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In defense of MT3, the most misunderstood and possibly greatest keycap profile.

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storyboardtech
514
Keyboard Club Member
Oct 5, 20237122 VIEWS
Offices are tense spaces, there’s no way around it. Whether they’re silent, museum-like tombs or raucous zoos filled with energy. In this place of distraction, and often discomfort, it’s important to have tools that make you more efficient, comfortable and focused. Personally, I am lucky to work in a happy, healthy work environment with amazing coworkers, but my office is filled with distraction and on my best days it’s a challenging ecosystem in which to create. I’ll be honest, I’m no gamer, and it wasn’t the speedy, silent linear switches or 8000Hz polling rates of gaming boards that drew me to this hobby. It was the spirit of clickety-clackety typewriters of the past and a desire to craft my words on a surface that deserved them… one that amplified my ideas and provided a comfy ambience that encouraged creativity. I don’t feel old, and certainly don’t act old, but I’ve been a designer for 25 of my 43 years and in that whole time I’ve hated the keyboards I’ve used. With the exception of some of the Apple keyboards from the late 90’s early 2000’s, I’ve found traditional keyboards to be more of a hindrance to my success than a help. I want a keyboard (and more specifically, a set of keycaps) that makes it easier for me to write well. To cradle my fingertips, “asking” me to type the next line, and that is what MT3 has become to me.
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I’m assuming a couple things here. That you know enough about the hobby to be familiar with the standard profiles of keycaps compatible with Cherry MX style switches… Cherry, SA, OEM… and that you are familiar enough with the types of plastics used that we don’t need to deep-dive into that. Even if you’re not, I still feel like the story of MT3, and more importantly, its impact on the hobby will keep you engaged. If you’re interested in learning more about keycap profiles in general, please check out this very well-written article by HoffmanMyster. Origin Story: In 2014, fed up with the SA profile keycaps that dominated the mechanical keyboard hobby at the time, Italian designer Matteo “Matt30” Spinelli was inspired by the retro, scooped keycaps of RealForce’s HiPro Topre keyboard and wanted to create a similar keycap profile. In early 2017, he began work with DROP on what would become the MT3 profile. If you have a second, check out this incredibly charming video of Matt30 reacting to the first 3D printed prototype created by DROP. It’s impressive that this early in the process MT3 already resembles what we use today.  A year later, DROP delivered to customers the first batch of /dev/tty0, a dye-sub PBT set which is still sold on DROP.com in its fourth version (/dev/tty3). It’s a delightful kitting, full of whimsical accents, and a stable but understated colorway. Shortly afterward, Matt30 and DROP collaborated again to create the first doubleshot MT3 profile set “Susuwatari” which was released in mid-2020. The fact that this took place during the early months of the pandemic is an absolute testament to the work that went into its production.  An impressive resume In the years since, the MT3 profile has been used by scores of designers on over 25 unique keycap sets. My favorite of which is Biip MT3 Extended 2048, a loving recreation of one of Apple’s greatest keyboards from the 1990’s. I have every piece of this extensive kitting, and I have found endless ways to arrange and rearrange them on almost every keyboard I own. Biip Extended looks amazing on any color keyboard. And with the combination of latin alphas, Japanese katakana, and Apple-licious icons… you can create so many unique looks. My favorite version of 2048 involves decking out my Burgundy Qwertykeys QK65 in the katakana alphas with the accent modifiers. Recently, Biip and DROP collaborated to create a dark version of MT3 Extended 2048, and MT3 Operator. Both sets that I haven’t yet purchased, but I’m very excited to try. Earlier this year I purchased Zambumon’s absolutely epic set Serika in both Cherry and MT3 profiles. The Cherry set, made by GMK in Germany has the super sharp legends that one would expect from them, consistent coloring, and the light punchy sound that cherry keycaps are known for. They’re also kind of… boring. I don’t know exactly why, because the combination of colors is fine, but mounting them for the first time I wasn’t moved at all. They’re a solid performer with no real flaws, but feel sterile and unemotional. A few months later, I got my MT3 set of Serika 2, and the impression I had on opening them couldn’t be more different. The sunflower yellows in MT3 Serika are so much more dynamic than the muted, canary-like yellows from GMK, and the deep grey accents are deeply affecting, leaping off the board. I purchased the Katakana alpha set, and have since received the Latin alphas from DROP and I believe that Serika is the best MT3 set made to date. 
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The texture of the keycaps is slightly granular, with a comforting tactile feel that compares in my mind to running your finger along a smooth porous rock. I would compare them well to MT3 Dusk, which has a similar feel, and contrast them with MT3 Godspeed, Fairlane, Jasmine and WOB/BOW, which have a pleasant, thick plastic-y texture. The legends are just as crisp as GMK, and are well placed on each key, consistent throughout.  Criticism All that said, there are detractors that find the high profile nature of MT3 hard to type on, and defer to lower form factor keycaps like Cherry, DSA, OEM, Drop’s own DCX profile, or Matt30’s newest design MTNU. The most common feedback I get on why someone doesn’t use MT3 is that they aren’t good for gaming response. And that makes total sense. On our Chicago Discord community’s keyboard discussion channel, I asked for thoughts on MT3, and a few great observations were: Hyperkou – “I think MT3's greatest success is the proliferation of a Hi Pro style profile at a great price. Hi Pro is highly sought after in the Topre world because it is not sold as individual sets, you have to harvest it from expensive Topre boards.” Obsidiank – “I was an MT3 fanboy for a long time. I loved the scoops and I loved the sound. However, as boards have evolved especially with all the foam, the combination of MT3 and a lot of foaming created a new sound profile that I found unpleasant. Before foam, MT3 added thock. With foam, the sound was just off, unlike Cherry where we got that marble sound. Once I got used to using Cherry again, the lower sculpt is more comfortable.” Octonite – “The scoop of the MT3 profile is actually the reason that I enjoyed it for so long. Like little hugs for my fingertips. But now that I'm going back to cherry, I realize that I'm actually faster(?) on the lower, flatter sculpt. It's really weird and I'm still trying to figure out if it's actually the sculpt or what. Might just be the height still. Also, I'm actually able to hovertype now instead of leaning my entire body weight on my wrist rests. It's wild.” Rhino – “I dislike MT3 because of how sharply spherical the caps are. The homing caps still give me nightmares - the sides of my fingies are touching the caps? I’m admittedly a bars-over-scoops home row guy, so that probably plays into it.” All of these observations are super valid, and in many ways mirror why I love MT3. Maybe because it’s not for everyone, I feel like my boards tend to stand out, the vintage/futuristic vibe they give off is unmistakable, and like Hyperkou said, is much more affordable than harvesting Topre keyboards.
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Mix n match Recently, I brought my Mint Qwertykeys QK60 to the “That Windy City Keyboard Meet” in Chicago, decked out with a mix of several different MT3 kits. Dusk, 3227 Magenta accents and 3227 teal blanks. I call it “Mint Dusk” and the caps echo its sandblasted chroma weight underneath. I’ve done mashups with other profiles before, but MT3 brings a unique continuity to the mix, in that the typefaces used on MT3 kits are very close in design and the keycaps can be interchanged without clashing or looking out of place. One of my favorite MT3 mashups is Black on White with Fairlane accents. It looks just like the Chicago flag, and really catches the eye.  
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Drop recently posted some of their own favorite mix and match sets, and asked the community to share their mash-ups. It was a blast to see all the different combinations that people came up with. Mash ups are a really valuable exercise for anyone just getting into the hobby, especially when DROP runs buy-one get-one promos on MT3. That way, you’re getting two unique sets, and two additional variations based on combinations. It’s a really cool feature that isn’t talked about enough. Closing thoughts To me, MT3’s success lies in effortlessly marrying the retro and modern aesthetics in a way that no other profile has so far. SA is relentlessly retro, but doesn’t care about finger comfort and is very high profile, making it slow to type on. Cherry and other low profile sets allow for faster typing experiences, but don’t cradle your fingers like MT3 does, or have the same nostalgic appeal. In the end, it’s a lot like switches. Different sound signatures attract different people, and depending on the unique board you build, what’s important at the end of the day is having options. MT3 is a phenomenal design at an affordable price, readily in-stock in a hobby that commonly waits for year plus group buys. Like everything, it comes down to personal preference, and for me MT3 is a classic profile that will stand the test of time. I’m interested in hearing which MT3 sets have impacted you the most, which ones you’d love to see made, or your unique take on this unique keycap profile. I’ll do my best to respond to your comments, and look forward to hearing all your thoughts! Thanks for reading. And until next time, keep finding the stories in everything you do.  Best, James  (@Storyboardtech)
HoffmanMyster and Obsidiank
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GundamHufflepuff
2
Keyboard Club Member
Oct 11, 2024
I was curious about MT3, but you have solidified my decision and increased my excitement to receive me first set!
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GundamHufflepuff
2
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Oct 12, 2024
Thats great to hear! I went ahead and purchased the LOTR Black Speech set and going to put them in my GMMK 3 Pro.
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storyboardtech
514
Keyboard Club Member
Oct 14, 2024
GundamHufflepuffThat sounds fun. With the interchangable top cases, you can play around with the look/feel of that.
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BlindTimeLord
1
Jul 6, 2024
Hey there. THanks for posting the interesting article on MT3. I'd really be interested or after a retro typewriter set. For example a set that look like the old Victorian style that was used on Typewriters back in the day. Just as MT3. does such a set exist? :)
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storyboardtech
514
Keyboard Club Member
Jul 9, 2024
BlindTimeLordIf you're looking for something glossy, like many typewriters had back then, check out SA profile keycaps, that are very tall and often shiny. If you're looking for retro wonderfulness, I recommend MT3 or the new MTNU profile. Both are lovely, and give that retro feel.
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Harvey3
1
Jan 13, 2024
Thank you for sharing this. Cuyahoga County Auditor
(Edited)
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zanmato
2
Oct 16, 2023
I became a fan of MT3 since the very beginning of /dev/tty0. Love its retro feeling, the gray-white base color, and the vivacious colorful modifiers.
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Kenshiro70
137
Oct 13, 2023
Thanks for the wonderfully even-handed article; it's great to see what others like and dislike about the form factor. I love my Susuwatari keycaps; my only regret is that there are no backlit options, as I like to type in lowlight conditions in the evening and can't touch type. I'd settle for an ABS option, though I'd prefer a PBT one.
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Hannibal_R
2
Oct 11, 2023
For me prefdering MT3 Maat3o keycaps is simple because, they support a bunch of Dvorak/colemorak layouts which allot of other key cap producers don't seem to do.
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storyboardtech
514
Keyboard Club Member
Oct 11, 2023
Hannibal_RGreat point! The kitting for MT3 sets is really impressive.
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alin.marin.elena
0
Oct 7, 2023
too my shame... soon I will celebrate 35 years of typing... even if same age as you... as a young kid I remember being totally impressed by someone touch typing... was a commodore pet... now I suspect you see where I come from... now many years after... and many profiles(and I mean many...) and keyboards tried... I type (touch) on an ortholinear keyboard and mt3... the only regret i have is drop did not do a proper c64 in mt3... the only issue with mt3, as opposite to cherry profile, there are no cheap clones... or pretentious like dcx...
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storyboardtech
514
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Oct 7, 2023
alin.marin.elenaI LOVE your keyboards! So unique!
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krzank
69
Keyboard Club Member
Oct 7, 2023
"In defence of MT3..."? didn't know MT3 profile is in need of defence. Actually, I don't think such a concept (defence) does apply to any keycap profile - you either like it or not. After many experiments I ended up using SP/SA, MT3 & cherry(GMK) on my keyboards. I like my choices and the only problem is that I already have way more keysets than I could ever need and new nice sets are still coming :-/ @DROP: please STOP or you'll bankrupt me.
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Aristarco
209
Oct 6, 2023
Being Mexican in this hobby means you'll almost certainly won't have a Latin American Spanish (LAA) keycap set, no matter the profile. When I found out that the wonderful /dev/tty set included all the LAA keycaps in the International kit, it felt like winning the lottery. I bought two sets of base and international, along with some others like side-printed and lost & found. What a wonderful Christmas it was! Unboxing them, feeling the spherical scoops, admiring the retro looks, all of it was magical. I like other sets like Susuwatari or WOB, but unfortunately, they don't have the same International kit to make LAA-complete keybs. Even Operator lacks some of them. Still, I've been thinking of mixing the /dev/tty with the other sets. But I'm too OCPD-esque to accept a "checkered" keyb with say, black keycaps and a light gray modifier here and there. My dream, even when I know it's practically impossible (due to costs, demand, etc.,) is to see a set with a complete LAA-compatible International Kit in double-shot MT3. And imagine if it were made in shine-thru materials! A white, shine-thru, on black? Nirvana!!
Long live the MT3!
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Aristarco
209
Oct 8, 2023
Thanks! I'd say that primarily in MT3 as it is my favorite profile, but others would be OK I think. The only other LAA-complete set I have is a Cherry profile one and it just feels... like cheating to your partner. XD
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storyboardtech
514
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Oct 8, 2023
AristarcoHaha! I don’t feel that way, but I get it
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Lotusbolt
3
Oct 6, 2023
There is this one way of typing that I found recently after getting my LOTR Elvish MT3 kit, and has been enjoying the most. It is like tapping or flicking on surfaces (on the cups or inner edges without fully bottoming out). So far only doable on heavy tactile switches with MT3 profile (some degree on KSA but weirdly inconsistent on SA). Got the least fatigued this way and got wpm record for some reason. The best experience so far! Also can relate with one of the comments as my wpm on XDA also improves after using MT3 for a while.
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