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Customizing Typing Experience

Discover how subtle adjustments to your mechanical keyboard can transform its sound and typing feel.

What is “Typing Experience”?

Just what it sounds like: how a keyboard feels and sounds as you type. It’s the sensation your fingers get while gaming and the symphony of clicks and clacks it creates.

A range of elements come together to define a keyboard’s typing experience, and by customizing these, you can craft one that perfectly suits your style.

Switches

Switches are the heart of any mechanical keyboard, sitting beneath each keycap. They determine how each key press sounds and feels, based on their design and materials.

Swapping Switches

Hot-swappable keyboards let you effortlessly swap out switches with a simple tool—no soldering needed. This opens up a world of possibilities, letting you tailor your keyboard to match your unique style and feel.

Main Switch Types

The Basics

Switches come in three main “types” categorized by how they sound and feel when pressed.

Linear

Offer a smooth, uninterrupted travel, perfect for gamers and typists who prioritize the fastest possible key presses.

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Tactile

Feature a haptic "bump" during their downward travel, providing a more reactive press experience for those who want to feel each keystroke.

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Clicky

Provide a crisp, audible click with each press for those who love to hear and feel every keystroke. Just be considerate of those around you.

Shop Raptor Clicky Switches

Other Features to Consider

Actuation Force

The force needed to press a key, measured in grams of force (g). Lighter makes for faster presses ideal for gaming, while heavier can prevent typos and cushion keystrokes for those with lead fingers.

Material Composition

Different materials affect a switch's pitch, for example Polycarbonate switches are more bright and “clacky,” while nylon is deeper and “thockier.”

Switch Plates

Premium mechanical keyboards have switch “plates,” which help to ensure switches are properly aligned and protect the board’s internals by absorbing the impact of your keystrokes.

Swapping Switch Plates

If choosing switches is like picking your instrument, selecting the right plate is all about getting it perfectly in tune. Plates come in a variety of materials, each one fine-tuning the way your keys sound and feel as they bottom out.

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Common Switch Plate Materials

Brass

Dense and considerably heavy, Brass produces a brighter acoustic pitch and a firm, consistent bottom-out feel. Often paired with linear switches for precision gaming.

Aluminum

The most balanced material option with a firmer typing feel than non-metal options, yet a deeper acoustic pitch than Brass. Great for all use-cases and switch types.

Polycarbonate

Lightweight and flexible, Polycarbonate delivers a cushioned feel with satisfying "give," perfect for long typing sessions. Expect a deep, resonant pitch.

FR4

Made from the same material as circuit boards, FR4 offers a similar experience to Polycarbonate with just a little less flex and a more muted overall sound.

Shop GMMK 3 Switch Plates

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Modular Gaskets

Keyboards like the GMMK 3 allow you to customize its gasket mounts for even greater control over how firm or flexible keystrokes feel.

How Gaskets Impact Typing Feel

Gasket-mounted keyboards use evenly distributed gaskets to support the plate, ensuring a consistent typing feel across the board.

The GMMK 3’s Modular Gasket System (MGS), allows you to swap these gaskets, adjusting the keyboard's overall feel to be firmer or more bouncy and flexible when pressure is applied.

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MGS Module Styles

Firm Gaskets

Create a more solid and predictable typing feel. Ideal for gamers wanting the most precise and consistent response, so they can stay focused on the match.

Flex Gaskets

Create a softer, more cushioned typing feel ideal for extended typing and casual gaming sessions. Especially great for those with lead fingers.

Explore GMMK 3 Keyboards with MGS

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Changing Case Materials

Swapping a keyboard’s case can do more than just revamp its look.

Swapping Cases

Keyboards like the GMMK 3 let you swap cases made from different materials. Case material affects how sound waves caused by typing bounce inside, adjusting the keyboard’s overall pitch.

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Material Matters

Polymer Cases

Naturally absorbs typing sounds for a deeper, more muted sound profile than metal.

Metal Cases

Allows typing sounds to resonate within the case for a louder, more expressive acoustic experience. Especially without sound-dampening foam.

Test Your Skills

Now that you’re a typing experience expert, craft your perfect GMMK 3 with our Boardsmith customization tool. Fine-tune every detail to match your sound and feel preferences. Start building your dream keyboard today!
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