Beginner's Guide To Mechanical Keyboards

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Mechanical keyboards are so cool, but it can also be really intimidating place for a newb to jump in. Why are some so expensive, what makes a keyboard good? how do I know I'm getting the right thing?
These are Affiliate links to the products I talked about in the video. I get a small cut of each sale if you use my links and it helps support my channel. Thanks!
Magegee Keybopard $35 - amzn.to/4bFoCas
RoyalAxe Keyboard $64 - amzn.to/49gvARo
Keychron Q3 $210 - amzn.to/3uqkg6p
Keychron K3 Max Low Profile $109 - amzn.to/3SLGMi8
Keychron Switch tester: www.keychron.com/collections/...
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[@Fr0stbite1801]

A time traveler accidentally knocked over a pebble in the past and now I'm watching Hipyo's figure drawing tutorial

[@ChatonProductions]

What next??? Proko's weight lifting regimen? Adam regusea stop motion animated videos? THE WORLD IS DOOMED

[@iuruoy-shao]

Fr I saw the thumbnail and was not expecting who uploaded this

[@thebradcolbow]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@n0raaFTW]

Oh god Brad has fallen into the trap 😱

[@LBP2Saperoth]

One of us, one of us. 😂

[@abzs5811]

Yep 😂

[@thebradcolbow]

I'm done. I'm done. no more keyboards for me... wait.. what is that over there....

[@Aman_Mondal]

Welcome to the keyboard rabbit hole you ain't getting out of here

[@nagarajankaushik1]

Loved this video even though it's not a drawing tech topic. We are here for your Brad spin on things and the amazing production quality! 💯

[@Melissa-rt3yp]

This was perfect timing. I need to replace a worn out keyboard and was looking into the mechanical keyboards, but man that rabbit hole is huge and twisty. Thanks for this one!

[@triviadave]

Loved this video. I have felt exactly like this, and it's nice to see a few brief reviews/ comments about the issues I am struggling with from someone who has just gone through the same issue as I have been going through. You might even have saved me some money, as I might be able to skip a couple of steps in my journey to the "perfect" keyboard.

[@steveschnetzler5471]

Time warp time, one of my first computer projects was to make a re-programable/reconfigurable keyboard from an old IBM teletype keypad, 45 years ago. What a great action/feel it had. Thanks.

[@stasyssk]

You should try some split keyboards. Price is an issue with these, but I think it would greatly benefit artists. When drawing, you can detach one part of split keyboard, thus one part can be used as a small keyboard for shortcuts plus added benefit of egonomics. Now the most important part is ergonomics... It's simply exceptional...imagine working whole day a simple office work (I bet most of us are not professional artists) with standard keyboard, later putting aside a keyboard and drawing for few hours...wrists suffer, for me it was carpal tunnel syndrome. Split keyboard unlocks chest and angles wrists in a natural way thus eliminating the issue of strain. I suggest checking some of them out and putting into the context of drawing, like I've mentioned companion shortcut keyboard for pen display. Some of the most known brands in the space are ZSA and Dygma, there are others, even DIY types.

[@TANKENGINEBLUE]

B R A D you should have sent in the surface pro for repairs

[@niveketihw1897]

I have a Utech Mercury RGB and love it. It's a beast -- full size and with an additional skirt on each edge. All metal. I have customized the color per key -- white for the letters, green for the numbers and the keypad, blue for things like Shift, Tab, Enter, End, and the arrows, and red for ESC and the F keys. Love this thing. Definitely has that heft, great sound, great feel, and that "chonk" as mentioned in the vid.

[@Ratboycure]

Sweetcool I was just thinking about keyboards today. Love your channel been watching for years. Surprised and pleased to see a keyboard video. Big fan of your reviews

[@darthshyam300]

I got the Tecware phantom elite and I adore it. Such a good keyboard for the price and fits my setup perfectly.

[@Nas-1240]

I actually built my own keyboard a few years ago (custom self lubed switches, custom self lubed stabalizers, custom keycaps, the whole 9 yards). Absolutely not worth it for 99% of people, but if you're someone who likes to express themselves with their tech (custom PCs, desk setups; that kind of thing) it was actually a fun experience.

[@user-vp1pc1vy7g]

Awesome video! 😄 Keep up the great work!

[@user-ve2bh3sn5t]

I can't get enough of your channel! 😁

[@Redgyart]

love his video, would you do a video about best shortcut remotes to be more efficient when drawing like Tourbox or Razer Tartarus (learned that from Ergo Josh) just wanted to see your opinion on these things!

[@dsarrazin]

Interesting video -- glad you found a good fit for you. There are so many options for keyboards out there! Me and my wife do a lot of video conferencing since we both work from home, so the last thing that we want is a noisy keyboard. I had an old iMac full keyboard (wired) which my wife now uses and loves -- very silent. For myself, I bought a Logi MX keys keyboard that is very quiet, backlit, wireless, and supports up to 3 different computer. I personally love it. Haven't look at having custom keys on it ...

[@boredgrass]

"...The world of key caps is crazy." ...love it😇 @ your question at the end: There are so many people and companies who do so original and creative things with great dedication. I want to know about them, even if I have no use for hey are part of the world I live in! So thank you for sharing!

[@robertdufour2456]

You're right! Go for it!

[@SkaMacanan]

Waiting for links to the keyboards featured on this video!

[@danhickok]

How timely! I've had my trusty - but delicate - low-profile Logitech keyboard for about five years now, and I've noticed some of the keys have started to misfire. (This can be PARTICULARLY frustrating with passwords!) Time to shop for a new, longer-lasting keyboard. Thanks for the tips!

[@jacobbarstad9252]

The breathing at 7:43 gets me every time

[@KrishnaDraws]

Welcome to the mech keyboard club, Brad! :) I use a Nuphy Air 96 model. It's low profile, linear and is super fun to type on.

[@m.h.1443]

Hi, i´m a beginner in drawing as a whole and i found ur channel as a pretty good source of knowledge so thanks for that! I just wanne ask what drawing app would you recommend for a beginner on android (S9)? The last video is over a year old and it where only free apps so could you make another tier list? If you dont intend to do a video about that could you give me a recommendation? There is so much out there and i have no clue what to look for ^^ Thanks a lot!

[@_cesay]

I recently went down a mini rabbithole of mechanical keyboard too but was too broke to buy all the nice ones, so I settled with a premade beginner-friendly Langtu GK65 and Im still loving it! And OMG that I wish I have that Keychron switch testkit they sent you! Also, have you tried Cerakey's ceramic keycaps? The sound of those and *chef's kiss

[@Han_Moz]

I actually love this kind of vids, and because of my limited desk space the low profile keyboard really entices me! on the subject of keyboards, i want to get a bluetooth keyboard for my samsung tablet, been looking at the folding ones, but do you have any recommendations for portable ones?

[@terrenceroth4804]

Thanks for branching out. Love to see you get into tech

[@siinxkj]

I just built a tofu65 2.0, didnt think I'd find an art channel talking about custom keyboards, kinda refreshing.

[@lykimsour3343]

I am new to this mechanical keyboards. I just got 1 called keychron v1 mac. Does any know if I can charge it with mac laptop charger ?

[@ckmoore]

Topre Realforce keyboards are, by far, my favorite. My daily driver is a realforce TKL 55g weighted. My secondary (and often favorite - I used to use this exclusively at my office) is a Leopold topre keyboard (FC660C). Absolutely love it. Plus it's 45g weighted. But, for the average person I'd suggest getting a Das Keyboard. Good, reliable, should last forever. Good rollover key recognition. Back lighting, has optional doubleshot keys. Very happy with it, but it's also full size. I use this for gaming so I can turn off the lights and use backlighting. It also has optional USB ports for extra functionality, plus a volume knob. I find I actually use all of this when gaming. Yeah... I got too into keyboards. But I get too into everything I look into. *sigh* Now, if only I could find the perfect laptop with drawing capability...

[@Longlius]

Yeah, I've got two of the things and an HHKB. They're an absolute joy to type on.

[@muhil4968]

i learnt many things from u drawing best keyboard best app and many more love u soo much

[@ucpmod]

Very good video! You do a great job of explaining how one can get sucked into the custom keyboard world. My first mechanical keyboard was a ¨gaming¨ keyboard. You know, one of those full size, all black boards with clickly blue switches and tons of RGB. I used it for 5 years thinking that gaming keyboards were the only mechanical keyboards until I saw a few tech KZbinrs taking about ¨custom¨ mechanical keyboards. At first I thought it was strange that there were TKLs, 75%, 65% boards and the like. I was so used to my 100% gaming keyboard that using something smaller made no sense to me. The more videos I saw, I realized that there were so many different switches, plates, keycaps, color combinations and so on. So when the switches on my non-hotswap gaming keyboard started failing after 5 years, I decided to get a custom hotswap board that I could build myself. I was a noob to the hobbie so I got a GMK67 barebone kit (a 65% board, my favorite size now) so start out and learn. I really liked how it turned out and that´s when I fell into the rabbit hole. I now have built 10 custom boards. Some plastic and some aluminum. I have an 11th one on the way LOL. Once you go custom, you´ll never go back a normal pre-built boards!

[@victor.novorski]

Is this good for night time productivity?

[@evolver2737]

0:45 this same thing happened to me on my laptop I'm watching on right now, it's still in there and I can now only use 1 now. please tell me you figured out how to get it out!

[@Yokain7]

I'm using a Keeb IO sinc split keyboard. The price is expensive, especially prebuilt, but it works relatively well for art needs. I did have to buy a longer USB-c to bridge the two halves but it might be worth a shot if you plan to do more videos and experiment with mechanical keyboards.

[@lorensims4846]

I originally learned to type on a manual typewriter. I now use a MacBook Air, and while it does have a very nice built-in keyboard, I would appreciate a bit more key travel and a tactile click. Sound or looks don't really matter to me, but I don't think I want anything particularly flashy.

[@luxar92]

I really liked the 8bitdo keyboard. Feels nice to type, its wireless with decent battery life and its not that expensive (for a great mechanical keyboard that is). Plus it looks like an NES/Famicom which is pretty neat.

[@aidandaniels02]

Holy smokes this is all coming full circle.

[@bromanart9359]

Hey Brad! Have you tried the Alogolic clarity display? I have yet to see an artist review of it, hope you get to cover it someday.

[@greensonic100]

Literally just started my rabbit hole too, so gos you made a video

[@Fazbroisgay]

Brad i want to be come a animator and I have a ipad 6 gen but I want to know what’s the best drawing tablet that can hook up to adobe my price is around 120

[@aliahmunaa9687]

Hey Brad! Some feeback in case you’re planning on making more keyboard related videos: Separate your voice over from the clips of the keyboard sounds. The viewers can distinguish the sounds better, and at the same time not get overwhelmed/overstimulated by both you talking and the keyboards clacking.

[@cammiluna]

If you do any traditional art, a video on your experiences with scanners would be so cool! Also, what's it like doing keyboard shortcuts in art software with mechanical keyboards?

[@brodriguez11000]

I use an older CCD scanner. Bulky but it gets the job done.

[@jmalmsten]

I have one of those compact yet fully keyed (with arrows and numpad and all) keychron, and while I like the feel, I found myself having to constantly look down to find keys as they weren't spaced out like on an old school full sized keyboard. So now I switched to a cheaper but more traditionally laid out Logitech board. I'll look out for a keychron as I did prefer their switches... But I just cannot justify sacrificing the ease if funding keys by feel alone.

[@kristnby]

personal need/opinian about what mechanical keyboard i need -65% with numbpad .. i want all in one keyboard with compact size -via/qmk software supported .. this software support up to 15 macro, 4 layer layout, and customizeable every key -wireless available .. sometimes i want pair it with my ipad, the reason compact on no 1 -silent switch .. i hate noisy things -wheels ?, maybe yes maybe no and yes, still didnt meet the one like my description, the only way to have that is making one for myself

[@sarahgramelspacher3703]

I needed this video 2 weeks ago when I decided I needed a mechanical keyboard but didn't know where to begin! I ended up getting a DROP expression Shinai (which has since come down significantly in price). I guess my timing was just way off on this one. I am happy with my purchase, but I wish I'd had a guide like this when I started!

[@dayayelluripati6091]

brad why dont you make a series on macro keyboards and the professional grade monitors and since you also talk about animation how to make a home studio that would be really interesting

[@nattiem2849]

Nice brad… Myself i ended up going with epomaker. It is a nice gasket that feels 100 times nicer for me than the Magic Keyboard. Good to see you branching out, but please don’t forget the drawing stuff… 😊

[@HBFortunato]

please review huawei matepad pro 13.5 Thanks and more power!

[@The-Secret-Dragon]

wow these are so pretty! I've always wanted to get a mechanical keyboard, not sure I can live without a number pad though!

[@shadyarian]

I needed exactly this video. A short guide about "how to get into mechanical keyboards" from someone I trust.

[@LV4EVR]

Love the review, nice branching indeed. One huge rabbit hole further > split mechanical keyboards. 🤯

[@BitBeginnings]

Cool video! Please review the new ASUS Zenbook Duo. Thanks!

[@Rojin_04]

As an artist that is also a writer, this was super helpful!

[@izblab]

I liked this one. And a keyboard is an artist tool as well... in the absence of a dedicated shortcut pad.

[@demonheart13]

I love keyboards, but i wish there were more type writer style round keys. I currently have one, and it's my favorite. But i can't customize it as much as the square type keycaps.

[@VioletaFolgarait]

Hey Brad!! I have absolutely no interest in the world of keyboards but your videos are always so interesting anyway! Regarding suhgwstions for topics, perhaps something on recommendations on desk set ups to use with display tablet so that our neck/backs don't die? 😂 I recently got a didplay tablet and have been tryjng to prop it up with books and its stand and other ways but something slways hurts one way or the other. all this ergonomic world seems kinda tricky! anyway, thanks and love from Argentina!

[@DivyanshBalchandani]

Around 7:40 ish we can hear you breathe into the mic. Must've been from the track of you recording the key sounds. You might've missed it or it might be because you were trying to increase the volume of the switches. Anyways, just wanted to bring it to your attention. Great video as always! Learnt a lot from this.

[@thebradcolbow]

oops. there were a few other parts where I edited it out because my head is right by the camera where I captured the clicking of the keys.

[@RailsonPMelo]

Could you try lesser-known pen display brands like "Gaomon" and "Veikk", since you said it's a slow season for art tech right now? I know it's a little difficult to buy them in your country, but...

[@user-gw5hb7tv5b]

I'm happy that you're also getting to this rabbit hole

[@user-gw5hb7tv5b]

also you'll need to go for that "thock" sound :D

[@berylliumdotaep]

where is the link ?

[@drricky]

Have you tried just hot gluing a stick to the dongle piece? It should pull out.

[@M8NR8E]

I cant decideeeeee! I want an 1800 layout keyboard!! I think!!??? Leaning towards tactile, but curious about linear, i want an office friendly/gaming setup, i would love shine thru caps, but not a deal breaker, over all I want quality! If im convinced something ticks all the boxes, i think ill spend around 200 bucks. Maybe, I should just buy smtn cheap to at least learn my switch preference. Ive been in the rabbit hole for a week, and have yet to buy anything. The more I search, the more I learn, the more questions i have, the more options there are (or less), the further away i am from choosing something!!! Ahhhh!!!! (Scream fades away into rabbit hole..)

[@bsigns1935]

75% is the best layout for me

[@shermstan]

Waiting for Brad's next video on customizable macropads for drawing applications lol

[@godlydonut5752]

Some keyboard I saw had a 100 percent keyboard that was cheaper than a 60 percent

[@dallassukerkin6878]

When I look at all these keyboards and the ludicrous prices of them I think back to the days when you used to get a PS2 connected Dell Cherry keyboard (AT101W or AT102W) when you bought a PC. They were excellent and pretty much immortal ... and didn't cost hundreds! I wince to think I threw out three of them when I last moved house - how I wish I had kept them and waited for the PS2 to USB adapters to appear :D

[@trychillipie]

You were the last peson I thought would make a guide for keyboards.

[@q.edwards4891]

Brad's gonna switch to a gaming channel.

[@nicodoe6181]

i got a 100% "gamer" mechanical keyboard for €30 when gamestop closed all their stores (i think it was 50% off), very glad i was able to get one at that pricepoint as 100%s seem quite rare until you go up in price. the tradeoff is definitely the gamer branding lol. ive always been tempted to fall down the rabbit hole and customise it😩

[@EdvinsBogdanovs-pe3ew]

Not sure if you tried it and it's still a problem for you, but my first instinct was to try to delicately super/hot-glue some "pull-out handle" for the broken dongle, so hopefully you check the comment section long enough :D Anyhow - thanks for the video, mon ami 👍

[@animegeek.8657]

you should try a kraken keyboard next

[@kusakichan15]

OMG!!! YOUR VID JUST CAME IN THE RIGHT TIME!! THANK YOU FOR THIS 😭🙏

[@JasonBA96]

Hey Brad, it's fun to see you branch out to other areas, one thing that might be interesting is hearing abt how you try to keep healthy troughout an art career (stretches, tools, ergonomics) Also it might be great clickbait so idk food for thought

[@PrivateLZG]

A little different form of content, but I love it

[@Okerokeka]

Google's feature that shows news articles and videos I might like on my phone recommended this to me, and I was like wait.... is that the guy I always went to when I wanted to buy a new drawing tablet? Sure enough here we are. Got any good keycap recommendations? 😂

[@zachariasstarlid5365]

Maybe try to make a small cut in the metal piece. Then you would be able to get it out with a plyer or so. It’s just a bad guess. Looked really enjoying. 😅

[@Just_a_commenter]

Huh, didn't expect to see Brad delving into the world of mechanical keyboards... But, I mean, his claim is to review tools for creative professionals and a better keyboard for typing literature does count as a tool for creative pursuits! Go wild, Brad! Just be mindful of how deep mechanical keyboards as a hobby can go. XD

[@MsToshi1990]

Just a matter of time now until you get your first GMK set and find out about TGR, Geon...and many more :D

[@starling-ok]

If you ever decide to fall down the hole a bit, I cannot recommend anything more highly than Mode Designs. Super classy, very easy to build. I have 6 keyboards from them XD

[@sksankarraj]

Great video, informative! Just don't breath close to the mic, I can hear the air whistle through the nose hairs. Btw, great mic though

[@robertdufour2456]

Wow!

[@Fthan]

good video

[@sanjaynagala5510]

In near future, I feel Brad shall become a streamer. Streaming video games 20/7 😂

[@urbanpitch90]

okay, i know its going to sound crazy, but have you thought of getting hair wax on the end of the tweezers and trying to rip out that metal bit from the surface USB port? haha

[@Artofcarissa]

Answer in Progress also has a really good video on mechanical keyboards if you wanna go on a deep dive

[@marcdeluna8674]

One of us. One of us. One of us

[@weiyon]

The breathing sound that come with the click sound from the keyboard is funny

[@MarbsMusic]

Welcome to the money drain :) It's a wonderful hobby but very addictive when you start wanting to have multiple keyboards that all sound, look and feel a little different... you realize that PBT keycaps sound much different from ABS so you decide on your first set of GMK... they boards become not something to just type on but an artistic expression of your creativity much like music or painting.

[@Royzilya]

Try Corsair air 100

[@repeekyraidcero]

Wait. Thats not a drawing tablet OR a pencil? Did I take a wrong turn ?

[@jamesbullo]

I 3D sculpted & printed a sleeping Squirtle key cap 😃

[@wakax]

falling in the moebius strip of choices... thank you for showing me (once again) the Capitalist Hell...:)

[@sadev101]

lol i have no needs for special keyboard , sound doesnt matter to me. as long as the keypress registers..still love the video though

[@Choedron]

The clicking would drive me nuts. In that regard I really like my 100% Apple keyboard. Hardly no sound and it is almost flat, which makes it easier to write fast.

[@vickdeweo4288]

Could you dive farther into the rabbit hole? Feels like I just got a taste. Maybe a history of mechanical keyboards and how they evolved into how tiny they got from the original IBM keyboards these all hail as the O.G. Long time listener, first time caller.

[@lorensims4846]

Keychron is nice, but pricey. I'm looking at Royal Kludge because they also seem nice but for a lot less.

[@loveArtnotFood]

Brad Blender series🥺🥺😭😭

[@IndigoRichard]

🗿 Ok, not drawing tech, but I it probably says something more about your work when you could literally review electric nose hair trimmers and I’d watch. 😅 That said, rabbit holes be damned! You built your own computer; Why not build your own custom keyboard? I’d watch the hell out of that!

[@franciscodetonne4797]

You should review macro/reprogrammable keyboards while you are at it 😜

[@jmalmsten]

Yeah. And to add to that. While I do enjoy my Streamdeck. I do wonder if there's any way one could get the clicky mechanical switches to magically mesh with the functionality of the screen in keys of the streamdeck. I mean, there was that keyboard that had tiny oled arrays on each key, but they didn't go much of anywhere. And I guess today we could more easily build one with e-ink caps. But there's something to be said about glow in the dark keyboards as you can find stuff in the dark. Maybe a compromise can be had with a 5x10 keyboard with individually light up adressable rgb keys. But some sort of on screen hud might be necessary to navigate the menu systems. Of course, huds in VR or even AR goggles might be an ultimate solution. A trackable macro keyboard for the tactility. And the AR layer for usability. Whenever usable lightweight and affordable AR glasses show up, that is.