The GMMKpro mod you MUST do to make the sound so much BETTER! Easy and no cost.

This is a quick tutorial of a mod for GMMKpro which is guaranteed effective if you want to make your board sounds poppy and with no extra cost and anyone can do it.
I highly recommend that you do this mod if you have a GMMKpro.
The original reddit thread to where I based this modification:
/ guide_do_you_like_the_...
#gmmkpro #glorious #mechanicalKeyboard #keebs #modification #mods

[@msjoycetan8]

I love modding, so I tried this one despite the static risk. 😅 After a week or so, my LEDs eventually stopped working, definitely some shorting happening. I hurriedly took the PE foam out, and it was okay again...kind of. It still works, but the LEDs became fainter. So uh...yeah it does happen. Could be a matter of time, I suppose...it was fun while it lasted haha

[@MrAvsceriola]

interesting, still running this setup today with no issue and still continue observing it. But thanks for sharing on your experience. There is this another mod call "tape mod" I saw which almost have the same effect of this, so you might want to try that.

[@msjoycetan8]

@@MrAvsceriola Haha I was unlucky, I guess. A few seem to experience it, so maybe there's really a factor that's off. Anyway, already tried the tape mod too! Experimented on different tapes and no. of layers. :) Fun mod.

[@198Immortal]

@@msjoycetan8 can u link to where some people said they are having issues? I just did this mod yesterday and now I'm a bit worried 😅

[@msjoycetan8]

@@198Immortal The reddit thread for this mod mentions the static risk (as linked in the video description), but those who experienced it were friends of friends 😅 ...and me. I suggest you go for the tempest tape mod as mentioned. 😊 The sound signature is quite similar, just a bit "enclosed". You can experiment with different tapes. 😊

[@notusingthis600]

I highly doubt this is what "killed" your board. The foam that comes with the GMMK Pro is not conductive but it's anti-static, meaning that it will dissipate any electrostatic charges. But to build any charge, you first have to charge it (touching it, rubbing against it, etc). And since it's sitting under the keycaps, switches, plate, and plate foam, there's no way to charge it. You're simply not touching it and therefore not generating any charges.

[@keagan5379]

lol owl lab might’ve just started a new trend. Now everyone and their momma is doing this mod.

[@8bitsamurai6]

They def did that and now seeing alot of tape mod.

[@Volzeron]

@@8bitsamurai6 tape mod isnt pe foam mod

[@8bitsamurai6]

@@Volzeron Never said it was. I said "and"as in seeing alot of pe foam since jelly epoch and tape mod aswell. Both very popular atm. You gotta read.

[@Volzeron]

@@8bitsamurai6 then u shouldve put as well at the end lmao

[@adonjohnlaserna1837]

Wow nice vid sir!

[@MrAvsceriola]

Thanks sir :) hahahha

[@louislyy13]

I tried and now my Gmmk Pro typing sound like raindrop! Thank you so much.

[@MrAvsceriola]

No prob :)

[@MinhDo-vy4rm]

space bar sounds superb

[@MrAvsceriola]

Thank you :)

[@thething085]

i wonder how much of a difference it would make using an alu plate... The only mod i did, was added double the amount of case foam at the back of the pcb, it made the buttons in all corners sound "poppy" af, and it really eliminated the slight vibration from the board when typing. I should give this mod a try! Thank you

[@MrAvsceriola]

it will make a big difference even in alu plate, you should try it.

[@thething085]

@@MrAvsceriola I guess you're right! now it sounds like mr krabs with heavier sounding feet no regrets doing this mod!

[@Coolsocksgaming]

Hi! Did you only use one layer of the packaging or it's double layered?

[@static129]

can u pls send a link to that keycap set? looks sick!

[@nebula426]

I recommend changing the stabs. The "GOAT" stabs are pretty bad at stabilizing and I can often hear some rattling. (on mine atleast) I swapped them for the everglide stabs and it sounds much better.

[@MrAvsceriola]

I'll probably will in the future, but the GOAT stab with holee mod still works fine for me and I'm kinda lazy to disassemble the board so this would probably stay for much longer, unless I head some really significant rattle :)

[@riceshakes]

@@MrAvsceriola how did you holee mod without taking apart the board?

[@nebula426]

@@riceshakes probably mean't he didn't want to disassemble it again (there are a lot of screws, its a huge pain to take it apart lmao)

[@kyleb1958]

Which backplate are you using with the everglide stabs? and did you need to modify it to fit them?

[@nebula426]

@@kyleb1958 im assuming you mean plate, but i'm using a polycarbonate plate that i bought from the website. It doesn't need modification, but it will be a very tight fit.

[@iLoxy42]

Where did you get that artisan keycap it looks amazing

[@MrAvsceriola]

Thanks! :) I made it myself using an extra keycaps and polymer clay. I basically sculpted it :)

[@iniqueztwins61]

Did you have any issues with breaking the pcb or having any other issues since you are putting the switches through the foam? Some people are putting disclaimers on this method

[@MrAvsceriola]

yeah I read and saw some post about that issue but since I did this mod, I haven't had any problem with my keyboard. I'm not saying this mod is 100% fool proof but for my experience I didn't experience anything bad after doing it and will still continue observing it.

[@198Immortal]

I have a few bent pins cuz I didn't place them in straight, and my middle switches, num row, and F row not working cuz the foam was too thick. I had to use more screws for the plate and PCB and used the 2 middle stand offs for most of them to work again. My UHB keys didn't work properly so I had to add some extra material underneath the hot swap sockets for it to function and register the keys properly. So yah keep that in mind.

[@PainterVierax]

@@MrAvsceriola ESD is a vicious thing. The resulting shorten lifetime of electronic components can vary a lot as the discharge may not be strong enough to instanttly fry a transistor/diode but enough to degrade it's performance and repetitions will slowly kill it.

[@jasongallardo6391]

What if you totally remove the case/plate foam and only use PE foam?

[@krisjunior2698]

whats that keycap set? it looks so nice

[@MrAvsceriola]

its just an unbranded one from china which I bought online, its a white keycaps with hiragana sub legends.

[@pspep7268]

pbt hiragana keycaps on aliexpress, your welcome.

[@zweeeee4343]

Hey man, would thin masking tape on top be good substitute for the pe foam? Anytime i need my dear foam I throw them all away lol

[@MrAvsceriola]

Try searching for the tape mod, kinda have similar concept on this instead its using a thin masking tape. But it basically trying to do the same.

[@mr_mic2685]

I tried the mod with masking tape and it sounds good to me, maybe two layers would be even better. Personally, I think it's better than the tempest mod (or tape mod) because it kinda mutes the sound at least in my keyboard.

[@manggaedduk]

@@mr_mic2685 what makes your tape mod different from the tempest mod?

[@mr_mic2685]

@@manggaedduk They're the same mod but people call it in both ways

[@manggaedduk]

@@mr_mic2685 oh it's because you said yours is better. So you basically did do the tempest mod then right?

[@durps8815]

whoa holy crap what that's such a big difference, any ideas on why that is?

[@MrAvsceriola]

I believe it's blocking the sound going in the bottom of the case? so you can hear more sound and the sounds so much poppier when you type. That's just how I understand it.

[@tricket2701]

its because instead of the switches lying on the pcb they lie on the foam so you hear less rattle from the switch

[@Kizzster]

What's the RGB like after the PE mod?

[@MrAvsceriola]

its actually not that affected since the PE foam from the GMMKpro packaging is kinda thin, around 0.8mm when I measured it. Specially when you are using PC plate, the PE foam doesn't really affect the RGB that much as I observed it.

[@miladesn]

KDB65lite is kinda doing same cheat for sound but using a silicon dampener in the pcb sandwich instead of the usual foam. The packing foam isn't as porous as the poron foams, if you spill some water on it, it wonk soak, and silicon isnt porous at all. I am guessing this creates some kind of diffusion or echo and produces more low end sound, aka thocc

[@taytayaxolatte]

yes, the less porous the material, the thoccier itll be. compact and thin materials slow down high pitched frequencies and dissipate them, while thicker porous materials will do the same to slower, or lower pitch frequencies. so if u only put thin foams in ur keyboard and remove all thicc ones, itll have a more marbly thoccy sounds, while a bunch of thick foams will make it more muted but clacky. this is why pe foam is so gr8, put a sheet of it on ur pcb, then one in the bottom of ur case and u will have a super marbly and thoccy keeb. the biggest downside is itll make the characteristics of whatever switches ur using muted and not that noticable, so buying a super expensive switch just to end up doing this mod is a massive waste of money when a cheap akko switch or even stock switch if ur board came with it will sound just as good for like 20 bucks lol. lube that akko cream v3 pro up, put some pe foam in ur keeb, and get a cute keycap set, and ur set for life... or until u decide u want a keeb with a different sound

[@TobyBGwynne]

PE foam under the case foam seems really unnecessary - but I guess it doesn't hurt!

[@MrAvsceriola]

Yeah same thought, But I just added it anyway, hahahha

[@zero604]

It also can cause static so it'll fuck up the PCB, not a good mod.

[@TobyBGwynne]

@@zero604 please explain how a non moving material (the foam) will ever cause static build up on a non moving part (the PCB)

[@zero604]

@@TobyBGwynne You're moving things around when your're INSTLALING the foam into the case. That's not a motionless procedure.

[@TobyBGwynne]

@@zero604 By that logic installing screw on stabs or soldering switches is a risk because you move the PCB when doing that. If you're so bad at handling electronics that you hit a keyboard PCB with a static shock when putting a piece of foam on it you've got real problems.

[@shiftycaps]

Did the typing profile/experience change after this mod?

[@MrAvsceriola]

Typing experience really change because of the satisfying pop you can hear. If you have GMMKpro or any board and a thin PE foam, you should definitely try it.

[@shiftycaps]

@@MrAvsceriola I should have not asked this question because I did the mod myself. Ako yung sinagutan niyo din sa FB. Hahah thanks!

[@MrAvsceriola]

@@shiftycaps oh, hahhaha

[@sebaitor]

I did the mod and it sounds amazing, however the stabilizer keys sound like they are rubbing against foam and it's very annoying, any tips on how to fix?

[@MrAvsceriola]

rubbing? it should not...there should no foam in the bottom of the stablizer if that where you mean rubbing is happening. Or is it somewhere else?

[@o_o8140]

I think you should make the stab holes a bit wider then

[@kennethfajardo6680]

How thick is your dampening plate foam

[@MrAvsceriola]

the one in the GMMKpro packaing which I used is about 0.8mm when I measured it with a caliper. I recommend only using 1mm thickness max

[@kennethfajardo6680]

@@MrAvsceriola will.55 mm also work?

[@8bitsamurai6]

Can you list the keycap set?

[@pspep7268]

pbt hiragana keycaps on aliexpress. 2nd choice. 😉

[@kill-die-repeat]

How does it affect the lighting?

[@MrAvsceriola]

it doesn't affect that much specially if you are using PC plate. It is still well lit when I turn the RGB. The foam in the GMMKpro which I used is just a 0.8mm thick so light can still pass thru with no problem.

[@kill-die-repeat]

@@MrAvsceriola Thank you!

[@saarxee19]

Works and sounds better with tactiles switches or you think that is even sounds good with linears?

[@MrAvsceriola]

Linear has silghtly deeper sound compared to tactile, tried it using Gat Inks v2. But both sound good. I just prefer tactiles, I kinda don't like the feel of linear, it feel like something is missing, which is the bump...hahahha

[@saarxee19]

​@@MrAvsceriola After the PE foam this keboard case is hard to close back with the screws? I need to apply some force to close it.. And you removed the standoffs? (two on the plate)

[@saarxee19]

@@MrAvsceriola Even with Gat Inks v2? I heard even tactiles people loved this switch because this sounds good and very smooth

[@MrAvsceriola]

@@saarxee19 No its not hard, PE foam is less than 1mm which can't barely affect closing the board. I didn't remove any standoffs. I used all the screws.

[@MrAvsceriola]

@@saarxee19 tactile or linear, it will sound so much better with this mod, I also tried using Gat Inks V2 and it sounds better after this mod.

[@rezzvisuals7305]

How is the pc plate? I heard for some people it causes their pcb to flex/bow.

[@taufiqsept]

They should have known that but there are people who prefer their pcb to flex/bow for some reason. To each of their own personal preference I guess.

[@ImJustStandingHere]

The PC plate from my GMMK Pro literally didn't fit over the PCB (and durock stabs) while building. It cracked in one spot near the spacebar, luckily it didn't cause an issue. Utterly terrible PC plate though, the worst I've ever dealt with

[@notusingthis600]

The PC plate is just a piece of crap. It makes the PCB bow and has a negative effect on the sound profile. For example, the space bar sounds high pitched on one side but muted on the other. Also, the bowing will make certain keycaps touch the case. Check Caloy's video for a visual representation.

[@notusingthis600]

@@taufiqsept Flex is not the same as bow. No one wants their PCB to bow...

[@little_fluffy_clouds]

Do not bother with the PC plate. Get the FR4 aftermarket plate from AVX Works. It fits the PCB perfectly and has no clearance issues with third party stabs. It looks, feels and sounds great

[@maaaars]

Whered you get the panda artisan?

[@MrAvsceriola]

I made it myself, sculpted it using polymer clay :)

[@maaaars]

@@MrAvsceriola it looks sick!

[@MrAvsceriola]

@@maaaars thank you :)

[@chouwachan]

cant even properly see the foam because of the huge black text box...

[@MrAvsceriola]

I'm sorry, but you can just pause it. The foam is just basically the shape of the PCB with the cut outs for the stabs.

[@tobias6156]

specs?

[@MrAvsceriola]

its on the first part of the video

[@tobias6156]

@@MrAvsceriola oh…i skipped it to hear the sound test

[@MrAvsceriola]

Update: Jan 6, 2022, my keyboard is still working fine with this configuration using the PE foam mod :) There is some concerns on the PE foam from the GMMKpro to possibly have a static issue which can possibly break the board. So you might want to find an alternative foam that cannot produce static. I cannot say that this is 100% fool proof but I guess this is a "Do at your own risk" kinda of thing :) I'm still running this configuration as of today and didn't experience any issue. I will update this comment if ever I encounter some problems.

[@198Immortal]

What other material do u recommend then?

[@PlugAtTheParty]

@@198Immortal there is pe foam the same to this in the video but has an antistatic element to it. difficult to find any .3 mm pe antistatic foam but still on the search

[@massgrave8x]

@@PlugAtTheParty Be careful with recommending things like this, some anti-static foam is actually conductive.

[@kyleb1958]

@@PlugAtTheParty Anti-static/EDC foam is what they are recommending against

[@PainterVierax]

@@kyleb1958 non conductive foam is bad in the other way as it creates ESD, that's why they made those parts with EDC foam. Though the only way to avoid shorts or ESD issues is by using conformal coating on PCB and permanently conductive foam properly connected to the mass of the USB port. Insulating the through hole metallic pins of the switches is not a bad idea as well.

[@tylux9560]

Yo bro keycaps? Send me that link they look super clean

[@Pekomet]

The black caps are from another set, but all the white caps are from here: www.amazon.com/dp/B08L7YXQ43/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_AGQ56PXZHK7H6RKVKZ3K Most likely since the legends are the same Edit: i’d also recommend looking into some themed sets on amazon that are clones of previous GMK runs. For example you could search “olivia keycaps” and you’ll probably find a pbt clone of gmk olivia.

[@clementpapa7126]

sounds awful to be honest

[@MrAvsceriola]

Could be on how I took the video, I'm using a phone when recording this. But definitely sounds better after the mod and you should try and hear it first hand.

[@notusingthis600]

@Clement Papa is very hard to capture the "real" sound something makes with a microphone (specially cheap ones). I can assure you that the GMMK Pro sounds great after these mods.