3.5 Dual Layers
Last updated
Last updated
A dual activated layer also known as tap-hold activator is a combination between a normal key and a momentary layer. That is, when tapped, the key will output a keycode, but when held, will activate a momentary layer.
At first I used momentary layers and normal keys on my thumb keys. Later, I transitioned into using dual layers on all the momentary layers. I have 6 dual key layers and 0 momentary layers as of now.
One problem with dual layers arises when determining when a tap become a hold. If you slowly tap a key, you may activate a layer accidentally and can mess up your expected output. For this reason, there are 2 preference settings to adjust. This is specific to bazecor, the software I use but should have some similarity to QMK tapping term.
Overlap Threshold value: This value determines how long the layer will continue to stay activated after you let go of the layer.
If a shift layer is used as a dual function layer, then you want to have a low threshold value, else you will have mistakes like THe with 2 layer values activated instead of one.
I like this value at 1 so if I slightly tap a letter key before the dual key in nano seconds, then the layer will still activate. This value should be vary low though to avoid accidental consecutive layer outputs.
Hold Timeout value: This value determines the delay in the tap press.
If this value is 0 then tap will produce no value. If this value is max, then it will be instant.
I like this value at max so when I tap a key it appears instantly.
Using these settings will take some time to get used to, but ultimately will make you a better and more consistent typist. Key strokes should be swift, and if you are holding down on a key too long, then you will accidentally activate a layer. It may be frustrating at first, but can be easily improved upon in my experience. For practice, I used a typing site called keybr and under the setting, enabled capitalization to practice my shift and punctuation dual layer keys. A typing lesson below on keybr looks like:
Coung␣Thire␣The␣Thousant␣She␣Greads␣You␣More␣Eyes␣And␣Ful␣Assed␣Fall␣Can␣That␣Usuade␣Tell␣Who␣Been␣Did␣Every␣Sort␣She␣His␣You
If you are typing COung, THire then you need to lift your dual function key finger up more quickly.
There is a concept of home row mods, which use dual keys with letters and layers on the home row. Personally, I find home row mods hard to use because words I am less familiar with I type slower which makes it difficult to find threshold settings that work. I don't think I should slow my typing speed to make home row layers usable.