Keyboard sound glossary
Thock: meaning, examples, and how to get it
In keyboard communities, thock describes a deeper, rounded, “poppy” keystroke sound—more low-end, less sharp click.
What makes a sound “thocky”?
“Thock” usually comes from a combination of switch feel, case acoustics, keycap material, and stabilizer tuning. People use it as the opposite of “clack,” which is brighter and higher-pitched.
- Lower pitch: less high-frequency “tink”, more bass and “pop”
- Controlled resonance: fewer hollow overtones and case ping
- Clean bottom-out: consistent stabilizers and minimal rattle
How to get a thock sound
A reliable “thock” recipe is a softer bottom-out, damped resonance, and solid keycap fit. If you want, I can tailor this to your exact board.
- Start with your case and mounting style (resonance matters most).
- Dial in stabilizers: lube, tune, and eliminate wire tick.
- Pick keycaps for tone (thicker caps generally sound deeper than thin ABS).
- Use foam/tape mods carefully to reduce hollowness and ping.
- Choose switches for your preference (tactile and some linears can be “thocky” depending on the rest of the build).
Thock on macOS
Thock is also a paid macOS app that emulates mechanical keyboard sounds with tactile, vintage-inspired switch profiles. If you’re looking for that satisfying feel while you type—without changing hardware—start on the home page.