Software

There is no dedicated software driver support for the Ducky Mecha SF—all functionality is hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine the Software and Performance pages. The company was working on a unifying software, having already provided software support with the Shine series, but it appears that has been put on the backburner for now owing to development difficulties.

Performance

The Ducky Mecha SF comes configured for NKRO out of the box, which tested successfully using Aqua's test. Toggling dip switch 2 on the back to on (off is the default) shifts things over to 6-key rollover USB for debugging a few things in your system or running a kernel-based virtual system, for example. Similarly, no key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter. The image above also shows what the base layer on the keyboard is pre-programmed to as far as dedicated keys go. As with just about any keyboard these days, there is no right Windows key, having being substituted by an Fn key.

When first connected, the keyboard lights up in a rainbow wave lighting effect, which is the default pre-programmed effect for the Ducky Mecha SF. The transition animation is smooth, and the effect is a good demo to also ensure the keyboard is powered on and working properly. But note the lack of actual backlighting, which isn't surprising given our closer look at the individual keycaps earlier.


Customizing backlighting on the keyboard is all done via onboard controls, and Ducky includes plenty of control. Several pre-programmed effects can be accessed by toggling Fn + Alt + T, including the ability to easily select from a color palette for the color you want. Effects include static, dynamic, and reactive modes, as well as custom modes with individual R/G/B channel level control for the full 16.8 M colors per key.


I then used the onboard controls to set the keyboard to different colors, including white to test for color fidelity since RGB LEDs have a hard time depicting white, and it was one of the more accurate whites here, which is always good to see. As expected from previous findings, the legends are not backlit, so you best be aware of the various functions if you plan to use this keyboard in the dark. In a separate test via one of the preset multi-colored options, I tested for light bleed, and it was definitely present at the common edges because of the floating keycaps, but, again, less so here since the keycaps barely float owing to the high profile case and raised edges occupying most of the gap underneath the keycaps.

Here are some more of the lighting effects demonstrated, including a color cycle, rain drop, and breathing mode, all making full use of the hardware onboard. At the risk of repeating myself again, there is no actual backlighting, so know that the RGB lighting is not as useful here even compared to the One 2 SF. This is a shame, but Ducky clearly intends the stock keycaps and the keyboard to primarily be used in the day, with the bright colors more visible then.


Aside from the base layer, which has legends printed on the keycaps for easy identification, there are two other layers Ducky has pre-programmed for functionality. This is absolutely key on a smaller form factor keyboard such as the Mecha SF, and I like the choices Ducky made here. In particular, the mouse controls on the keyboard allow adept users to use the keyboard as a really handy travel I/O device, which pairs well with the form factor, light weight, and detachable cable. The macro functionality also remains as powerful as with other Ducky keyboards from recent years. Indeed, there are custom modes for recording keystrokes, but onboard controls also allow for the addition of keystroke delays, multimedia functions, and even complete re-assignment if you want to go with, say, a Dvorak layout instead of QWERTY for typing. The manual has some suggested macro options as well, and I tried many of these for quick functions in MS Office, Adobe Lightroom, and even some RTS games. Also use the dip switches as needed, with dip switch 1 in particular enabling locking and unlocking of the Windows key.

Overall, using the Mecha SF will take time and effort for the average layperson. This is especially true for those used to the 104/105-key full-size form factor, but it is definitely worth it for those who know they will benefit from the smaller form factor. The ergonomic benefits are logical for most people, with the ability to have the mouse in a more natural position closer to the keyboard. Less finger travel can also be very efficient, but only if you have the keyboard set up with the keystrokes of your desired layout on the base layer and are comfortable with using the other layers as needed. The integration of the arrow keys with the alphanumeric section and the dedicated 3-key cluster of Del, Pg Up, and Pg Dn make a bigger difference than you would think, definitely so after having gone through a sea of 60% keyboards without these. I do wish Ducky would have found a way to retain the front-facing legends the One 2 SF had, which makes the layered functions much easier to use. It also goes without saying thus that the functionality on the Mecha SF is identical to the One 2 SF, even down to the same manual.


There are six Cherry MX switch options to choose from with the Ducky Mecha SF, covering all three feedback mechanism types. These include the popular MX Red, Brown and Blue in addition to the Speed (Silver), Black, and Silent Red. The latter two are not very common, and we end up with four linear switches. I happened to have the MX Blue version here, which is also getting rarer than I would like. Perhaps it is because of the enormous popularity of gaming-oriented linear switches, but I do appreciate Ducky offering more Cherry switches than pretty much everyone else. The MX Blue is a tactile and clicky switch with a rated actuation force of 50 gf at 2 mm travel and a peak force of 60 gf at 4 mm. The tactile bump is also quite evident, more pronounced than with the MX Brown. It happens before actuation and takes up 60 gf, the peak bottoming out force of the switch itself. As such, once you hit the tactile bump, you will inevitable actuate given the lower force requirement just past it, and it is easy enough to train yourself not to bottom out. It is an audible switch, however, so perhaps it's best in a more private setting lest your typing becomes a distraction to others.


As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the Ducky Mecha SF keyboard sample at ~100 WPM as it comes out of the box with the Cherry MX Blue switches. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with clicky switches. I did bottom out, but mostly to show how there isn't much pinging here. I do wish the keyboard incorporated noise dampening foam instead of the plastic sheet between the PCB and the case, however, which would have reduced the ping further.