How to Remap(Custom Action) Key/Knob on Mechanical Keyboards

BACKGROUND

Mechanical Keyboard have become essential equipment for workers who spend most of their time in front of a computer, such as : Programmer, Editor, Content Creator, etc. In recent years, mechanical keyboards have increasingly segmented their market from budget, mid-range, to high-end segments for enthusiasts.

Of course, the budget segment will have many features cut, one of which is the lack of software for customization (remap/mapping) of key functions. If they do have software, it is usually basic software that sometimes does not offer all customization features. In this case, the customization of the knob function on the Ajazz AK820 and VortexSeries GT65 Lite keyboards.

DISCUSSION

An application that can be used to remap keyboard key functions, besides the keyboard's own software, is Microsoft PowerToys. Microsoft PowerToys can be officially downloaded from the Microsoft PowerToys or manually from the official Microsoft PowerToys GitHub page.

Here is how to change the knob button press action from mute to pause using Microsoft PowerToys:

1. Open Microsoft PowerToys
2. Choose Keyboard Manager
   Then click on 'Open Setting'
   Open Setting
3. Enable Keyboard Manager
   Enable Keyboard Manager
4. Choose 'Remap a Key'
   Remap a Key
5. Add Key
   

   Key mapping example 'press knob' to 'pause/play'

   
   *For number 1, simply press the knob, and it will automatically fill in.
   *For number 2, choose the action that will replace the knob button function, as shown in the image above, which is 'pause/play'.
   Then click on 'OK'
6. Result
   If it looks like the example below, then when the knob button is 'pressed', it will function as 'pause/play' for both video and audio media.
   Remap a Key

CONCLUSION

PowerToys can be effectively used to change the knob button function, which is rarely possible with the keyboard's own software. The author has tested it on the AJAZZ AK820 Dualtone and VortexSeries GT5Lite keyboards, and it works well.