Alps Appreciation

[Redmaus]

I use this one myself:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Max-Keyboard-St ... 1661571073

[E3E]

I use plastic key pullers for Alps as wire pullers such as those can gouge and damage the bottoms of particularly tight fitting key caps in ways far worse than any plastic puller.

[HzFaq]

I find the ring pullers are actually pretty good for alps, for whatever reason the wire ones don't seem to work as well. The Matias "H" puller is pretty good as well

[fohat]

I prefer this kind:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1X-Mechanical-K ... SwJkJWkxFu

to ordinary ring pullers because it narrows down to get into tight places better. Also, the hole is bigger and my finger fits in it better.

But for pulling 1-piece caps, I generally like the wire ones. The plastic ones are particularly good for NMB Hi-Teks.

[jacobolus]

Key pullers are terrible for Alps switches/keycaps. Those plastic ones especially aren’t tough enough. A pair of butter knives is the best tool I know.

[Mattr567]

Key pullers are terrible for Alps switches/keycaps. Those plastic ones especially aren’t tough enough. A pair of butter knives is the best tool I know.

Wire keypullers work great for me. The one I use is the mechanicalkeyboards.com branded one.

[Chyros]

Key pullers are terrible for Alps switches/keycaps. Those plastic ones especially aren’t tough enough. A pair of butter knives is the best tool I know.

Wire keypullers work great for me. The one I use is the mechanicalkeyboards.com branded one.

I use wire pullers too, works a treat. I got 3 for £2 shipped from China, great deal xD .

[E3E]

Ya know, I tend to describe Alps SKCM Blue switches in a quality plastic-cased keyboard as sounding a lot like the pleasant rumbly sound you get when you shake a cereal box.

After just hearing some more buckling spring typing videos, I have to say those remind me of someone crushing soda cans.

[fohat]

hearing some .... typing videos

Videos never sound anything like the real world to me, and sound is strictly a secondary characteristic, anyway.

[Muirium]

I rate sound higher than that. But we're agreed on how hard it is to capture well. Simply sticking a microphone (let alone a holding a phone) near the board while typing doesn't do it justice. Too many variables.

[Chyros]

Indeed, this is why I use a different camera for my typing demos. The visuals are super crap, but it's good at picking up long-range sounds and actually captures the sound very faithfully.

I've included typing demos in my videos from the start because to me sound is a major factor. I'm a crap typist and don't actually type faster on mechanicals. I use mechs because I like the feel, the sound, and the look - hence why I discuss both of them in my reviews.

It's also why I like Alps, especially blue Alps, so much. They just sound amazing. It's a pleasure to listen to.

[seebart]

I've included typing demos in my videos from the start because to me sound is a major factor.

Yes and it's a very important part of your videos. I've only made a couple sound and image recordings which are pretty worthless in conveying the sound of the particular keyboard. I'm pretty sure it would be major work for me to produce something better, I could try to shoot a video with my DSLR though. Might be worth a try.

[Chyros]

I've included typing demos in my videos from the start because to me sound is a major factor.

Yes and it's a very important part of your videos. I've only made a couple sound and image recordings which are pretty worthless in conveying the sound of the particular keyboard. I'm pretty sure it would be major work for me to produce something better, I could try to shoot a video with my DSLR though. Might be worth a try.

Don't mess around too much with expensive cameras. Often they're not made to capture the kind of sound a keyboard makes. In fact they might filter it out. If anything try something cheap (that's not a phone camera - they don't do long-range at all). Try a webcam if you have one!

[Muirium]

Jesus Jumping Christo. A cheaper camera? For sound? Why not a better mic!

Here's some old typing recordings of mine. All with the same shiny (and sub $100) Samson Meteor Microphone. I didn't have video shooting hardware back then so pardon the slideshows!

NMB with clicky black space invaders:

My MX green custom 60%:

SSK:

One of my many projects is to update and wiki all this stuff. I love a good typing video, because although they don't ultimately capture the fullness of the sound, they allow apples to apples comparisons which is the next best thing.

[seebart]

I only have my DSLR or my phone! I've never tried the DSLR video function though. I'm not sure if it even has a mic? Videos are a hell of a lot of work IMO. I'll leave that to you Chyros, but it would be nice to have some typing demos of my older keyboards as they're very different from anything AT or XT 'ish.

Hmm not bad Mu, I had forgotten about your videos since Chyros TV gets all my attention these days. Consistency is the key I believe. Same desk, same recording conditions and same typing speed or it's pretty worthless for judging the sound.

[itzmeluigi]

Just for lols, all are SKCL Green.


Theres two more on the shelf that arnt pictured and i plan on getting more

[bocahgundul]

Just for lols, all are SKCL Green.


Theres two more on the shelf that arnt pictured and i plan on getting more

bro where did you managed to find all this green alps?

share the love pls

[itzmeluigi]

Got lucky I might sell one or two soon, i will know for sure in 9 days

[bocahgundul]

ugh do let me know cause there is always room for more alps board

[Blaise170]

I'll also have full access to my Japan shipment in the next 9 days. They arrived at my parents' house but I don't live there so... I will be visiting soon though.

[seebart]

I'll also have full access to my Japan shipment in the next 9 days. They arrived at my parents' house but I don't live there so... I will be visiting soon though.

I'd really like to see some pictures of your Japan haul!

[Blaise170]

Apparently the boxes got half destroyed... Hopefully the contents are not so bad!

[seebart]

Apparently the boxes got half destroyed... Hopefully the contents are not so bad!

Damn. Well let's hope for the best!

[E3E]

Apparently the boxes got half destroyed... Hopefully the contents are not so bad!

Oh goodness. D: I have a measly two keyboard grab from TaoBao, but one has been stuck in limbo in shipping to the agent for weeks.

I hope everything works out okay for your shipment, man.

[Blaise170]

In my experience, proxies usually overpack their stuff, so I'm not too worried. I got a board from Taobao layered in this order:

Bubblewrap
Box
Bubblewrap
Box
Bubblewrap
Keyboard

[lootbag]

Question for you ALPS experts.

I am planning on building an ALPS64 soon with linears and HHKB layout but have had no luck with finding green ALPS.
However, I have found Zeniths with yellow ALPS.

Will I be satisfied with yellows? Or maybe Matias linears instead of greens?

[bocahgundul]

Question for you ALPS experts.

I am planning on building an ALPS64 soon with linears and HHKB layout but have had no luck with finding green ALPS.
However, I have found Zeniths with yellow ALPS.

Will I be satisfied with yellows? Or maybe Matias linears instead of greens?

I think you will be satisfied by the yellow skcl alps

do you like heavier switches? then yellow alps is good to go

I'm no expert but I really love alps

[Blaise170]

I think Matias linears with the rubber dampeners removed feel very similar to Greens, but it is tedious to open up every switch.

[Tuntematon]

I think Matias linears with the rubber dampeners removed feel very similar to Greens, but it is tedious to open up every switch.

I am beginning to wonder how worthwhile green Alps are, considering the alternatives. I would think that switches like Matias linear and Gateron Yellow would be decent alternatives, with the advantage of being available new and cheap.

How do you like the super-light weighting of Matias linear and what is your impression of the leaf Matias implemented to enhance the linearity of the switch? I've been thinking of putting these in something, not sure what.

[jacobolus]

IMO a Matias linear switch is improved by swapping springs with a Matias clicky switch. (Indeed, both switches are improved that way.) The linear switch still ends up not quite stiff enough, but much closer to the right stiffness.