Driver

There is no dedicated software driver support for the Mistel MD600 Barocco RGB keyboard—all functionality is hardware based. As such, I have chosen to combine the Driver and Performance pages into one. Note that there is a separate firmware updater available, with the latest version released ~3 months ago. My sample had the latest firmware already, but you may want to check just in case.

Performance

There is full N-key rollover USB here out of the box, as Aqua's test confirms. Fn + CTRL + G/N toggles between NKRO and 6KRO, in case you find your keyboard only showing six keystrokes (sans modifiers). Similarly, no key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter.


When you first connect the keyboard to your computer, it powers on in a static pink lighting on all keys. I am noticing more and more keyboards going with pink by default, and I am yet to figure out why. Regardles, this is an RGB keyboard with everything set up via on-board controls, so I changed it to white to see how well this keyboard handles color fidelity. Pn (Menu) + Esc brings up a color palette of colors to choose from, although you can get finer control by using Pn + F1/F2/F3 (in the Fn key layer, which basically replaces the number row with the Fn key row) for eight brightness steps for the R/G/B colors. This makes for a total of 256 colors to choose from manually, and having all of them at max brightness gives the closest to a white that can be achieved with the keyboard. As with just about any RGB LED, getting a true white is near impossible, and we have a light pink hue here. The LEDs are quite bright at this setting, and all the keycap legends on the top are well backlit. As we saw before, the legends on the front are not translucent and thus remain dark.

Here are some of the possible lighting effects via Pn + F5, including a single-colored breathing mode, multi-colored breathing mode, rainbow wave, and RGB raindrop. There are some responsive typing effects as well, and the color transitions are really smooth, thus indicating the use of more than 256 colors. There are similarly options for per-key lighting as well as per-row lighting to where you first select the mode, then the color, and press the specific key/row you want to be lit in that color. This is not easy to remember and is made all the harder since you have to switch from the default layer as well, but the manual does a decent job of explaining it.

Another thing you will need the manual for, at least the first few times, is to better understand the layered system here. As with any other 60% keyboard, functions that do not get a dedicated key are accessed via layers similar to how Shift + 1, say, gives an exclamation point. There are four layers in the MD600 Barocco, with the default layer identified by the doubleshot injected legends on the top of the keycaps. This default layer can not be re-programmed, and for the better too, with the subsequent layers 1, 2, and 3 all available for customization. Fn + < or > toggles through the three layers, and the three LEDs at the bottom right of the keyboard's right half light up to indicate which of the three programmable layers you are on. The first one out of the box is the Fn layer we discussed before, and the legends on the front of the keycaps help convey what the various keys do, including that there are some dedicated media buttons in this layer. The manual also goes over the programming procedure to re-assign keys, as well as add macros to specific keys in these layers, and I do encourage spending some time here to get the keyboard to your liking.

There is a good reason to program the keyboard as well since it is possible to use the left side of the keyboard by itself. Indeed, assuming you have programmed the keys available to your desire, you can use it as a dedicated game pad that makes good use of the split design. If you are handy enough, you could also have the required functions from the right side on the layers of the left side. Note that the right side is the master side, however, with Fn and Pn here and the PCB designed as such. In order to access programming, including that for backlighting, you have to connect both sides and plug the right side into your PC. There are a few other limitations when it comes to programming specific functions and keys, which are again explained in the manual, and I can definitely see where this can be potentially overwhelming to a few people. Others would also want a dedicated set of arrow keys or a Num pad. Mistel has a solution for the latter, albeit via an optional purchase of another product, but the former is still a compromise. In return, you do get a better ergonomic typing experience in terms of being able to position the two sides of the keyboard to match your shoulder's width, which would ensure that both arms are in a natural, straight position. The smaller form factor also generally means your fingers have to travel less, which reduces fatigue over the long run.


This is my third time with the Cherry MX Speed (Silver) switches, and my previous experience with these helped me a lot here. For those expecting a Cherry MX Red switch with shorter actuation and travel distance, you might be surprised. While actuation and travel time are indeed shorter at 1.2 mm and 3.5 mm vs. 2 mm and 4 mm with the MX Red, bottoming-out force is actually higher at ~70 cN vs. ~60 cN with the MX Red despite the same actuation force. This means it is easier to actuate, but the longer distance past actuation coupled with the heavier spring means you are less likely to bottom out. All this adds up to quicker upstrokes and downstrokes alike, which, well, makes this a speed switch. A Haldex tension force meter helped measure an average actuation force of 45.82 gf (~44.93 cN) with minimal deviations across twenty randomly chosen switches, which is very close to the rated value and a testament to Cherry's quality assurance.


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 Mistel MD600 RGB sample at ~110 WPM. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I had a mix of both bottoming out and not when typing fast, if only because getting used to a light, linear switch that actuates at just 1.2 mm takes time I did not have.