WHAT DO O-RINGS DO TO YOUR MECHANICAL KEYBOARD?

[@brandoncorn1544]

His hands are fatigued because he types with two fingers. Lol!

[@spoool]

nice!

[@winstonpoplin]

Dont we all.

[@limitisillusion7]

Turns out I'm not the worst typist. Then again, I still can't use my pinkies. That shits like learning a new language

[@k.4753]

@@limitisillusion7 I suggest you try www.keybr.com/ it helped me a lot.

[@jordanjones6408]

HAHA oh my god you're so funny you should be a stand up comedian

[@itsacopy]

Thanks for showing the noise level in the screen. For me it's the best way to perceive the difference in a video!

[@TheManicGeek]

Good feedback, I'll try to incorporate that in to more of my keyboard content where it's practical to do so!

[@Vospi]

Except amplitude scale of the sound sometimes has very, very little to do with LUFS scale (perceived loudness, which actually matter and what we're trying to measure) and also is non-linear. I'm yet to see a single non-sound related video that understands it at all. Spikes do not equal "really loud sounds", believe it or not. For a number of reasons. And we don't have to account for that ourselves, cause we have the LU standard, but alas.

[@brandoncashion]

oh wow. Very cool. Had no idea this was a product option. Thanks for sharing

[@TheManicGeek]

Not a problem! I may actually just get the other set of o-rings and do a full suite of testing on whatever keyboard I get in with them to see if either option is viable, or if the keyboard is fine without them; that way all the bases are covered.

[@willwastaken]

I highly recommend a wrist rest. I wanted one about a year ago but never actually got one because it's just more money. I now have severe, painful RSI in both my wrists. My wrists crack on every movement, and I likely have carpel tunnel syndrome too. Anyone reading this, take precautions. You never know when it'll affect you.

[@TheManicGeek]

I think that may all depend on the individual and their seating arrangement. In my case my chair and desk are aligned properly enough that I don't really have issues with keeping my hands in the right position, but if your situation requires it then it's absolutely worth the investment.

[@willwastaken]

@@TheManicGeek Do you think I'll be able to recover from the RSI with a wrist rest?

[@TheManicGeek]

@@willwastaken I'm certainly not an expert by any means, but based on what I know from my fiancé who has RA a wrist rest will only help if you aren't still applying pressure with your wrists while typing. The goal is to avoid pronation with your wrists and keep the back of your hand level with your arms as you type, and if the level of your desk v your chair coupled with your arm and upper body dimensions indicates that a wrist rest will help then yeah that could be a fix for you. Ultimately I'd still see a medical professional to see what they have to say on the matter since they may even know some exercises or stretches that could help you heal more effectively.

[@willwastaken]

@@TheManicGeek Thanks for that, I really appreciate the response. I'll take your advice and get it looked at. I'll also get a 2.5cm tall wrist rest. Thanks again!

[@Kriptonyan]

It's not as high pitched as it was before the O Rings. Thanks for the video. Live long and prosper.

[@someguy9520]

It heavily depends on the orings themselves. Like 1mm vs 2mm and softer vs harder rubber You could go for 2mm really hard rubber so the bottom out doesn't feel as mushy/vague, but still shorter travel and vastly improved silence

[@TheNetzspannung]

That's right. I installed 1mm on Razer Green switches and absolutely hated them, they made the kbd feel vague and mushy. Removed them and tried 2mm, bingo, much better and firmer bottom out, perfect for my needs

[@mleise8292]

@@TheNetzspannung What hardness grade did you get? 70 A?

[@TheNetzspannung]

@@mleise8292 Well, they were not marked so I don't know. I now stopped using them at all, got me some PBT caps and I just enjoy the noise.

[@mleise8292]

@@TheNetzspannung 😌

[@ΝίκοςΖησιμόπουλος-ψ9υ]

4:10 nice nails

[@Jason-kh5vy]

it wasnt him tho rip

[@EjayT06]

Ikr lol

[@TheManicGeek]

I mean you all do realize I literally mentioned I got my partner to do some of the typing tests AND labeled them as being from her, right?

[@ΝίκοςΖησιμόπουλος-ψ9υ]

@@TheManicGeek lol why r u replying after 7 months

[@TheManicGeek]

@@ΝίκοςΖησιμόπουλος-ψ9υ for the same reason everyone else seems to keep commenting on an ancient video of mine regarding a detail everyone seems to miss x-D.

[@finnk1289]

8:04 "Add that little bit of extra personalization to a device that otherwise is pretty standard" You clearly haven't explored the depths of the mechanical keyboard community.

[@TheManicGeek]

At the time no, I hadn't, but this video wasn't for someone who is already a keyboard enthusiast that spends hundreds of dollars on their boards. ClEaRlY hAvEn'T eXpLoReD tHe DePtHs lol get that tone out of my comments section.

[@finnk1289]

@@TheManicGeek Lol didn't mean it to have a negative tone. also I quite like mechs but my budget is very strict, even still I'm getting a very niche board.

[@TheManicGeek]

Thanks very much for clarifying! Tone is something that's difficult to convey online, and I often misinterpret based on past experiences. Yeah the über custom boards just don't strike me as a particularly good value for what it is you get, diminishing returns and all that. That's not to say they're next-level refined, but the cost to get that is hard to convey to my typical audience. That said I'm having a LOT of fun with my GMMK-TKL, which is sort of on the high end of what I would consider to be a strong balance of artisan refinement/potential and value to the typical consumer. What board are you considering?

[@finnk1289]

@@TheManicGeek I'm looking at the SK61 60%. An optical switch GK61 with RGB, programmability, nice PBT keycaps, all for $60usd. Gateron optical Browns of course

[@TheManicGeek]

A fine choice 👌🏼

[@TR3SP4SSER]

How is your spacebar sound soooooo freaking good man..

[@keokio7]

i work on the computer all day, i press so many keystrokes that the joints in my fingers are starting to hurt. I'm hope these will ease that. I could feel the pain in my joint everytime I bottom out. Just built my own keyboard and the switches are connected to a brass plate. Looks good but its like typing on concrete when you bottom out the keys.

[@TheManicGeek]

Silent switches may also be a good choice if you prefer full travel length for your switches: they have silicone inserts in the slide rails that cushion bottom-out, leaving rhe switch quieter and softer to type on but without altering total travel. If you like tactile switches, TTC Bluish Whites are a really nice option in that arena 👌🏼.

[@overthinker8807]

my right ear enjoyed this video

[@profosist]

They make it better, always!

[@joeswanson9008]

Not always they sometime make a switch feel mushy which most don’t like

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIlIIlIlIlIlIl]

2:24 I don’t know what’s worse, the dirt or the Mx browns..

[@producedbybrxzzy4358]

Wouldn’t these also eliminate that springy sound on some switches?

[@TheManicGeek]

Depending on when during switch travel the sound occurred yes, that is a possibility. If it occurs earlier on in travel then the blue o-rings might be a getter idea than the red ones, which are thinner and won't reduce total travel as much.

[@profosist]

Oh and for reference the thinner orings are designed for shorter profile keycaps like Cherry/GMK and SP (Signature Plastics) as .4 might not allow them to actuate properly.

[@TheManicGeek]

That's kinda why I want both sets of o-rings, so I can verify functionality on a keyboard and relate personal impressions on what they do if they do technically work.

[@teebu]

great video and good explanations. a bit lengthy though.

[@mstalcup]

Background music during a sound test?

[@TheManicGeek]

Yeah this was a very early video in my exploration of peripherals. Didn't really think about it at the time.

[@bertuj]

i'm a literall keyboard warrior lmao , i'm that guy you hate in your discord-server . i ordered some of these rings to make my friends life better , that's all .

[@meepcheep314]

do the o rings work for gateron optical browns?

[@TheManicGeek]

Yeah they should work fine, so long as your o-ring aren't so thick that they interfere with the actuation point of the switch. Total stem travel on those is 4 mm with actuation distance at 2 mm, so as long as your o-rings of choice don't exceed 2 mm of thickness (they won't) then you're good to go. The thicker the o-ring the shorter the switch's total travel distance, and the hardness of the o-ring determines how soft or firm bottom-out is.

[@rayhanrani3857]

1:01 my man said wasdee keyboards lmao, thanks for the funny content

[@TheManicGeek]

I was so young, so naive.

[@damnjustassignmeone]

Thanks, very helpful

[@adamcbrewer]

Well explained, thanks!

[@TheManicGeek]

Glad you liked it! I'm probably gonna get the other set of o-rings as well and use those on all keyboard reviews that come through.

[@__chroma__8660]

woah that space bar tho.... really nice

[@krypticz2191]

gotta love that bitwit merch

[@TheManicGeek]

Lol yeah, haven't gotten any of his new stuff recently tho, might have to change that soon-ish.

[@edwardyeung5475]

Is there a blue tint from the o rings when the rgb is on

[@TheManicGeek]

Nope, all you see is whatever light color you programmed.

[@grilledcateggs6389]

If silence is a big deal for you, get them, I think they dilute the ‘feeling’

[@jt6744]

what keyboard is that

[@stego4617]

love your vids!

[@jackhutchings2507]

Should have done a slow timelaps where you removed the keycaps

[@TheManicGeek]

I can consider that in the b-roll next time! This was the first time doing any content of the sort so any constructive feedback is appreciated 🤙🏼🍻

[@hehehefjjddj6899]

What does o ring do. I heard about if you have Huo Ji keyboard with the silver plate O rings is good because it Dosent it the plate then and without o rings it’s gonna hit the plate but what does o rings do

[@TheManicGeek]

Watch the video and find out what they do ;-)

[@hehehefjjddj6899]

The Manic Geek it just maked it more silent

[@ExtremeExtolling]

All you got to do to remove a keycap is to infuriate a grizzly bear then try to give him a reach around as you whisper the life cycle of a salmon into its ear.

[@TheManicGeek]

Feasible.

[@aspryin]

maybe switch to cherry mx CLEAR for a stronger "bump" than normal browns.. still "not clicky"

[@asteroidhare6680]

Can they go on your joystick?

[@TheManicGeek]

Technically they can, sure, provided they're the right size.

[@asteroidhare6680]

@@TheManicGeek ok thanks

[@thebasmentdwellers7153]

Wasd W A S D

[@jackhutchings2507]

Also btw get some pbt keycaps they don't shine when you use them as much :)

[@TheManicGeek]

LOL this video is a bit in the old side for me. My knowledge on mechanical keyboards has expanded pretty dramatically and now I refuse to use ABS keycaps on my main keyboards as a matter of personal preference. The keyboard used here, which is still in use at my test bed, is old and kinda not the greatest so I'm not really investing anything in to it presently. I just need it to work x-)

[@jackhutchings2507]

@@TheManicGeek Yeah I see, and I thought the production value was good on this video definitely checking out the rest of the channel now ;)

[@flux8151]

Are PBT keycaps a deeper sounding choice? That is if they are the same profile such as OEM or others.

[@itze_]

Why does it shortens the travel distance?

[@TheManicGeek]

BC there's a physical interface between the inside of the cap and top of the switch housing now that wasn't there before. Normally the stem will bottom out prior to the cap interfering with the stem housing, but with the o-ring installed it gets sort of smashed between the two now, which causes premature bottom-out which makes the "clack" sound they are trying to combat. If you use an extremely thin o-ring it may not do that, but at that point what you really wanted was a silent switch lol but that's just me. What these don't combat is stem rebound, which with a heavy enough spring and right top housing/stem material will still be quite loud.

[@itze_]

Oooh now I see it. I though they would only help by being a large and soft mass to dampen the sound of the key cap.

[@itze_]

Now I see how hard putting foam inside my caps to cancel the chamber effect will be. I don't want it to touch the switches

[@itze_]

And hollyyy what a fast response. Thank you

[@RyanYiMa]

Just realized, that shirt is from Bitwit.

[@TheManicGeek]

Yis! I came up on Kyle's content so that's one of the channels I frequently try to support.

[@kumo9988]

Thank lord I decided to stop eating dinner as soon as he showed me that nasty keyboard

[@TheManicGeek]

I feel like you're kink-shaming someone

[@KonvoyChief]

If you're going to review other keyboards please improve your typing first. Appreciate you giving your missus a go at it because some people just have heavy fingers.

[@TheManicGeek]

My typing has little impact on a standard keyboard review. My typing would impact something like a review of an Ergodox, Dygma Raise, or something along those lines since I can't be bothered to re-learn home row typing. I'm too impatient for that. Besides this video wasn't a keyboard review, just talking about what o-rings do to a keyboard. I'm gonna be making more videos like this in the future tho, so you should probably prepare for more of my terrible typing lol.

[@relpis9304]

why is his typing skills so important ? wtf

[@TheManicGeek]

@@relpis9304 for some people they want the perspective of someone who types with appropriate use of the home row keys for perspective relative to how they would use the keyboard. My perspective will be from the POV of someone who isn't a professional typist or data entry specialist, which is likely to be the vast majority of my audience.

[@jessicasoho1778]

i forgot i have a membrane keyboard, why did i search this

[@TheManicGeek]

I mean there's nothing wrong with learning about a thing prior to getting in to it :-)

[@jessicasoho1778]

@@TheManicGeek idk if ill get one, everything is expensive i just have a 2 dollar budget

[@TheManicGeek]

@@jessicasoho1778 Story of my GD life x-D

[@kumo9988]

His keyboard do be dusty though

[@Michael-qi8tt]

Desk dust AF no hate

[@TheManicGeek]

Yeah that old space was extremely dusty due to us needing to have the window open frequently for airflow through the room, FeltBadMan.

[@hexxaa]

bruh clean that damn keyboard once every 4 months at least

[@TheManicGeek]

Lol yeah I metlntioned it'd been a while since I'd cleaned it. It's not my daily driver anymore; the soft touch plastics cling to hair and dust like a magnet.

[@lalshortshot2051]

I use dampness of my clipped stabs because it stops the bottomi g out of the keycap

[@TheManicGeek]

I may try that with my GMMK-TKL, stabs are poop dookie at stock.

[@Vchan21]

Now i see thermal paste as some kind of special lube

[@TheManicGeek]

You mean it isn't?

[@hxxv0]

@@TheManicGeek wait what? 😱😂😂😂

[@allan652]

welp i just bought o ring for like 0,7 dollar gonna arrive in 4 days

[@TheManicGeek]

Not a bad price of they do what they're supposed to do! What thickness did you get and for what board?

[@1yon]

What ru doin in my swamp

[@TheManicGeek]

Playing in the mud is fun

[@noquality3587]

6 bucks for puller XDDDD

[@TheManicGeek]

If you're scoffing at the price then it's not for you. If you can find a better price on one then that's awesome, or if your keyboard came with one then so much the better!

[@youngsandpaper6879]

I don't understand why people buy mechanical keyboards to get rid of the rubber then buy o-rings and put the rubber back in. Also those switches have 4 mm of travel which is the average amount. It sounds like he doesn't even like mechanical keyboards.

[@TheManicGeek]

You should maybe watch some of my newer content and check the date on this video. I thoroughly enjoy mechanical keyboards, and this was all part of a learning process that occurs when a product isn't bespoke to everyone automatically. O-rings very much hold a place in the mechanical keyboard world. Some folks want reduced travel distance without interfering with switch actuation, or else they are very heavy-handed typists who want to avoid harsh bottom-out. It sounds like if someone doesn't do something your way then they're wrong.

[@youngsandpaper6879]

@@TheManicGeek I think some of my opinion comes from how I like building keyboards and that whole community is way different than the average person and most people would be fine with something like this

[@TheManicGeek]

@@youngsandpaper6879 that's fair, sure. Seriously though check out some of my newer stuff, I've learned a shitload about keyboards since this video went live. I actually want to update this content because it's horribly outdated and I have a stronger sense of where these do and don't make sense. I now consider these more "training wheels" for learning proper typing technique if you have a bad habit (like I do) of bottoming out and hurting your hands in the process.

[@youngsandpaper6879]

@@TheManicGeek I checked out some of your newer videos and your right you have moved on a lot

[@TheManicGeek]

I'm still gonna be coveringore mainstream options as well as pre-builts, but the custom coverage is gonna be hitting hard. Got a GMMK Pro build I'll be doing, then a Portico build with Everglide Crystal Violet switches, and possibly later on this year I'm gonna do an Ortho build as well. Leaning towards the Preonic rn but always open to suggestions if they include a num row.

[@altti3204]

4:21yi those fingers

[@TheManicGeek]

Yup, they're fingers. I had my fiancé type some to indicate what the keyboard should sound like from someone who types properly, unlike myself since I tend to bottom out pretty frequently.

[@breathless430]

4:00

[@tronplays8651]

buy a membrane keyboard for her and boom your problems fixed

[@TheManicGeek]

She used a Kinesis Freestyle 2. For membrane switches they are some of the most comfortable switches I have ever encountered on a keyboard for general use typing. Even using a board with Kailh Speed Silvers presently I'm a bit jealous.

[@tronplays8651]

@@TheManicGeek since you dont like the loud noise u can also try slient switches??

[@TheManicGeek]

@@tronplays8651 the noise doesn't inherently bother me, more the misses. It's more the tactile bump and actuation force I have issues with. That being said I have some new hardware coming in to me that will allow me to test out a variety of different switches from the same keyboard, so in the future there will be more content covering switch types.

[@Arif11_]

at least not time consuming as lubing each one of your switch

[@TheManicGeek]

Oh it still consumes quite a bit of time, but in the context of lubing switches yes, it's a much faster process.

[@Arif11_]

@@TheManicGeekno pain no gain eventhough lubing cost so much time, the result is worth the effort.

[@ZekeMagnum]

should you do this instead of lubing maybe? the effect is about the same?

[@TheManicGeek]

@@ZekeMagnum well lubrication still needs to take place eventually since nearly all lubricants I know of break down and can influence the switches ability to move properly. That sort of thing can be really irritating and o-rings won't really fix that issue since the switch stem still has to travel down and up to do its thing.

[@Arif11_]

@@ZekeMagnum same effect is an understatement. eventhough i dont really understand it, lubing has much more effect than using o-ring because lubing is like making a modification on a switch than just putting an o-ring underneath the keycap.

[@barrybobert9294]

4mm is a long distance ya know???

[@flux8151]

That's what (HE) said

[@we0ijweoij]

2:24 omfg what the hell did u DO????

[@TheManicGeek]

Yes

[@bsiccs]

An air compressor and a brush is your friend.

[@TheManicGeek]

Ya know I still have this particular keyboard and it just never gets clean lmao. I think it may get a go on "From Scuff To Buff" and see if I can't make it a bit better... also soft touch plastics are always a terrible idea lol.

[@papabibo5]

Wozdy keyboard lmao

[@TheManicGeek]

Lol you know what if they roll through here and correct me on the pronunciation I'll stop saying it... but I don't see any periods in between letters so that shit says "wozdy" x-D

[@ryaneckl8579]

Waz D lol

[@TheManicGeek]

I'm glad I could entertain you. For the record, I confirmed with the company that while it IS pronounced "W A S D" they don't really care either way, you knew what I was talking about x-p

[@Mikey-uo1ij]

why does this music have a sound that sounds like a phone vibration bruuuuhhh

[@FrozenScale]

Press 3

[@TheManicGeek]

3

[@djspencer7779]

Ouch you really need to clean that board

[@djspencer7779]

Atleast you cleaned it!

[@TheManicGeek]

LOL there's little chance of that board remaining clean where I live (soft touch plastics). Lots of dust everywhere regardless of how well we clean, our house is kinda old x-p. Plus I've "ascended" in terms of keyboard gear so I may redo this kind of video once I sort out my inventory and deciclde what I want to keep and what needs to go.

[@ponderingfox]

Oh man, that was nasty. Ha, wonder what mine looks like.

[@TheManicGeek]

Lol if it's been a minute probably not great. I should probably do some videos on cleaning and refurbishing older keyboards, especially the ones with that awful soft-touch plastic that catches every particle of dust ever.

[@ponderingfox]

@@TheManicGeek I recently picked up some o-rings to quiet down my clackety blue switches. Every little bit helps.

[@TheManicGeek]

So what those will do with a clicky switch: you won't have that "clack" from bottom-out, but you will still have the audible "click" from the click jacket doing it's thing, and you will still have the stem rebound noise when it returns to rest. Those switches can never truly be quiet, but they can certainly be more refined.

[@ponderingfox]

@@TheManicGeek True true.

[@Samuelsp579]

Did he say as* or as

[@TheManicGeek]

Yes

[@dtminifun]

wow thats a dirty desk!

[@TheManicGeek]

Sure is!

[@_aw2001]

wos d

[@TheManicGeek]

Wild

[@sethagastya]

Dude lube the damn thing... It would sound much better

[@TheManicGeek]

This keyboard isn't worth lubing tbh. Just needed it to work at the time and that's not changed now: I just use the board for my test bed or as a backup if something goes wrong with my GMMK-TKL.

[@minhyukwoke]

2:34 um

[@TheManicGeek]

TBH same

[@clintonleonard5187]

0:22 Ew, ABS plastic. I will never use ABS keycaps again.

[@TheManicGeek]

Lol typically same, but I've been eyeballing some double-shot SA caps that are ABS and look super legit. Might give them a shot for some future content.

[@clintonleonard5187]

@@TheManicGeek That is the only real advantage of ABS, the legends can look super clean. But the shiny look after a while makes me avoid them.

[@TheManicGeek]

@@clintonleonard5187 I'm still waiting for that scenario in which that's a desired trait. Maybe the MT3 profile is the one?

[@clintonleonard5187]

@@TheManicGeek MT3 is my grail keycap profile. But I don't want to spend over $100 on keycaps, lol. But yeah, since they are designed to look like old IBM workstations they might look good with the ABS look.

[@viniciuscalvet545]

4:02 Nice male finger nails.

[@TheManicGeek]

That was my female partner, which was stated just before the typing test began.

[@Nick-vu2mr]

dont use a keycap puller like that, they scratch the paint on keycaps

[@pilotreg]

i'd recommend upgrading switches and the mounting system.

[@Bloodysugar]

Nah, that's "niche gamery features", nothing is better than a sandwich of o rings between dusty brown cherries and the greasy shine of ABS keys, that's the end game God tier. XD