Here are some of the questions we are most frequently asked:
What are analog switches?
They are switches that can sense how far down a keyboard key is pressed and make some kind of meaningful movement from this information.
Can I just buy the analog switches from you?
The switches themselves are normal Cherry MX RGB switches. The analog capabilities come from a sensor mounted underneath the switches on the PCB.
Do the analog keys feel any different from the normal keyboard keys?
No, they do not feel any different because physically the switch is the same as any other mechanical switch. The sensors are not attached to the switches and no modifications are made to the switches, so there is no impact to the “feel” of the switch. You can choose if you want the analog functions to be active or not.
Where can I buy this amazing keyboard? How much?
We have recently partnered with Cooler Master to bring the first keyboard featuring Aimpad technology. The MK850 launched in Q1 of 2019. Our second product is the Cooler Master ControlPad, a sort of mini keyboard with 24 Analog keys used for gaming and creative professionals. It is expected to be available Summer 2020.
How is it possible to control games smoothly?
The games see the keyboard as an Xbox 360 controller. If the game supports an Xbox 360 controller then you can use 4 keyboard keys to control movement just like the left stick of an Xbox 360 controller. Speed is controlled by how far down the key is pressed. Direction is controlled by pressing two keys at the same time. Developers don’t need to specifically program for our keyboard, they just need to program for the Xbox 360 controller (which most do already).
What are some of the cool things you can do with analog keys?
Outside of the obvious gaming benefits of smooth control, there are several things you can do with analog keys. You can also smoothly control the mouse cursor and the speed of the mouse scroll wheel based off how far down the key is pressed. You can set the activation point of a keyboard key. You can assign multiple keystrokes to the same key so that if you press at the top of the key one keystroke will be sent, but if you press it in halfway another keystroke will be sent. You can set the color and brightness of RGB back lighting based off how far down the keys are pressed. You can control MIDI instruments and CC panels. This is just a small example of some of the things that can be done with this new input dimension.