SK61 Keyboard Review: an Overview

Introduction

The SK61 Keyboard is a 61-key keyboard that has been designed for use with music production software, making it an ideal choice for those who want to produce electronic music.

The sk61’s intuitive layout and comprehensive feature set make it an ideal tool for anyone looking to take their music production skills to the next level.

SK61 Keyboard is a 61-key USB MIDI keyboard controller that features velocity-sensitive keys and a built-in arpeggiator.

SK61 Keyboard also has an assignable slider, buttons, and knobs for controlling other software parameters, making it a great choice for music production and live performance.

What it is SK61 Keyboard

The SK61 Keyboard is a keyboard that you can use to type on your computer.

The SK61 utilizes the acclaimed Gateron optical switches, which can be be hot-swapped for this keyboard, to achieve the best experience.

Player popularity for the hotswap feature has been high. Making your own bespoke mechanical keyboard is more fun and offers more alternatives.

SK61 Keyboard: who is it for?

The SK61 Keyboard is designed for people who want a great typing experience without spending a lot of money.

It’s also a good choice for people who are looking for a keyboard that is lightweight and easy to carry around.

SK61 Keyboard Review: What are its Features?

The SK61 Keyboard is a 61-key keyboard that has a variety of features, including:

– A velocity-sensitive keyboard that allows you to control the volume and tone of your sounds

– A pitch wheel that lets you change the pitch of your notes

– A modulation wheel that alters the sound of your notes in various ways

– 10 presets that let you store your favorite settings

– MIDI in and out ports that let you control other instruments or devices

Hardware Specs

Layout: 61 Keys

Weight: 1.54 Lbs (768 Grams)

Dimensions: 11.6″ x 4.1″ x 1.8″ (295 x 105 x 45 mm)

Switches: Available with Gateron mechanical Blue/Brown/Black/Yellow

Backlight colors: 16.8 million RGB per-key backlight

Weather resistance: IPX6 waterproof/dustproof (can resist high pressure or heavy water spray)

Key rollover: N-Key Rollover (unlimited key rollover)

The SK61 Keyboard is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable mechanical keyboard. It has a number of features that make it a great option, including:

Tenkeyless design for portability

Brown switches for a tactile typing experience

Backlight with three levels of brightness

With RGB Backlit, NKRO, IP6X Waterproof, Type-C Cable for Win/Mac/Gaming (Gateron Optical Red, Black)

A 60% Layout Hot Swappable Keyboard

Bluetooth 5.1 Wireless/Wired Keyboard (SK61S ONLY)

Three Layers Programmable&NKRO

IPX6 Waterproof Mainboard&PBT Thermal Sublimation Keycaps

Gateron Optical Switch & Hot Swappable

To provide the best possible experience, the SK61 employs the acclaimed Gateron optical switches, which are also hot swappable for this keyboard.

Normally, you can only choose between hot-swappable and optical keyboards, but with this one, you get both.

The hotswap function has proven to be quite popular among gamers. It gives you additional possibilities and makes customizing your unique mechanical keyboard more enjoyable.

It may be simply replaced with different Gateron optical switches without the need for soldering.

Optical switches are notoriously smooth. Our keyboard’s Gateron Optical Black switches were exceptionally smooth.

The spring force is less than that of Cherry MX Blacks, making them somewhat powerful.

One of the numerous advantages of employing optical switches is lower latency. Optical switches are activated by light.

When you hit the key, the switch moves and blocks the light. As a result, they have more constant and predictable latency.

Another advantage is that it is water resistant. Optical switches do not include any electrical components that will be destroyed if exposed to dampness.

Optical switches are important for gamers because they allow them to react quickly. However, optical switches are not as prevalent as mechanical switches. At least not in terms of diversity.

However, having hot-swappable sockets is highly convenient since it allows you to change switches without desoldering and soldering.

The advantage of optical switches is that there is no pin misalignment.

The SK61 is available with three distinct Gateron optical switch colors: red, brown, and black. Both red and black are linear, with the black being significantly heavier. Brown represents a tactile switch.

Bluetooth 5.1 Wireless/Wired Keyboard (SK61S ONLY)

With the newest Bluetooth technology, you may connect up to three devices at the same time; simply press FN+Z/X/C to switch between them.

In sleep mode, the added configurable time offers 10 levels of modification from zero to 45 minutes. More user-friendly and energy-efficient

IPX6 Waterproof Mainboard & PBT Thermal Sublimation Keycaps

We think that details can build or break a brand. As a result, we carefully selected PBT material for keycaps, which has shown to be durable and oil-proof even after extended usage.

The lettering will not fade. The keyboard is further distinguished by its IPX6 waterproof and dustproof mainboard design. It’s both useful and strange.

Three Layers Programmable & NKRO

Despite the three-layer programmable mode, FN1/FN2/FN3, every keyboard key functions may be modified via driver and macro record.

Customize your function keys as you see fit. If you are not connected to the internet, the onboard flash memory unit can store the configuration on the keyboard.

Furthermore, the SK61 features N-key rollover, so you may easily enjoy it while pressing numerous keys without conflict.

16.8 Million RGB Backlight Available

RGB lighting is a fantastic addition to video games. Because SK61 understands your requirements, this model has an RGB SMD light.

There are almost 16.8 million lights available. Hundreds of lighting effects are available for download, and we are constantly updating it.

The Epomaker SK61 comes with many RGB effects pre-programmed onto the board itself. You may also download their program to customize the effects to your liking.

Press FN and right bracket or FN and backslash to adjust the lighting effect. To adjust the pace of the effect, type FN followed by a semicolon or apostrophe.

For brightness adjustments, use FN and p or the left bracket.

Some of the effects are listed below:

Spectrum cycling

Rainbow wave

Circular wave

Green static lighting with arrows in red

Reactive single key

Reactive row

Reactive wave

Reactive spectrum

White

Overall, the SK61 Keyboard is a great option for anyone looking for an affordable mechanical keyboard with a number of features to make it versatile and customizable.

Plastic Keycap Puller

The regular keycap puller is made of plastic. It is not suggested that you change your keycaps using this type of keycap puller since you can easily harm the exterior of your keycaps.

Using a wire keycap puller protects your keycaps and increases their longevity.

The Metal Switch

The metal switch puller is also rather common. It is fairly big and may be difficult to slide between switches while replacing them.

However, if this is your only option, it will suffice. If you’re changing all of the switches, use a more cushioned and bigger keycap puller.

Mac Compatible Keycaps

You also receive three more Mac keycaps: Command, Option, and Control. This mechanical keyboard is OS X and Windows compatible.

USB-C Braided Cable

The silver braided USB-C cable is pretty beautiful. It features silver accented port covers as well.

In comparison to other mechanical keyboard cables, this is most likely the most attractive we’ve ever seen.

Sturdy but Hollow Construction

The Epomaker SK61’s overall build quality is fairly good, however there are a few flaws we discovered. Let us take a deeper look at what this keyboard does well and where it falls short.

Full N-Key Rollover

The SK61 has full N-key rollover and 100% anti-ghosting. Press as many keys as you want at once, and the keyboard will register them all.

Three Different Colorways

The SK61 is available in three different colors. We have the one in white and light grey. There is another one in dark and light gray, and the third one is pink and white.

Thick PBT Plastic Keycaps

Keycaps made of thick PBT. The SK61’s keycaps are made of a strong PBT plastic that is oil-resistant and long-lasting.

The walls are around 1.5mm thick. GSA is a profile that is specific to Epomaker. This is comparable to XDA.

The keycaps have a consistent profile, thus they do not differ from row to row. Each keycap is similar to the one before it.

There is some concavity at the top for your fingertips to rest on. However, if you are not used to a consistent layout, it may take some time to adjust.

The legends on the keycaps are thermally sublimated, which prevents rubbing off and wear over time. The dye is contained within the plastic.

The great contrast and wide typeface make the legends exceedingly simple to read.

It’s also a common layout, so swapping out the keycaps shouldn’t be too difficult. Almost any keycap set will work with this layout.

The lack of sublegends for arrow keys, function row, and navigational operations is a drawback of the keycaps.

While it looks nice and is easy to use with other keyboards, this means you’ll have to learn the features you use the most and then go to the handbook for the ones you don’t.

The Stabilizers: A Little Noisy

The stabilizers are Cherry-style stabilizers that are factory-lubricated. They are really loud, but not rattly.

This is most likely due to the same reason that the switches are so noisy. There’s a lot of space beneath the larger keys surrounding the stabilizers, which makes them sound even louder.

When typing, the keyboard has a lot of echo, which is mainly related to the construction, but it has a great influence on the stabilizer feel and sound.

Sounding hollow

There is a lot of vacant space within the chassis due to the height of the keyboard and the optical switches.

When typing, this provides for a lot of reverb and echo from the switch’s bottom-out noises.It makes an awful noise.

This may be remedied by inserting a layer of foam inside the casing to minimize the amount of space available for sound waves to travel.

No kickstands

Because there are no movable kickstands on the rear, the keyboard is trapped at this position. The initial viewpoint isn’t horrible, but it restricts the amount of personalization available to various people.

Layers with Programmability

This keyboard has three programmable levels that may be set to recorded macros or alternative key combinations and functionalities.

According to the handbook, you may access these distinct levels by pressing FN and W/E/R.

Download the related program with Epomaker to quickly alter these layers, which also allows you to edit the RGB lighting profile.

Having programmable layers on such a little keyboard is really helpful since it allows you to have all of the functionality that a full-sized keyboard may offer and more.

Discuss the pros and cons of the SK61 Keyboard

The SK61 Keyboard is a great keyboard for people who want a slim and lightweight keyboard. It has a very minimal design, and it is very easy to type on.

The SK61 Keyboard also has backlightning, which makes it easy to see the keys in the dark.

However, there are a few downsides to the SK61 Keyboard. First of all, it does not have a number pad, which can be inconvenient for some people.

Secondly, the backlightning is not very bright, and it can be difficult to see the keys in certain lighting conditions.

Thoughts on the SK61 Keyboard

The SK61 Keyboard is a great addition to any computer. It has a sleek, modern design and is very easy to use. I found the SK61 Keyboard to be very responsive and comfortable to use.

I would definitely recommend this keyboard to anyone looking for a great typing experience.

Conclusion

The SK61 Keyboard is a great addition to any computer. It has a sleek, modern design and is very easy to use. I found the SK61 Keyboard to be very responsive and comfortable to use.

The SK61 Keyboard also includes some great features, such as backlighting and a numeric keypad. One downside of the SK61 Keyboard is that it does not include a wrist rest.

Overall, I was very pleased with the SK61 Keyboard and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great typing experience.

The Epomaker SK61 Keyboard is a high-quality 61-key model. This is a wonderful option if you want something compact but strong.

However, I would carefully examine the keyboard layout; if you’re like me and often use some of the keys that are absent, the space savings may not be worth it.