Free tool · no sign-up
Mechanical keyboard sound simulator
Type the line below to hear real switch recordings, from Cherry MX Blues to Holy Pandas and an IBM Model M. Pick a switch below and listen to how it sounds under your own fingers.
the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
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Hear two switches back to back
Choose two switches and press play. Each one types the same sentence at the same pace, so the only difference is the sound.
The switches
Linear, tactile, clicky or vintage
Mechanical switches fall into a few families, and each has its own sound. Tap any switch to load it into the simulator.
Linear
10 switchesSmooth all the way down. Deep, round thock.
Also in the app: MX Red (ABS), MX Black (PBT), Gateron Black Ink, Gateron Red Ink, Tealios, MX Black (Studio)
Tactile
5 switchesA bump you can hear. The everyday favourite.
Also in the app: MX Brown (ABS), MX Brown (Studio)
Clicky
5 switchesCrisp, bright, unmistakable.
Also in the app: MX Blue (ABS), Alps Blue, MX Blue (Studio)
Vintage
1 switchThe springs your parents typed on.
What makes each switch sound different
Linear switches such as the Cherry MX Red, MX Black, NovelKeys Cream and Alpaca go straight down with no bump. Most of what you hear is the stem hitting the bottom of the switch and the keycap meeting the plate, so they sound deeper and rounder. Heavier springs, like the MX Black’s, give a slower, more deliberate rhythm.
Tactile switches such as the MX Brown and Holy Panda have a bump partway down. The bump adds a small scratch or tick before the bottom-out, which gives each press more texture. Holy Pandas have a much sharper bump than Browns, and a louder, snappier sound to match.
Clicky switches such as the MX Blue and Kailh Box Navy add a click mechanism that snaps on every press. They are bright and loud, which is great for satisfaction and less great in a shared office.
Topre and buckling spring are their own thing. Topre uses a rubber dome under a spring for a muted, cushioned thock. The IBM Model M’s buckling spring pings and clacks with a sound many people still call the best keyboard ever made.
Keycaps matter too. Thicker PBT keycaps sound lower and duller, while thinner ABS keycaps sound higher and a bit more hollow. That is why the app includes both versions of several Cherry MX switches.
Not sure where to start? Try the MX Brown for an all-rounder, the Cream for a smooth thock, or the MX Blue if you want everyone to know you are working. Then read our guide to making your Mac keyboard sound mechanical.
FAQ
Questions
Is the keyboard sound simulator free?
Yes. It runs in your browser with no sign-up and no download. Type on your own keyboard or tap the keys on screen.
Are these real switch recordings?
Yes. Every sound is a recording of a real switch, adapted from the open-source Mechvibes and kbsim projects. The Cherry MX switches have a separate recording for each key, so Space sounds different from Q.
Which switch sounds the loudest?
Clicky switches like the Cherry MX Blue and Kailh Box Navy are the loudest, because a click mechanism snaps on every press. The IBM Model M buckling spring is loud too. Linear switches like the MX Red are the quietest.
What is the difference between MX Blue, Brown and Red?
MX Blue is clicky: a sharp, high click on each press. MX Brown is tactile: a soft bump with no click, so it sounds quieter. MX Red is linear: smooth all the way down, with a lower, rounder sound. Use the A/B comparison above to hear them back to back.
Can I hear these sounds while typing in any app on my Mac?
Yes. That is what Keytock does. It plays these switch sounds system-wide as you type in any app, from a small menu bar app. It costs $2.99 once, with no subscription.
Does the simulator record what I type?
No. Everything happens in your browser. Nothing you type is stored or sent anywhere.
Hear it in every app, not just this page.
Keytock plays these switches system-wide as you type on your Mac, from a tiny menu bar app. $2.99 once. Two Macs. Every update.