In this blog, we will be discussing all the methods through which we will be able to make your keyboard sound better.
Mechanical keyboards, especially ones with clicky switches, can be quite loud. Today, we’ll look at six techniques to quieten your mechanical keyboard so you may type quietly without bothering your spouse or coworkers.
How to Make Your Keyboard Sound better?
So, let’s find out all the possible options we can explore to achieve our goal.
- Use a Desk Mat
- Use Foam inside Keyboard
- Installing Rubber O-rings
- Mod Stabilizers
- Lube Switches
- Replace Switches
Use a Desk Mat
One of the simplest ways to lessen the sound of your keyboard is to use a desk mat underneath it.
When you type on your keyboard, your desk vibrates, amplifying the noise. The vibrations are dampened and everything is silent when you use a desk mat under your keyboard.
You must test it for yourself to believe me when I say there is a noticeable improvement.
All you have to do is go online and look for a suitable desk mat; here are our recommendations for your convenience:
A rubber bottom and a textile top are common features of desk mats. It should cover the bulk of your desk and rest on top of your keyboard and mouse. There’s no need for a separate mouse pad.
It not only improves the sound of your keyboard but also improves the look of your battle station. The desk mat also makes for excellent keyboard photography.
Use Foam Inside Keyboard
You’ll have to roll up your sleeves for this mod, but that shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?
Another wonderful approach to lessen the vibration of your keyboard, which lowers the overall volume, is to put the foam within it.
Noise is the enemy of a silent keyboard, while vibration is the enemy of noise.
You’ll need a screwdriver and some foam for this modification (which you can order online).
Here are some foam possibilities (in order of preference):
Sorbothane:
Sorbothane foam is regarded as the best because it absorbs the most impact and stress. It’s fairly pricey, so if you need to, you may always choose another choice.
Neoprene
Another fantastic alternative is that is a little less expensive. The second-best option for a dampened keyboard is neoprene.
Shelf-liner
If you’re on a budget, shelf-liners can be useful. Although the outcomes will not be as good as neoprene or Sorbothane, the difference will be obvious.
Packing Foam
This may sound unusual, but we’ve used packing foam as a dampener in the past. Having any kind of foam inside your case is quite beneficial.
How to install foam?
To install the foam, unscrew and disassemble your keyboard so that the foam can be placed between the PCB and the bottom case.
This can be a simple or complex task, depending on your keyboard.
Because some keyboards are held together by plastic clips, you’ll have to work your way around the edges to loosen everything. Others will only involve the removal of a few screws.
The foam will lessen shaking noises, spring ping noises, and other noises once you’re done.
The overall sound will be less loud and high pitched, which will be less distracting and better for working in a group setting.
| Material Needed |
| Sorbothane foam |
| neoprene |
| shelf-liners |
| packing foam |
Install Rubber O-Ring
Rubber O-rings are a simple solution to reduce your keyboard’s overall decibel level.
They’re really simple to set up and have an immediate impact on noise reduction. Under your keycaps, the O-rings are fitted around the stems of the switches.
To install the O-rings, simply remove the keycaps and slide them onto the switches. We recommend these O-rings because they come in a large box and are quite reasonable.
O-rings are available in a variety of colours, including black, pink, blue, and clear.
Because they won’t interfere with the RGB lighting, clear O-rings are your best bet.
The sound of the switch when it hits on impact from each keystroke is dampened by O-rings. They’re quite effective.
However, be aware that rubber O-rings can make your keys mushy and inconvenient to use. As a result, this mod is not for everyone, as it has the potential to make your keyboard worse.
It’s a trade-off between how loud you want your keyboard to be and how mushy your switches will feel if you use O-rings.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. We recommend at the very least giving O-rings a try.
| Material Needed |
| O-rings |
Mod Stabilizer
The mods start to get a little more complex at this point. These modifications involve more effort and planning, but they are well worth it.
The mod stabilizers are the parts that help balance the larger keys (such as the space bar) so they don’t rattle and shake.
Modifying your stabilizers is a great method to get them to sound better (and be quieter). This mod consists of three steps: bandaging, clipping, and lubricating the stabilizers.
| Material Needed |
| mod stabilizers |
Band-aid:
Lowering the sound level of the stabilizers by applying a little band-aid to the region where the stabilizer strikes the PCB is a fantastic technique to do so. The band-aid acts as a dampener for the keystroke.
Clip:
The bottom foot of the stabilizer can be clipped off to give it flatter and firmer surface. This improves the stability of the stabilizer and lowers the rattling noise produced by each keystroke. Less rattling equals less noise.
Lube:
Lubrication is a sure-fire approach to reduce noise levels. Friction is created when a stabilizer goes up and down, causing vibration and amplifying the sound output of your keyboard. The use of lubricant reduces friction and improves acoustics.
It may take an hour or two to complete the stabilizer modification, but it is well worth it. We strongly advise you to modify your stabilizers.
Lube Switches
Lubricating your switches, like modifying your stabilisers, is an excellent approach to minimise the sound of your keyboard.
Lubricating each switch also improves the feel and lowers the scratchiness and spring ping. This is by far the most effective method for improving the sound and feel of your keyboard.
Caution: This procedure can take up to 2 hours, depending on how many switches you have and your level of competence.
The spring and stem of each switch rub against each other when you enter a keystroke, causing a lot of friction. Vibration and noise are produced by friction.
The lubricant reduces friction, making everything run more smoothly and quietly.
Replace Switches
If your keyboard has noisy and clicky switches, replacing them with quieter switches is your best choice for reducing noise.
The clicky switches were designed to be audible. Now the only alternative is to replace them with quieter ones.
Our recommendations:
| Material Needed |
| OUTEMU Silent White |
| Gateron ks-9 Mechanical Key Switches |
| DROP Aliaz 70G Silent & Tactile 5-Pin Mechanical Keyboard Switches |
Silent switches contain a little rubber cushioning on the switch stem that reduces the sound emitted when a keystroke is pressed. It’s ideal for typing in the dark.
The only disadvantage is that quiet switches have a rubbery feel to them, making them mushy and weird.
There is unquestionably a cost to using quiet switches.
If you have a clicky switch, switching to a linear or tactile switch can significantly minimise noise production, making it an excellent option.
Conclusion
There are several options for reducing the noise level of your keyboard. If you complete all of the procedures on this list, you’ll have a super stealthy keyboard that’s suitable for the office and your spouse.
You won’t have to worry about waking everyone up late at night when you’re gaming or working!
Some of the modifications on this list will take a little more time and effort, so they may not be suitable for everyone.
The desk mat, O-rings, and foam are your best bet if you want to silence your keyboard quickly.
However, we urge that you try all of the changes (even the difficult ones) because they make your keyboard much more enjoyable and quieter to use.
On our website, we have all of the guidelines and tutorials you’ll need to figure out how to install the mods on your keyboard. Now it’s up to you to decide!
Have fun typing!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How can I make the keyboard sound better?
Well, we have pretty much discussed every possible way through which we can make our keyboard sound better or reduce the level of noise. You may follow the steps we have discussed in detail in this blog and achieve the required results.
Are O-rings worth it keyboards?
If you want to reduce noise and make your keyboard quieter, O-rings are a fantastic solution. Just be careful when removing them, because O-rings can harm your keyboard’s typing experience if you’re not careful. Check out this article if you’re looking for the greatest silent mechanical keyboards.
How can I make the keyboard quieter without O rings?
Applying a small amount of lubrication to the area will help to muffle the sound. Anything safe for plastic will work, though silicone grease is preferred among keyboard lovers. Simply dab a dab of glue where the stabilizer bar meets the plastic.
What is the most Thocky switch?
Let’s get this out of the way right away: the Anubis is easily one of the “thockiest” tactile switches on the market right now. It features a deeper sound profile than the Gazzew Boba U4T Thocky, which is one of the thockiest tactile switches available.
What is a ducky keyboard?
Ducky is a company that makes gaming peripherals, with a speciality in mechanical keyboards. Ducky keyboards stand out from the crowd thanks to their distinctive and colourful designs, which sometimes contain Chinese zodiac-themed spacebars.
Are clicky switches good for gaming?
Tactile switches for gaming, on the other hand, aren’t a horrible concept. The significant tactile bump on each keystroke can make it difficult to push keys quickly, resulting in a loss of control in-game. When conversing with your teammates, the loud clicky noises can be disturbing.
