Mechanical Keyboard Sound Isn't That Simple
Figure 1: I couldn't think of a more literal way to represent this article if I tried... Looking back just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that the huge influx of people that joined the hobby at the peak of the COVID pandemic were drawn to keyboards by way of YouTube, TikTok, and other audio-visual content platforms. Even as the output from these content creators has waned in recent months, their collective impact and legacy on the keyboard hobby is rather firmly etched in the history books. As a result of all of their sound tests, build logs, and opinion videos, the message is clear to any new person joining the hobby: mechanical keyboards are all about the sound. Thock this, clack that. Whether it’s keyboards, keycaps, or even singular switches, seemingly everyone new to the hobby meticulously pores over each component of their keyboard not in an attempt to figure out how it will feel in hand, but how it will sound as they’re furiously grinding their way out from...
Mar 27, 2024
You can set a key to respond with the standard alphanumeric a-z0-9, CTRL, Super/GUI. You can set Windows and multimedia keys; calculator, play, volume +/-, etc. You can set "key-combos" that allow you to set a key to Ctrl or Alt + [a key that is allow singly]. There are a few other features that some might find useful as well.
So, I would take a good look at the program on its own before you plug in your VA12M. That left-mouse-click key thing still bugs me, but I'm stuck post-flash.
With saying all that, I contacted Varmilo and received a rar that has allowed me to reprogram the keypad. "I will send you the software via wetransfer. you can find the manual in attachment, this is the only file I have for VA12M." I take absolutely no responsibility for it. It's is Varmilo's. For some reason they don't post it on their site. They even gave it to me via a temporary file share site, WeTransfer.
Enjoy ... ? VA12M software.rar: https://wetransfer.com/downloads/5d4125b56255a387f3744d2b3d35f65020171227054622/6a0c1226bb84543ab6cc0e1bf00a77f220171227054622/8465b7 (WeTransfer will delete it on 3 January, 2018.) If you find some way to get around these limitations, PLEASE let me know. I screwed with it all last night and came up empty besides being able to catalog some of its limitations. I'm not sure if I like it better or worse, but I'm stuck where I am now.
UPDATE: I messaged Varmilo back about the limitations I found. Suddenly they found more files. "I sent you two files via wetransfer, one is for upgrading, one is for programming."
This file appears to be the same flashing software as the first .rar they sent my way. This one just comes with the simple instructions in English instead of Chinese. VA12M.zip: https://wetransfer.com/downloads/12249971b2887a65e81662b4cb20403e20171228015220/df8758bbfd2da189a8b0643a8b19b1fe20171228015220/b63249 (Will be deleted on 4 January, 2018)
This zip contains an .exe & accompanying .dlls & .ini that will update the VA12M to a firmware that will output 0-9, Enter, and LCTRL. I was hoping to modify the .ini to customize the layout, but it doesn't look possible. If you find a way, let us know. MTP OnLine Update_FF91H_V108.zip: https://wetransfer.com/downloads/241b5862021538dc5f6a5d1a5629c2e120171228021605/12f8700cf5540f6b51be2344600810ae20171228021605/38fd51 (Will be deleted on 4 January, 2018)
P.S.: can it be used at boot time (BIOS screen, bootloaders, etc...) after being programmed?