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Tadak › Typing sounds for writing
Writing to a deadline? Here's how to use typing sounds
Plenty of people who type for hours — reporters, editors, writers, anyone producing reports — say their hands loosen up with the sound of a keyboard. This isn't a promise that it works. It's a rundown of the real situations you hit with the sound on.
Short answer
- Start with it on for the first draft and off for editing. When your hands are moving fast the sound becomes a rhythm; when you're reading and revising, it can get in the way.
- Always turn it off while transcribing audio. The typing sound blends into the recording you're listening to.
- Pick a light sound. Loud, clicky sounds get tiring over a long day.
When to turn it on or off
| Task | Sound | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First draft — getting it all out | On | The rhythm of your typing comes back as sound when you're speeding up |
| Editing — reading and revising | Off, or low volume | It can snag when you read lines aloud or follow them with your eyes |
| Transcribing audio | Off | The typing sound overlaps the voice you are transcribing |
| Phone or video interviews | Off, or earphones | So the other side doesn't hear it. Details |
Sounds that suit writing
Of Tadak's 6 free sounds, start by listening to these two:
- Typewriter (old-school metallic clack) — suits writing work, and each keystroke is distinct.
- Membrane Keyboard (soft, muffled tap-tap) — easy to leave on for hours.
“Mechanical Keyboard” (that Cherry MX Blue click) is satisfying but can wear on you if left on all day. Within the mechanical family, “Cherry MX Red” is linear and quiet, with a deep low end, so try that one first (Red is among the 24 paid sounds).
So the sound doesn't distract you at the deadline
- Change the sound before you start. Picking one in the middle of a deadline only burns time.
- Learn the mute shortcut, Ctrl+Alt+K, first. When a meeting starts or a call comes in, you need to be able to kill it at once.
- Tadak mutes automatically while a Zoom, Teams, Discord or Skype window is active. Other calling apps aren't muted automatically, so turn it off yourself.
Hear a few
Three of the sounds in Tadak that we recorded ourselves. Press to listen.
If you're on Windows
Tadak — add the sound, nothing else
A tray app for Windows 10 and 11. Wherever you write — Word, Notepad, a web editor — every keystroke plays the sound, and one shortcut turns it off.
- 30 sounds built in — 6 free with no time limit; unlock all of them for $3.90, once (no subscription)
- Shortcut mute — Ctrl+Alt+K; it also auto-mutes while Zoom, Teams, Discord or Skype is the active window
- What you type is not stored or sent — it only sees that a key was pressed and what kind of key it was. Works offline
- To be upfront — the installer isn't code-signed yet, so Windows SmartScreen shows a warning. Click More info → Run anyway
FAQ
Does turning sound on make me type faster?
There's no evidence to say so. It changes how typing feels rather than how fast you go, and that varies a lot from person to person.
Is my text stored or sent anywhere?
No. It only sees that a key was pressed and what kind of key it was (letter, space, enter and so on) to choose a sound, and discards which character it was right after playing it. It works the same without an internet connection. Details
I already have a mechanical keyboard — do I need this?
Probably not. It's for when you want to add sound to a laptop or membrane keyboard.