The number of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts have grown in the past several years. This does not seem to be a “one-off” phenomena: people enjoy using such keyboards as they provide superior tactile feedback that prioritizes a high-quality typing experience. Beyond the satisfying sound, many in the mechanical keyboard community are drawn to the seemingly infinite customization options. Everything from keycaps to key switches can be replaced or “modded” to maximize typing feel and sound quality. Ardent keyboard enthusiasts can spend anywhere from $150US to $1000US on their quest to find a keyboard that has the perfect “thock”.
Having owned and used several such keyboards with my Macs over the years, I can understand the appeal. After all, I use a 34 year old Apple Extended Keyboard with my new Mac mini.
But what if you don’t have a mechanical keyboard for your Mac… or if you’re just simply curious as to what all the fuss is about. You’re in luck, because Klack (Mac App Store link here) for macOS lets you experience the signature sounds of various mechanical keyswitches from the comfort of the Mac keyboard you already own.
Klack (currently at version 1.7.2 as of this review) is a keyswitch sound emulator that lives in your Mac’s menubar. With Klack installed, you simply select from six provided keyswitch sounds (Japanese Black, Oreo, Milky Yellow, Cream, Crystal Purple). When a keystroke is pressed, you’ll hear the appropriate tactile sound.
Klack provides instant feedback as you type. That means, if you’re a fast touch typer, Klack’s keyswitch sounds keep up with your keystrokes without any lag whatsoever. This is possible because Klack is a native Mac app. Klack can also play mouse click sounds, mimicking the experience of using a mouse with a physical button. And if you’re feeling particularly nostalgic, Klack will optionally play a “ding” sound each time you hit return, much like the classic typewriters of yore.
Klack is a simple app that is not only fun but well thought out. For example, you can independently control the volume of the keyswitch sound. This allows for more flexibility. Klack can be set to a lower volume as to not impinge on other audio coming out of my Mac (i.e. a Zoom call, for example). Klack can be toggled on or off by way of the menu bar or a user-assigned keyboard shortcut. (I use Command-Option-Control-Shift K.)
Klack’s sound effects can be routed to your Mac’s internal speaker, headphones, or both. Modifier keys like Control, Command, and Shift can be muted, if need be.
Klack works on all Mac keyboards, even the vintage Apple model I’m currently typing this review on. Make no mistake, Klack can’t magically replace physical typing characteristics like key travel, but it can provide you with dulcet tactile sounds as you type.
Klack’s keyswitch audio is both high-fidelity and utilizes immersive spatial audio. The developer adds new keyswitch sounds periodically, with Milky Yellow being the latest offering.
I’ve used Klack for over a year, since it’s initial release. Since that time, the program has undergone several updates, each adding new features and extra polish. One feature request that would be useful is providing the ability to independently control Klack’s output volume for speakers and headphones.
Klack can be purchased from the Mac App Store for $4.99. While it’s not essential, it’s a cheap way to get the customized mechanical keyboard sound without investing in an actual mechanical keyboard. And if you already own a mechanical keyboard, Klack works just fine, too!
