ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Capsule Review
by E. Fylladitakis on December 31, 2014 10:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Keyboard
- Gaming
- ROCCAT
- Mechanical Keyboards
The Software
With dozens of options on the very first screen, the software for the ROCCAT Ryos MK Pro is overwhelming at first, but it is relatively clean and straightforward. From the main screen, you can change the function of the Caps Lock key as well, changing it to the Easy-Shift key, a function that allows some or all of the keys to perform a secondary command. It is very similar to the function of the FN key, but this works for the entire keyboard. The downside is that the Caps Lock key has to be held pressed for this function, making its use in a game quite difficult. You can also perform other basic changes, such as disabling some of the keys, control the "screensaver" effect, and modify the character repeat rates. For the last function, the software provides a test block as well.
In the key assignment tab, the user can assign the primary and secondary function of every key on the keyboard. There is a built in macro manager for the programming of macros as well. The upside is that there is a very large number of pre-programmed macros for numerous games and applications provided with the software, which might save the user some time. The downside is that the macro recording software is not very sophisticated.
You can edit the delays and add/remove parts of the macro, but you cannot record mouse movements or mouse button clicks. You can manually insert mouse key presses to the macro but there are no options regarding mouse movements or any other special functions at all. Without the ability to include mouse position functions in the macro, the potential of the macro recording software is severely limited and most serious gamers will seek third party macro recorders with compilers, so as to create macros and compile them into executable files that can then be assigned to launch on a key press. Finally, there is a repeat mode, allowing the macro to be executed up to 255 times.
As its name suggests, the key illumination tab allows the user to control the illumination of the keys. Aside from adjusting the brightness and/or turning the lighting of each key on and off, there are advanced options as well. One of them is the ability to adjust the "typing effect", i.e. the effect that will take place whenever any key is pressed. By default, the keys are in "fade" mode, meaning that they will either light up or go dark for a second once pressed. Lighting effects may be programmed and assigned to macros as well.
If your in-game achievements are not enough for you, ROCCAT includes an achievements system in their keyboard software as well. The R.A.D. page includes thorough statistics on the key strokes, from the total key strokes of the keyboard to those of each individual key. There are sixteen hidden achievements as well, including achievements for total key strokes, use of the WASD keys, and others. Depending on the PC settings at the time, unlocking an achievement might give the user quite a scare, as the PC will scream, "You got a trophy".
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
21 Comments
View All Comments
erple2 - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Interesting. I guess the analysis is limited to the software, as the keys (and therefore the feel of typing) are a known quantity at this time.Has anyone done a review of the other mechanical switches, namely buckling spring? I can't find (conveniently) any cherry MX switch based keyboards locally to test out the feel compared with my Unicomp keyboard (which I really like, at least for typing and casual gaming - while I like a good fps, I'm too old to be good at twitch fpsing). I don't ming the clackety clack of buckling springs at all.
Also what the heck is up with wasd?? Why did people migrate to that instead of esdf???! It doesn't make any sense to me to move your hands from home for.. But maybe that's my age.
Novaguy - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Re: wasd vs. esdf, i imagine the advantage of wasd includes easier reaching shift and control keys as well as a more neutral left shoulder angle.I personally gave up the wasd and now use a logitech g13 and put my keyboard away.
Impulses - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Well, you can always move the keyboard so ESDF lines up and depending on how nimble your fingers are you then have access to the shift/ctrl keys as well as a bunch of extra letter keys on your pinky side... Basically you have more keys within overall reach.I'd love a G13 with mechanical cherry red switches tho... In fact, that would kill my curiosity to try a TKL board. I could keep the Corsair K90 I like with media keys and macro keys for everything else (which I use for Photoshop/LR more than gaming) and just slide it back for gaming.
I'm surprised Logitech's never built one with all the rage over mechanical switches the last few years.
Impulses - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
Dunno, maybe it's because WASD is a little easier to find by blind feel if you've taken your hand off the keyboard? I started off with WASD but I've used ESDF occasionally on MMOS which require lots of peripheral keys.I'm sure there's reviews of buckling spring boards out there since they're still sold and refurbished, could try the geekhack boards... I'm sure there's people using them on the AT/Hard/OCN boards too tho.
Then there's Topre too... Anyway, if you just wanna test out the feel of cherry switches you can order a little sampler board (like 4-8 keys usually) with various switch types.
Blues probably give the most feedback and might feel the closest to buckling springs but it's subjective. Best Buy used to carry a Razer board with blues FWIW.
DanNeely - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
My local BB only claimed to carry one to the internet. I visited the store twice hoping to get my hands on it; only to only see the usual assortment of cheap Generic/MS/Logitech keyboards. The second time, I verified on BB.com that it was there before leaving work at the end of the day; got to the store couldn't find it; used one of their computers to visit the in store version of their site which said they didn't have it; went home and checked BB.com which again claimed the store had it in stock. Sooner or later I want to visit the store with a copy of bb.com claiming it's in stock loaded on my phone to harass the blueshirts about; but I haven't had any other excuse to go there for a while and don't want to make a special trip just for that.piiman - Saturday, January 3, 2015 - link
Just in case you don't know BB keeps keyboards in two different areas. One has the normal cheap and wireless stuff and then they have the gaming stuff in another area.knightspawn1138 - Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - link
I never liked WASD or ESDF. I hated how cramped my fingers got being squished up like that, so I've always had to remap my games to ASDF. I set them up as A=back, S=strafe left, D=strafe right, and F=forward. I find I can use more of the peripheral keys, still have my pinky available for modifier keys (since most games don't have me running or crouching backwards), and my hand never has to leave the home row. And even if I do pick up my hand, I can quickly find home row on keyboards that have a bump on either the D or F keys. And it's just more comfortable for long sessions of gaming.But it is a PITA to setup a profile that works well since I have to modify just about every key around ASDF. But, it takes just as long (or longer) to setup my Logitech G13, so I can't complain too much.
JohnMD1022 - Thursday, January 1, 2015 - link
Having tried Cherry-based keyboards, I still prefer my 1987 IBM Model M Space Saver.Has anyone thought of licensing buckling spring technology?
erple2 - Friday, January 2, 2015 - link
Check out the Unicomp store. That's where I bought mine from in about 2010. Pckeyboard dot com. I got the spacesaver USB model. Unicomp wound up buying the license to make the buckling spring from IBM, and made all of their keyboards after about 1987 ish.piiman - Saturday, January 3, 2015 - link
"Also what the heck is up with wasd?? Why did people migrate to that instead of esdf???! It doesn't make any sense to me to move your hands from home for.. But maybe that's my age."LOL I was noticing that to the other day and noticed it has made me shift my hands left and now my touch typing is all off since my hands don't rest on the HOME keys a,s,d,f and instead now rest on the Cap lock,a,s,d much of the time. so I end up TyPing likE tHiS a loT. :-)