Base keyboard to swap switches?

[Kakalxlax]

Hello, i recently got my first mechanical keyboard which is a Redragon Yama with outemu purple switches, and though im getting used to it, i'd like another keyboard to try different switches, specially to have a more quiet alternative.

So, basically, im looking for either a base board without switches or a keyboard that allows for switch swaps.
One doubt i have about this is if all switches can be places in all keyboards or if there is a brand plug limitation.

The things i look for are:
The presence of a volume wheel.
Having rgb light a key when pressed (and distance between the board and the key to allow rgb bleeding like the Yama).
- If possible an ISO structure and secondarily if it came with a spanish version, but i could try working around the second.


Other thing is general recommendation in switches, i know it depends from person to person, and you should try them out, but that isnt an option as shops here dont allow for that and every deliver will be international which will take a long while.
So in general, im trying to make it a quiet build, specially one that dampens the upwards noise, which i think the Matias switch does, i don't know if any other.
Im still not quite sure about liner vs tactile, i hear some people saying the outemu purple is linear, others that is tactile, others that is a gray thing in between. So, maybe a tactile switch as having that kind of feedback would (i think) make it less monotonous as it will be silent, though i tend to assume linears would be quieter, i dk (i spent quite some time making my pc silent enough that you cant tell if its on or off, seems funny to cut that with a noisy keyboard).
As a final thing, having them with a lower travel distance than normal would be cool (but god not those flat laptop things you press 20 keys just by moving around). Which again, i think the Matias does as it has inner cushions, but i don't know if that makes it feel mushy or if there are better switches (just mentioning that one because its one i heard about).

Thanks.

[TheInverseKey]

I would recommend you to look into a GMMK either full size or TKL.

[Kakalxlax]

I would recommend you to look into a GMMK either full size or TKL.

Do they have a model with a volume wheel? i didnt find any.

[Hypersphere]

@Kakalxlax: Welcome to Deskthority!

For testing various types of Cherry mx switches or clones of the same, you could get a non-electronic switch tester and buy small assortments of switches for testing.

A major step up from a non-electronic switch tester would be an electronic switch tester or a keyboard or keyboard kit that has a hot-swappable PCB.

Among Cherry mx clones, the best silent switches I have encountered that are also tactile are Zilent switches sold by Zeal PC. They are fairly expensive, but they are the best I have found in this category. Currently, I don't think there are any keyboards on the market that have Zilent switches.

If you like linear switches, Cherry makes silent red and silent black switches that get good ratings, and there are keyboards available with these switches installed.

Matias makes silenced tactile switches that are fairly quiet. They can be purchased as loose switches from Matias or installed in Matias keyboards or keyboards from other manufacturers, such as Keyboard Paradise (KBP). I have had good luck with Matias switches, but there are reports of some quality control issues with Matias switches.

My current favorite among silent tactile switches are silenced Topre switches. These can be found in some keyboards, or you can buy a non-silent Topre-switch keyboard and install silencing rings yourself. However, installing the rings requires taking the keyboard apart and opening the switches.

[TheInverseKey]

I would recommend you to look into a GMMK either full size or TKL.

Do they have a model with a volume wheel? i didnt find any.

No, that is very hard to find on a hot swap board. That being said there are media control functions for this board.

[Kakalxlax]

@Kakalxlax: Welcome to Deskthority!

For testing various types of Cherry mx switches or clones of the same, you could get a non-electronic switch tester and buy small assortments of switches for testing.

A major step up from a non-electronic switch tester would be an electronic switch tester or a keyboard or keyboard kit that has a hot-swappable PCB.

Among Cherry mx clones, the best silent switches I have encountered that are also tactile are Zilent switches sold by Zeal PC. They are fairly expensive, but they are the best I have found in this category. Currently, I don't think there are any keyboards on the market that have Zilent switches.

If you like linear switches, Cherry makes silent red and silent black switches that get good ratings, and there are keyboards available with these switches installed.

Matias makes silenced tactile switches that are fairly quiet. They can be purchased as loose switches from Matias or installed in Matias keyboards or keyboards from other manufacturers, such as Keyboard Paradise (KBP). I have had good luck with Matias switches, but there are reports of some quality control issues with Matias switches.

My current favorite among silent tactile switches are silenced Topre switches. These can be found in some keyboards, or you can buy a non-silent Topre-switch keyboard and install silencing rings yourself. However, installing the rings requires taking the keyboard apart and opening the switches.

Thanks! that cleared some doubts about the switch part.
About MX i read they are often considered bad or "worse than it's knockoffs", is this true or it's more like "x brand fanboy" or "personal taste" thing?
I assume linears feel like how it is in between the bump and the bottoming out, is it comparable to that ? Or do they increase in pressure the more you press (in any noticeable way) ?

Im fine with buying something like a (example) Bullet Hunter mk6 or something and scrap everything but the volume wheel and leds (and the base itself of course).

[Hypersphere]

In my opinion, some of the mx clones are better than the equivalent Cherry switches. Moreover, some of the clone manufacturers have produced new switches that do not [yet] exist in the Cherry lineup.

Linear switches have no tactile bump and no click, except for the bottoming out and return sounds. They essentially follow Hooke's law, f = kx, where f = force, k = a constant, and x = the displacement distance.

If you search for "keyboard switch force-displacement curves" or similar terms online, you will find some force-displacement graphs. Take a look at the graphs for linear, tactile, and tactile-clicky switches to see how they compare.

[Kakalxlax]

In my opinion, some of the mx clones are better than the equivalent Cherry switches. Moreover, some of the clone manufacturers have produced new switches that do not [yet] exist in the Cherry lineup.

Linear switches have no tactile bump and no click, except for the bottoming out and return sounds. They essentially follow Hooke's law, f = kx, where f = force, k = a constant, and x = the displacement distance.

If you search for "keyboard switch force-displacement curves" or similar terms online, you will find some force-displacement graphs. Take a look at the graphs for linear, tactile, and tactile-clicky switches to see how they compare.

Do you know of any keyboard with volume wheel i could swap those switches in ?

[Hypersphere]

@Kakalxlax: Sorry, I do not know of any keyboards with volume wheels.

On programmable keyboards, you can map keyboard keys to volume controls. For example, on my programmable boards, I usually have Fn+A = vol down; Fn+S = vol up; and Fn+D = mute.

[Kakalxlax]

@Kakalxlax: Sorry, I do not know of any keyboards with volume wheels.

On programmable keyboards, you can map keyboard keys to volume controls. For example, on my programmable boards, I usually have Fn+A = vol down; Fn+S = vol up; and Fn+D = mute.

I just tried out and was able to remove a switch from my keyboard, apparently it wasnt soldered (though i wasnt able to open the switch itself, which is probably soldered or not so easy to open at least).

Do you know about MOD- (H/L/M) switches ? i read some general stuff but i dont know much about them or what they change.

[Hypersphere]

Switches are soldered to the PCB unless you have a board with a hot-swappable PCB.

Some types of switches can be opened without desoldering the switch from the PCB, but for switches with which I am familiar, the switch itself is not soldered shut.

"MOD" switches are a PCB-mount tactile switch. The tactile bump is said to be in between that of a Cherry mx brown and Cherry mx clear switch. MODs come in three switch weights, light, medium, and heavy.