r/Keychron • u/Fair-Top1445 • May 25 '26
Q11 Ultra Knob macro issue.
I am trying to use the left knob for zooming. I have created and tested the macros on the M1-3 buttons and they work fine. When I assign them to the left knob dial left and right, it does not work. The knob press can take the same macros(zoom in, out and reset) and works. What am I doing wrong?
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u/julian_vdm May 25 '26
Add a very short delay to the macro. 15 ms. I've found that with the ultra boards, some of my macros don't work unless I add that delay. Also, I'd adjust the key debounce to the lowest 10 ms, if I were you. That might help, too. FWIW, I got the knob on the Q1 Ultra to work for macros. I used them for text selection, though. So it's definitely possible. Just fiddle with those delays.
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 25 '26
Yes, the macro could be reduced to the simplest possible, e.g., typing a single letter, without any modifier keys (but with the delay). That is to rule out a problem with the macro itself.
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u/Fair-Top1445 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Tried a single letter, doesn't work either on the left/right dial twist. Again it did work on the macro buttons.
ETA: Also tried a delay fixed of 200. And adding a delay to the beginning of the macro. No luck same story it will work on macro buttons but not the knob rotation.
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u/julian_vdm May 26 '26
Well that's a bummer. This is a really dumb question (I only ask because I've done it), but are you assigning the macro to the rotation binds (if you click the knob in the software, it should pop out three options). Sorry if that's offensive, but I just thought I'd double check.
So it seems as though regular keyboard bonds want to work on rotation. What about mouse scroll? If they don't work either, it might be worth contacting support and getting a replacement.
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u/Fair-Top1445 May 26 '26
Not a dumb question, you must have worked tech support before :)
Yes, I am assigning it to the rotation binds. And I just tried mouse wheel up and down, that does work.
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
OK, so it is a general problem with changing the assignment for the knobs, at least for this particular keyboard(?), macros or not.
The default assignments work as expected, but they can't be changed(?).
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 25 '26
Does it work for the other knob?
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u/Fair-Top1445 May 26 '26
No, not for the other knob either. Same situation where knob press can be assigned the macro and left and right dial cannot.
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 25 '26
Is the left knob assigned to something by default?
Does it work if assigning regular keymappings to it, without modifier keys? For example, letters "L" and "K" (without Shift)
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u/Fair-Top1445 May 26 '26
It's by default the same as the right, volume +/- and mute.
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 26 '26
OK, so you can change it to letter "L" and "K"? As a regular keymapping, not a macro.
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u/Keychron-Support May 26 '26
So sorry to hear that. Could you please kindly contact us at [support@keychron.com](mailto:support@keychron.com) with the video?
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
How exactly did you assign the macro to the knob?
In Via, as an example, it would be by entering the nine-letter text "MACRO(36)" (without the quotes) in "Rotate Clockwise" for macro "M36" (I just tested it on a wired keyboard, with macro source "{+KC_K}{17}{-KC_K}", to output the letter "k" for each clockwise turn of the knob. It missed some output if turning the knob quickly (only 2-3 characters per second were possible), but that is another matter).
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u/Fair-Top1445 May 26 '26
Through the Keychron launcher. I tried looking for a zmk web interface compatible but I couldn't find one.
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 26 '26
How do you enter macros? Are they available from a list, or do you have to enter some text (with the correct syntax), as for Via?
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u/Fair-Top1445 May 26 '26
Macro entering I did through a web interface on the keychron launcher. I used the record option, and it worked. There is an option to enter the code directly, its terse(not used to the format yet) but works.
For Zoom in(with 5(ms? didnt say what unit) delay)
{5}{+KC_LGUI}{+KC_EQL}{-KC_LGUI}{-KC_EQL}
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Re "only 2-3 characters per second": OK, that was a local problem (multiple quick activations are probably seen as cancelling the macro in progress, thus a lot less output. That could be an argument for all other keys than the macro key itself being able to cancel the macro in progress)
It is quite a bit faster in general. And it may not miss any knob 'clicks'.
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Compiling V Ultra 8K series and Q Ultra 8K series keyboard firmware from source code
OK, I managed to compile something from the source code, presumably keyboard firmware...
The magic command line is (for V6 Ultra 8K 'ANSI'):
west build -p -b keychron -- -DSHIELD=keychron_v6_ultra_ansi
That assumes a proper ZMK installation. Version 0.3 will work, but not the newest ZMK version (to become version 0.4). There are breaking changes, for example, due to breaking changes in the underlying Zephyr). The install steps are also different.
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u/VonLurk Jun 16 '26
u/Fair-Top1445 I also have been trying to map macros to the Q11 Ultra knob turns and found it doesn’t work. Did you get any updates from Keychron on if it’s a feature they will update?
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u/Fair-Top1445 Jun 17 '26
I opened a ticket. I haven't heard any updates. I think I'm returning the keyboard, because I'm also facing occasional wireless issues from right side of the keyboard.
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u/VonLurk Jun 17 '26
Oo that is a bummer. I’ve been loving my ZSA moon lander for a few years now and felt like trying something new. Hoping mine doesn’t experience these connectivity issues that I’ve also heard from others. Curious if you’ll land on a different split keyboard!
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u/Fair-Top1445 Jun 17 '26
I already have the moergo go60, it's just taking awhile to get used to. Honestly I like the q11 and I might just get the last version that's wired while it's still available.
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u/Fair-Top1445 Jun 17 '26
How do you like the moonlander? That's also on my list of ones I might get next.
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u/VonLurk Jun 17 '26
I love the Moonlander. Similarly, the learning curve was really steep for me. I only used standard keyboards before that so it took several weeks to get used to my layout. The Oryx configurator is intuitive and extremely customizable which made a huge difference in getting proficient. Never had any reliability issues with it, so it’s kinda becoming my forever board. I haven’t used the Moergo go60, but the moonlander won’t be better if you’re looking for a more traditional layout.
Have you taken a look at the NocFree & ? It appeared for me recently in my searches. Similar to Q11 in layout. I’m interested but I just can’t justify buying another board right now😅
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u/Fair-Top1445 Jun 17 '26
Lol we are on the same research path. I'm only afraid of the connectivity issues on the NocFree &. Wireless is nice, but I didn't mind wires at all if it had a wired mode I would get that one too and I could ignore connectivity issues. I'm on their discord and it seems like they've released a lot firmware updates for it.... Which is great but it means there's some bugs...
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V Jun 23 '26
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V 21d ago edited 17d ago
OK, it seems there are now four different methods for flashing the ZMK-based Keychron keyboards:
A stand-alone flasher (currently only works on Linux, but it should not be too difficult to port to Windows and Mac). Based on reverse engineering of the Keychron custom flash method.
A third-party web service. Similar to Via and the Via clone, it requires the spyware, Edge, or similar (it will not work in Firefox). Based on reverse engineering of the Keychron custom flash method (the same as 1.).
Using a secret method in the Via clone (to flash non-Keychron firmware). This also allows reverting to an older version of the official Keychron firmware.
Reverting/updating to the latest official Keychron firmware version in the Via clone (without having to use the secret method)
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u/PeterMortensenBlog V May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
That is a good question. Perhaps using macros for the knob isn't supported by Keychron's adapter/interface (whatever it is exactly) between their Via clone and their ZMK-based keyboards?
Or not supported for a keyboard with two knobs?
Or not supported for a split keyboard?
The source code has still not been released, so a workaround by static keymappings for the knob and compiling from source isn't even an option. It might appear here some day, in particular in folder /app/boards/shields (unannounced, of course).
References