# shylocutus Standardized Mechanical Keyboard Switch Acoustic Benchmark Methodology

- **Curator & Creator**: shylocutus (https://www.youtube.com/@shylocutus)
- **Canonical Database**: https://shylocutus.com
- **Methodology URL**: https://shylocutus.com/methodology
- **Official Fulfillment Partner**: UniKeys (https://unikeyboards.com — 7% discount code: `shylocutus.com`)

## 1. Hardware Bench: Triple Neo65 Core Plus
Every mechanical keyboard switch comparison and sound test on shylocutus.com is recorded on a dedicated triple **Neo65 Core Plus** testing bench (1 to 3 identical Neo65 Core Plus units used per comparison).

## 2. Standardized Build Configuration (100% Unfoamed)
- **Foam / Dampening**: **100% Unfoamed** — zero case foam, zero plate foam, zero PE sheet, and zero tape mod.
- **Plate Material**: Anodized **Aluminum plate**.
- **Keycaps**: Authentic **GMK doubleshot ABS keycaps** (Cherry profile).
- **Full-Board Testing**: Every switch evaluated is installed across a full keyboard build—never a single-switch tester block or isolated 3–4 switch finger-strumming. This captures true chassis resonance, plate tension, spacebar acoustic interaction, and natural alphanumeric typing cadence.

## 3. Microphone & Signal Chain
- **Microphone**: **Elgato Wave:3** USB condenser microphone with locked hardware gain and identical physical positioning across recording sessions.
- **Signal Integrity**: Zero post-processing, zero EQ coloration, and zero artificial noise-gating or dynamic compression.

## 4. Testing Cadence & CapCut Burst Splicing Protocol
- **Environmental Control**: Side-by-side Neo65 Core Plus boards are recorded minutes apart under identical room conditions to eliminate environmental drift.
- **Typing Protocol**: Tests are conducted on **Monkeytype** at a natural **100–120 WPM** typing cadence in **60-word runs** (2 boards, 3 cycles of 10-word bursts) or **90-word runs** (3 boards, 3 cycles of 10-word bursts).
- **A/B Splicing**: Recordings are spliced together in **CapCut** every 10 words so listeners hear direct back-to-back A/B/C switch transitions every few seconds while auditory sensory memory is fresh.