cherry silent ones (silent reds and blacks) were actually a bit louder (even when lubed) than my Zilents. So, it seems smoothness is a factor here (Cherries are usually not very smooth).
The reason why I picked up tactiles for this project is because most people in need of silent keyboards (and who want to "migrate" to the "mechanical side of the force") are used to rubber dome keyboards, which are tactile. So, I figured this would make the transition a bit more natural and easier for them.
But if you're used to linears already, and want to build the quietest possible keyboard, you'll get even better results with those. I’ll have a couple of silent linear custom builds with silent box linears from Kailh and Gazzew Bobagum from Outemu (as well as a bunch of other production boards with Gateron and Cherry silent linears) coming to the channel pretty soon. So, stay tuned! ;)
very descriptive very cool
Thank you!!!
I love this video. I've been wanting to do some work on my GMMK to make it just that much more premium and this is the video I'm going to use as my reference. I'm basically just going to lube my Kailh Pro Purple switches and replace the stabilizers with some nicer ones. I might add some of the sorbothane you used too, But I'm not going for uber silent. I just want to make the keys feel as smooth as I can. I'm also thinking about doing the bandage mod, but I'm not sure.
Thank you Jake!!! Happy to have helped and inspired you to mod your GMMK! As for your proposed mods, yes... Lubing your Kailh Pros will definitely do the trick to smooth things out!
As for band-aiding your stabs, may I suggest you go for an easier solution: use silicone stickers instead, which you can place them in the PCB without having to separate it from the plate (which can be an enourmous hasle in the GMMK). You can check the silicone sticker mod in my NK65 EE video (th-cam.com/video/Q20b4RhC2ao/w-d-xo.html - Amazon link for the stickers is in the description of that video). This is how I silence all my keyboard stabs nowadays.
As for sorbothane, if you're not going for ultimate silence, you can definitely save money and go for regular neoprene or other types of closed cell foam instead. They're way cheaper and will take you 2/3 of the way there to quiet pings without breaking the bank.
Let me know how your mod works out when you're done! 👍
@@IOSam I really appreciate the suggestions! I'll definitely use them when I go to do the mods! I'm struggling to find anyone that has plate mount stabilizers in stock right now, but hopefully I'll find some soon!
And I'll most definitely let you know how the modifications go!
Keep up the good videos! You really do a great job with them and I'm excited to see more content in the future! Also, your narration and explanation is incredibly relaxing!
@@jakethebard Thank you! It is a conscious effort to make these videos instructive and well produced, but also light-hearted and relaxing (instead of trying to cram a metric ton of information in a shorter and super quick paced video). When our day-to-day life is already stressing, our time spent on TH-cam doesn't have to be... XD
This man is SO underrated
Hehe... Thank you my friend!!! Your words are very much appreciated!
While this is still a very small channel, I can't complain too much about its growth (I had zero subscribers when I posted this video almost 2 years ago :), which is not too bad for just 11 videos... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Soon to be 12 though...⌛Stay tuned!
Great video! Personally I think moderately lubed switched may sound better, probably not quieter.
Yes, I totally agree with you! There is an important difference between what most people think sounds "good" and what is actually "quieter". The goal for this particular build was 100% noise level, so I definitielly went with a heavier lube coating to silence the switches down as much as possible.
Very detailed video, or, even a comprehensive guide. Thanks. Definitely will rewatch it when I receive the parts I needed for such mod.
Btw, have you considered adding foam between the PCB and upper plate? Of course that implies cutting a lot of holes with X-acto knife for stabs and switches, which appears to be extremely tedious and boring process. But it looks like it could further improve acoustic treatment, and some people, or rather keyboard enthusiasts, did it.
Thank you!!! And yes... I not only have considered doing that for a custom build, but I'll do exactly that for one of my next videos! ;)
Adding that extra layer of foam or silicone between the PCB and the plate will reduce noise even further in a keyboard.
But you're right... It's tedious AF... 😂
One option is to see if stupidfish.design or www.greendoorgeeks.com happen to have pre-cut foam for your specific build. But since I don't think they do it for the GMMK, one would indeed have to cut the foam manually in that case.
@@IOSam
Thanks for very detailed answer, very helpful links too :-)
Hope your channel will expand and conquer new heights :-)
btw i think we should see competition like build the silent keyboard. But the main point is that, which keyboard is the most light weight, take the trophy
You know, that sounds like a fun competition that i'd love to join! Reducing the weight of the board would make it more difficult to silence it, but I guess that's what would make this competition more interesting... ;)