Dear House Andrews,

Here is a very quick video of the switches sound test. The switches used are in the description, if you would like any other sample switches sound tested, or have any other questions, let me know!

https://youtu.be/WqscsxtHOQE

The rosewood sounds were so good! Bummer that they were too light for you.

My keyboard (Aula F99 Pro) came with stock linear switches which sounded great, creamy and thocky, but were just way too mushy feel-wise. I couldn’t even rest my fingers on the keys without them starting to press down – no good. I’m looking for a creamy and thocky sound, and I want some noise when typing, but nothing that’s too clicky clacky or high pitched.

So I tried to focus my search on linear and tactile switches with a medium to medium-heavy actuation force. The 3 switches on the keyboard right now are Gazzew U4T (62g), Gazzew U4 (62g), and Gateron Oil King. The Gazzew are both tactile switches, the U4T gives off a nice deeper thocky sound, while the U4 is almost completely silent – it gives off a pleasant but muted thud. The tactile bump feels really good on both of them. If you like the rosewood sounds but want something with a little more resistance, you may enjoy the U4T. There is also a U4Tx which combines features and sound profiles from the U4 and the U4T but I did not order that sample (I’m kicking myself a little).

The Oil King is a linear switch buthas a 65g bottoming out force. It feels nice to type on, but I think 65g might be too heavy for the entire keyboard, and the sound isn’t quite what I’m looking for. I have the Oil King on the spacebar right now because I (apparently) bang my left thumb into the spacebar with much enthusiasm, and on the stock switch it would give off a loud hollow ping when the key bottomed out. The heavier spring weight takes the enthusiastic key presses like a champ and deadens the noise just enough.

Ultimately I think I will end up with the U4T on most keys, and put the silent U4 on the more pingy keys like the spacebar, backspace, control, enter keys, etc. My husband and I both liked the feel of the Gateron Baby Kangaroo, but it is a bit louder, and the sample switch I received is kind of scratchy and there is an intermittent twangy ping. Not sure if I just got a bad switch, or if they need lubing and filming, but I prefer the Gazzew switches anyway. I’m not home today but can try to take a short video of the sound test and post it tomorrow.

Sorry for the longwinded reply!

I love the Rosewood sound the best, but there is just not enough resistance in the switch. so now I am on a quest to find a rosewood-like sound with the right resistance. I still love the butters, but right now half of my keyboard is MMD Princess Tactile Switch 62g x90. I am still on the fence. I have more switches coming this Friday.

What switches did you install?

I’m in the process of modifying my keyboard and went down the same rabbit hole – soooo many sample switches (16!?) everywhere. There are currently 3 different switches installed on the same keyboard because I am having trouble deciding which one I like the most. 😂

Did you decide to go with the Rosewood, HMX Butter, or something else?

If you are still undecided and/or would like sound tests of the switches I’m trying out, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

What in the world?! I’m a HUGE IA fan, y’all are my favorite authors, and I cannot wait for more content, always….but it would never occur to me in a million, trillion years to ever think something like what this person posted, let alone *post* it online, knowing the author would likely see it. This commenter is clearly very unhappy and has a lot of misplaced anger.

I love reading IA blog posts, *especially* “slice of life” type posts like the keyboard one, which I really enjoyed. I hope that IA isn’t put off of posting similar blogs in future because of that sadly misguided commenter, and I hope that y’all aren’t too badly affected by their unkind words. Y’all are such kind and generous people, and have made such a difference in my life through your work—I re-read the Innkeeper Chronicles every time I’m going through a hard time, and they never fail to bring me comfort. They are my very favorite books.

Love you, IA! Please never stop being exactly who you are.