Entering my keyboard hobby era ✦ Cerakeys + Higround Barebone ✦ Cozy Vlog

Calling all keyboard enthusiasts because I think I've unlocked a new hobby!
I love admiring good quality keyboards and I think it's time to take it up a notch and start dabbling with new switches and keys--CERAMIC KEYS from Cerakeys!
Any tips on customizing keyboards are appreciated :)
Higround Barebone Kit (Discount code: GEM): higround.co/se...
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Mic, lighting, + Camera Gear from @elgato : e.lga.to/GemZape
PC setup stuff: www.amazon.com...
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[@TheLaMa57]

I've been in the keyboard game for a few years now and would like to offer you a warm welcome to the rabbit hole this hobby is. I think one of the most important things to keep in mind when it comes to keyboards is that everything comes down to preference. Don't let other people tell you what can and can't like, that's the beauty of custom keyboards, YOU are making something unique stemming from your own creativity. You mentioned that you were expecting the sound to be a bit more thocky which these days can be easily achieved by adding foam. Case foam, plate foam, PE foam, polyfill, the list goes on. At the end of the day, that "thocky" sound is really just a foam sound which is why most people are starting to stray away from it, but like i said, its all preference :) Also...good luck not spending a lot of money 😅

[@Tunesical]

The reason why your keycaps are different levels could be because the keycaps were mismatched based on their level. I believe Cerakeys uses Cherry profiles for their keycaps, and Cherry profile keycaps have different shapes depending on what row they're on (like the QWERTY row has a different shape than the ASDFGH row). If you look at 9:27 , you can see the A key has a different shape than the S key (based on what I can see), so I think that's the main culprit of the height difference. Overall, it's a nice sounding board and a nice tiptoe into the keyboard enthusiast hobby. Just that the blank keycaps might've tripped you up on the row placement lol

[@gemzapegg]

Yesss I tried referring back to the cherry profile as I was building this! lol i honestly didn’t think through the organization process bc at one point i just threw it altogether and had me tripping out w the shapes 😂

[@r0ryformu1a]

the keyboard, the nailss everything is soo cozy 🥹🤍🤍

[@Venice_the_Menace]

This was so comfy to watch after a stressful day of starting classes. Thanks Gem!!

[@gemzapegg]

Aww Venice ❤ sending you all the cozy vibes 🫶🏼

[@nawree1988]

Omg the keyboard in the end!!! The ASMR, the photography! This video was perfect!! We need more of this content!!! Ur poor wallet thou if u keep up this hobby! ❤

[@gemzapegg]

praying for my wallet to get thicker so i can get more into the hobby! ty! Slowly improving the little things!

[@iDiamond3]

my only recommendation is that you make sure and check if the keycaps are the second version of the cerakey with the plastic stems, the first version of cerakey have a ceramic stem that acts as sandpaper and slowly but surely eats the switches themselves and leaves a dust in the keyboard and rendering the switch poles to be very lose. With the second version they removed the ceramic stems and replaced it with plastic ones to try to mitigate the issue. Hopefully this helps everyone that is looking into buying cerakeys. Overall besides the profile being a bit messy which is understandable for blank keycaps very nice editing and if u want to achieve more "thock" i would recommend taking the board apart putting some layers of tape on the bottom of the pcb and adding some foam in the case and you should be good. When it comes to lubing switches from my personal experience it doesn't transform the sound profile of a keyboard, it just makes a switch sounds cleaner and feel better, like it removes any "scratchy" sounds that the stem might produce when coming into contact with the housing. And good luck no spending a lot of money, once you start researching into different boards and switches and keycaps and make your first fully customized keyboard you'll 100% want to experience more.

[@WilliamHe53]

I formally got into the keyboard scene at the beginning of the semester in college a few months ago lol. After watching keyboard videos for the better part of 2023 I finally caved and so far I have 5 custom boards that cost combined over $1500. I got a job during the semester specifically to sustain this hobby. Good luck on your journey. Once you start spending money it’s near impossible to stoop…

[@ROXT39]

Videography quality 💯

[@gemzapegg]

thank you!

[@ktwanders2813]

when you plugged in the keyboard and it lit up?! It was sooooo STOONING 🤭 honestly speechless! Great video once again! 👏🏼🔥

[@gemzapegg]

GIRL ITS SO STUNNING i was so shocked lol THANKS CUTIE

[@RandomKeebs]

Welcome to the hobby! I hope you enjoy your tumble down the rabbit hole lol. It is quite a deep one.

[@bymyrap]

Omg I gasped as soon as you plugged it in 😍 turned out so good

[@gemzapegg]

thank you! I GASPED so hard bc i'm so stunned! Thank you!

[@malurus_]

YEES. ive been looking at keyboards I really want to build some. Ah i do notice what you mean about the keys looking different like d and g for example (assuming keyboards over there are the same as in the UK). i wouldnt be able to use keys without letters despite not needing to look when i type, but i like having the option if i need it 😂 looks very clean though

[@JelaniHendrix]

damn... this might've been the motivation i needed to get seriously into keyboards haha. loved the video!

[@Gumi_bearr]

This was so cozy to watch

[@dltkdtks]

hi, really liked the video! about the keycaps and why it looks weird-- keycaps have this thing called profile, and cerakeys make cherry profile keycaps (i think). basically, each row has a different shape. you can probably pull up a cherry profile diagram from the internet to see what keys go in each row! (blank keycaps are a nightmare gl ;-;)

[@gemzapegg]

You’re absolutely right! They use a cherry profile! I didn’t think this through from the beginning lol. I had these keys mismatched and when I tried to rearrange the rows the shapes started morphing in my brain 😵‍💫

[@aquarellstifte]

The way you placed in the keycaps got me fuming ngl

[@nekromojo8647]

Loved this! ☺️

[@northtakoda]

This looks really good!!

[@gemzapegg]

Thank you!!!

[@radbradmtb6915]

Watch some videos on Cherry profile key placement and you'll get an idea which keys are R1, R2, R3, R4. It'll feel much, much better with keys in the correct places! Also, Cerakeys in an aluminum board reallllly bring out their sound profile. Nice job and board looks great, though!! Careful, it's an addicting hobby 😂

[@gemzapegg]

thank you for the tip! I do agree! I think the aluminum base plays a major factor in the sound! (Tested it out on plastic base and it sounded better)

[@bao.bunny_]

Beautiful video, as always. A very large part of me wishes to try ceramic keys for the beautiful sound and weight… but the other half of me is still in the translucent keys era for keyboard looks. 🏳️

[@gemzapegg]

why not have both ;)

[@SWAGinside]

You have wallpaper with typical russian area :) I live in similar place Looks very cozy!

[@ShaheerS2]

good vibes

[@vigilantique]

nice.

[@krayola_2724]

where did you get the pink desk?!

[@user-yh4nk6fb6r]

英語のほうがパソコン入力はしやすそうですね。キーボードも好評です。かなり入力しやすそうだし、タイピング感ってありますよね。日本人はキーボードがあってもローマ字入力で不便ですね。英単語のほうが有利には見えます。日本語だと入力は遅くなりますよね。英語に生まれれば良かったな。人当たりもあっさりしてて明るい印象ですね。プラス思考にも見えて好感触です。明るく光るキーボードも好評です。

[@hanchi8710]

keyboard hobby made me go bankrupt

[@gemzapegg]

praying this doesnt happen to me lol

[@aznrodney]

😂😂 *gasp in Filipino*

[@amywilkins]

Are there no labels on the keyboard? Like a,b,c ?

[@gemzapegg]

NONE lol. Its actually not bad! I usually type on the keyboard and know my way around!

[@amywilkins]

@@gemzapegg that’s so cool!

[@mcheddadi]

quit now. it's not too late.

[@user-qu4eh8nu7c]

i think ur still quite new to this hobby so i have some tips to save money, so u dont wanna buy alot of budget board but instead save to buy like one or two high end boards since they're better, also i suggest you not to buy alot of diffeent switches and stick to a good and reliable switch for example gateron x switches. many good keyboard manus are geon, singa, tgr. Good luck and have fun!

[@gemzapegg]

Thank you for all the tips!

[@itsyagirlapes]

@@gemzapegg "Budget boards" are subjective. Neo, QwertyKeys and Zoom are considered budget boards for example and are around/under the $200 mark and are much, much better than Higround keyboards. But I understand that she is sponsored.

[@bigmoosefr]

what mic do you have? Sounds so nice

[@gemzapegg]

Elgato wave DX!