Since the recent release of our Wireless Backlit Editing Keyboard range we've been keen to hear what both novice and professional editors alike have to say about the new build, design and functionality of our latest offering. With this in mind we sent a Final Cut Wireless Backlit model over to creator, reviewer and all round camera-enthusiast; ZY Cheng to see what he makes of it.
With a YouTube channel where he not only analyses and reviews the latest tech but also talks his 189,000+ subscribers through various pieces of kit and practices to enhance their photography and filmmaking; we thought who better to asses our newest drop than ZY Cheng himself. After some silky smooth opening shots, and a brief overview of the keyboard and its purpose, he goes straight in to say "for seasoned editors and those just starting out there is there is value to be gained in terms of productivity boosts by having this keyboard on your desk". You can see his first impressions and full review by clicking below!
After some use he goes on to say that even with over five years experience using Final Cut Pro he goes on to say "I did surprise myself a bit with how much potential I wasn't tapping into on my keyboard - no pun intended" as he later highlights that having then given function at his fingertips "would often make the difference between slowly cursor navigating to the feature on screen or getting it instantaneously with a key press". ZY also points out that "if you want this on a laptop keyboard, or a iPad with Magic Keyboard, or you just prefer to use your Mac's keyboard; Editors Keys does make keyboard covers with these software specific labels" which are a great affordable alternative especially for those who tend to edit on the go. You can explore this collection by clicking below.
When it comes to the construction of the keyboard he points out the "fully metal build", the "shiny chamfered edges" and "USB type C" charging port. He then goes on to express how impressed he is by the keyboards backlighting; "this backlighting though is easily on of my favourite things about this keyboard" because he likes how you can "cycle between three different intensities of brightness with also the option to leave it completely off". He talks about the importance of this "big plus" in darkroom editing environments and shows that it will automatically enter sleep mode during periods of inactivity to reserve battery.
So I think we can all agree that this was a really nicely made video and a great breakdown of the new keyboard so big thanks to ZY Cheng for taking the time to put it together. If, like ZY, you're a Final Cut Pro user you might want to check out our range of LUT's and Plugins. If you're interested in adding a wireless backlit keyboard to your editing setup, but aren't a Final Cut Pro user, you can explore the full range by clicking below.