Review: Sofle Split Mechanical Keyboard - build, encoders, choc switches. Full Review.
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- Опубликовано: 29 июн 2024
- Full Review of the Sofle Keyboard. This is a split, columnar layout keyboard you buy as a kit and can be built with hot swap MX or Choc switches.
But what is it like to build and own?
If this review is useful, please consider buying me a coffee. It really helps out with getting these videos made: ko-fi.com/benfrain
Chapters:
0:00 Beginning
0:39 Why Sofle?
1:11 Buy or build?
2:06 Cost
6:21 Up and running
7:58 What is it like?
15:40 Conclusion
Links:
The case I use: amzn.to/3lqAXth
Build guide: josefadamcik.github.io/SofleK...
OLED info: docs.splitkb.com/hc/en-us/art...
OLED image generator: docs.splitkb.com/hc/en-us/art...
My GitHub QMK with Sofle keymap: github.com/benfrain/qmk_firmw...
My blog: benfrain.com
You can find my web development books here: www.amazon.com/Ben-Frain/e/B0...
My video courses, including 'Ultimate Text Editing Productivity with Sublime Text':
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Such a good review. How there aren't more likes is beyond me. Direct, concise, and good camera angles when needed
Clean, concise review. Really liked it. I'm considering going down the rabbit hole of building a Sofle RGB with choc switches (first project), didnt find much info, so I found this review pretty helpful.
Thanks for this review - it helped me make the decision to purchase. I've not come across your channel before but I really appreciate your review style.
Thanks Tom, appreciate that 🙏
Thanks for the review. It helped me clarify a few aspects of this board that were not obvious in the reading I've done.
Glad it was helpful!
I very recently designed my own drop-in PCB replacement for the 65% EK68/GMK67 in KiCAD from scratch. Working on the KMK firmware customisations now to meet the needs of my board. Designing and receiving a completed board was great. Looks really nice and professional. I have two RGB circuits too: 66 RGB and a 2 RGB for status lights. Perhaps I'll get to splits eventually. The reason I did what I did, was the firmware on the mystery MPU was limiting with only 1 Fn layer. It's been a great experience but it can be pricey compared to a store bought basic job.
Really helpful review, thank you
Another great video Ben! I appreciate your take on it. I differ a bit myself in that I'd rather have a home-built board than the likes of a moonlander. I personally daily drive a Sweep which has no case - just the pcb with some rubber feet (comes to about 15mm from desk to top of keycaps). I love the minimalism of it. The Sofle has way too many keys for me - I am very happy using layers and combos with the 34 keys of the Sweep. The great thing in the world of keyboards is that there are so many options open to suit everybody. Keep making the videos, I really love them. I was genuinely excited to watch another Ben Frain video!
Thanks very much for the kind words. I do kind of envy the people that can get away with these tiny little boards - my mind just won’t adapt!!
But you are right, we have never had it better. Trouble is that means I’m typing on something different every month! 🤣
I'm starting down the rabbit hole myself and even looking at designing my own pcb but for now, just gone with a pre-built from Mechboards. I'm a software dev, mainly frontend too and looking at learning colemak to us on my new keyboard. I'm hoping that this will help with coding as Querty isn't designed for coding with 🙂. Great video again and look forward to more from you.
Let us know how you like it 👍
I very recently designed my own drop-in PCB replacement for the 65% EK68/GMK67 in KiCAD from scratch. Working on the KMK firmware customisations now to meet the needs of my board. Designing and receiving a completed board was great. Looks really nice and professional. I have two RGB circuits too: 66 RGB and a 2 RGB for status lights. Perhaps I'll get to splits eventually. The reason I did what I did, was the firmware on the mystery MPU was limiting with only 1 Fn layer. It's been a great experience but it can be pricey compared to a store bought basic job. I'd say go for it if your budget and time allows.
that's the nicest sofle I've ever seen, always bothered me how the other ones I see around are just the bare pcb, yours look amazing, looks like you got it done in a factory
Thanks but I dare say it doesn’t look quite so finished ‘in person’. There are some nice cases out there though. Both printed and wooden. I might get to enclosing this one soon too 👍
Thank you for your review, I was not sure if took a corne or a sofle.
I had my doubts on the rotary encoder, seems like less is more on this one. I'll take the crkbr.
You bought some of them? I'm lookin to buy one, and I searched for both (corne and sofle), the corne look good with only 3 rows, but it looks really thick, that would be a big downside to it. And I didnt liked the rotary on the sofle.
Looked at this a while back, love the super flat design and layout. But as you say the pre-built splits are almost the same cost in the end.
Idk. Building then seem like half the cost. Kinesis 360 pro is $450. About 400 for the Dygma. Moonlanders aren’t cheap either.
Your points on the rotary encoders are interesting, because that's why I'm here. You seemed to mark them against the Sofle, but I'd argue you made a great case in support of this keyboard as completely unique.
First, your description of three button patterns - clockwise keypress, counterclockwise keypress, and stalk press - is more input density that having keys in those slots, giving the whole keyboard +4 inputs without needing additional sockets.
Second, depending on the sampling frequency and handling of the rotary encoder input in QMK the speed/precision of the rotary encoders can be handled. The repeated press behavior is higher level than I was expecting.
Third, you could use the rotary encoders to cycle layers on each half of the keyboard, or double up with layers, ala Satisfactory loadout wheels. I'm planning on screens for info readout and an RGB flavor of Sofle to indicate layers/filters with colors as I get used to it.
I briefly looked for QUAD rotary encoder boards. I'm an engineer, leave me alone.
I like the idea of them but practically a key with tap dance is more flexible. Still four possible inputs and you are not locked into that spot having an encoder. But I’m curious how you find them and if your plan for them works out. Would you mind updating here when you have done it and used them a little?
@@benfrainuk Will do! It may be quite some time, but I had hopes for them with motors and other knob-intuitive inputs.
Great review as always. Do you have a link for the keyboard case? I have a softer myself and have been using literally a tied down rubber to transport it lol
Yes, sure, it’s this one: amzn.to/3lqAXth
Do a review on Charybdis Mini. It is a wireless version with trackball integrated. All in one basically.
what do you think after spending some time with Kinesis 360?
Hey, cool video. I find myself hitting 2-3 keys using thise keycaps and switches, I went back to MX switches as keys are more separated. I also solved my Corne with big battery yet very slim 3d printed case. But I wanred to ask you, is linear encoder any better? Ever tested?
Never tried the linear encoders. As far as I know, they work just the same way as the rotary ones
Can one switch the rotary encoder with something like a joystick?
Nice video! I've a Redox from Falbatech, really happy with the layout. What about the thumb "cluster"?
Wow. Don’t know how but I’ve never come across Falba. The bamboo cases really appeal. How do you find it?
The middle key of moonlander thumb clusters is never used and I find just the one thumb key in the right position on the Sofle is great. Have to double up elsewhere but not really an issue.
I was thinking about getting a low profile Sofle from Falba, so I have the same doubt as Ben, how do you find it? Is it robust? Or does it give the same filling that Ben is commenting for his home built Sofle?
Also, I am not sure about the Falba casing for a low profile, since it looks like the thumb key may be difficult to press. All other fingers attack the key from above, but thumbs -at least mine- come from the side of the key. Falba's cases seem to preclude a nice pressing dynamics, or at least they seem to force your thumb to impact against the casing, which does not seem superb either. I will be happy for any comment that anyone can make on that respect.
I got my Falba second hand. The quality it's pretty good. If my redox will break I would buy another one from them.
Of the 4 thumb key on each side I basically only use the bottom 2s ... But I think this is the bare minimum for me.
I would like to try the kyria .... looks nice.
Note on the cost. It depends where you live.
In india: Making the Soufle costs around $100 maximum.
Importing something like the Voyager, would cost me $400 or more with Shipping and Import taxes.
What do you think of the Sofle vs the Voyager? Both in terms of key layout, and build quality?
Sofle gives you more options layout wise. I need arrow keys for example, and that means a layer switch with the Voyager. However, build quality is completely in favour of the Voyager. Incredibly well made and solid feeling. The Sofle is far more fragile.
So if you would have to choose between low choch switches and regular ones, which one do you prefer?
I know this sounds like a cop-out but I like both for different reasons and tend to do a few months with one and then a few months with the other
By any chance are there also eink displays? As I think that is perfectly enough for battery info or even layer info. While also not draining battery at all.
I have e-ink displays on one of my keyboards but they aren’t great. Refresh is too slow to be genuinely useful. Not tried a nice!view though. Would be curious to know if they are any better
@@benfrainuk I see
Which nvim plugin shows those rainbow dots when you jump to a line?
gen740/SmoothCursor.nvim 👍
There's a couple of places online that will make you a sofle. Wonder if they're any more robust.
Can you make the encoder into a mouse? One side for horizontal the other for vertical?
I would imagine so but think you’d be better off actually adding a trackpoint
the advantage360 costs almost 700€ in Germany so I have no choice but to make one myself
At what point did you start c programming? Are you talking about flashing the development board?
No, don’t do C programming.
Sorry, you said keymap in c. 😊
@@dusteye1616the config in QMK is C code. I don’t personally program in C, just fumble through writing the config
@@benfrainuk well done. C is hard
Are you able to have layers with the Sofle?
Yes. Both QMK and ZMK (if you do a wireless build) support layers 👍
Great Video overall, but I don't understand your problem with the robustness of the keyboard. Firstly, the screws on the acryllic display covers are not tightened down, probably because your standoffs are too short and the cover is bent up by the display below. Simple solution, just put in higher standoffs and tighten the screws, and if you're really worried about tightening the screws on the acrylic too much, just use a bit of loctite. I just throw my corne into my backpack and nothing ever has come lose.
Then regarding your statement on the economics of building it your on your own, if you start from scratch and factor in all the upfront investments (e.g. soldering iron etc) then yes, it's probably not economical at all. But if you plan ahead and only need to order from one or two stores, or even buy a full kit, you can get away pretty cheap compared to prebuilt split keyboards (such as dygma, moonlander, ergodox which are all 300+ EUR). I just built a wireless corne for a friend with a full kit I bought, only missing thing were the switches, and I came out at 105EUR including optional upgrades like plate foam and higher quality hotswap sockets. If I'd gone with the bare minimum (I'd consider rp2040 with usb-c bare minimum) with a wired corne that would have come out at 80EUR with switches and shipping already included.
If you on the other go around different shops and buy the cheapest parts in many different shops, the shipping will easy rack up your cost to unreasonably high levels. The same with not having a full plan before ordering and forgetting multiple parts.
No. Wasn’t shipping. Got it all from the U.K. Using chocs and choc keycaps were the biggest single item costs. Granted, if you went with mx switches and a $20 set of caps it would significantly reduce the outlay
You can buy clones for $3 for the micro pro
Yes, I know a lot of people opt for those from aliexpress and the like but I read enough reports of them failing and being poorly made that it put me off. There is enough potential for failure with my soldering skills so need to give myself the best chance of success 🤣
Use thread locker luke.
Does this work on Mac?
Yes, works everywhere
@@benfrainuk thank you so much ☺️
"Theres no instructions, you need to follow the build guide"
huh?
josefadamcik.github.io/SofleKeyboard/build_guide.html 👍
@@benfrainuk The build guide would BE the instructions
I can’t stand the clics of low profile switches
there is low profile switches without clicks
Hello , in my opinion, you talk too, I want see the keyboard, 70% impression on the keyboard 30 video on keyboard. Sorry strictly business
Just watch a different video then, it’s not a commercial, it’s a review