KinesisGaming KB950-BLU, KB950-RED, KB950-BRN User Manual

User Manual

Programmable

KB950

Backlit Split

Mechanical

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22030 20th Avenue SE, Suite 102

Bothell, Washington 98021 USA

Kinesis Corporation

Keyboard models covered by this manual:

[e-mail], [e-mail]

 KB950-BLU

 KB950-RED

 KB950-BRN

September 20, 2017 Edition

This manual covers features included through firmware version 1.0.0. To download the latest firmware
and to access all support resources visit www.KinesisGaming.com/Support.

To shop for accessories visit KinesisGaming.com/Accessories:

 Lift Kit (AC910)- Adjustable tenting accessory (5°/10°/15°) for use with Palm Supports

 V3 Pro (AC930)- Adjustable tenting accessory (5°/10°/15°) for use without Palm Supports (coming

soon)

 Palm Pads (AC700blk)- Cushioned palm pads for use with Palm Supports

www.KinesisGaming.com

© 2017 by Kinesis Corporation, all rights reserved. Kinesis and Freestyle are registered trademarks of Kinesis
Corporation. Freestyle Edge, SmartSet, and v-Drive are trademarks of Kinesis Corporation. All other
trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any commercial purpose, without the
express written permission of Kinesis Corporation.

FCC Radio Frequency Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide

reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio

frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee

that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning

the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver

 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected

 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help

Warning

To assure continued FCC compliance, the user must use only shielded interfacing cables when connecting to computer or peripheral. Also, any unauthorized changes or

modifications to this equipment would void the user’s authority to operate.

INDUSTRY CANADA COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interface-causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet Appareil numerique de la classe B respecte toutes les exiginces du Reglement sur le material broilleur du Canada.

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Table of Contents

1.0 Read Me First………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4

1.1 Health and Safety Warning……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

1.2 Quick Start Guide………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

1.3 Read this User's Manual………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

2.0 Keyboard Overview………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 4

2.1 Specifications………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

2.2 Features…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

2.3 Package Contents…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5

2.4 System Requirements…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5

2.5 Installation…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5

3.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

3.1 Backlight On/Off……..…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

3.2 Dual Layer Layouts (Embedded Fn Layer)……………………………………………………………………………… 6

3.3 Multimedia Actions…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

3.4 Programming Cluster………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

3.5 Indicator LEDs……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6

3.6 Removable Palm Supports……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

3.7 SmartSet Programming Engine- Onboard Shortcuts………………………………………………………………….. 7

3.8 Adjustable Linking Cable………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7

3.9 Game Bank…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7

4.0 SmartSet Onboard Programming………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8

4.1 Layouts……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

4.2 Recording Macros…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 8

4.3 Remapping Keys…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9

4.4 Run Status Report…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10

4.5 v-Drive………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10

4.6 Adjust Global Macro Speed………………………………………………………………………………………………. 11

4.7 NKRO Mode………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11

4.8 Game Mode………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11

4.9 Reset– Soft & Hard……………………………..…………………………………………………………………………. 11

4.10 Refresh Settings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

4.11 Program Lock………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12

4.12 Update Firmware………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12

4.13 Adjust Status Report Playback Speed…………………………………………………………………………………… 12

4.14 Force v-Drive Open………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

4.15 Adjust Custom Backlighting Mode……………………………………………………………………………………….. 12

5.0 SmartSet Programming App…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13

6.0 Direct Programming………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 14

6.1 Programming Layouts…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14

6.2 Position Token Map……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15

6.3 Action Token Dictionary…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 16

6.4 Programming Remaps……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 17

6.5 Programming Macros……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17

6.6 Programming Settings…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18

6.7 v-Drive Repair………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 18

7.0 Maintenance………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 19

8.0 Technical Support, Repairs, and Returns…………………………………………………………………………………….. 19

9.0 Warranty & Limitation of Liability……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19

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1.0 Read Me First

1.1 Health and Safety Warning

Continuous use of any keyboard may cause aches, pains or more serious cumulative trauma disorders such
as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome, or other repetitive strain disorders.

 Exercise good judgement in placing reasonable limits on your keyboarding time every day.

 Follow established guidelines for computer and workstation setup.

 Maintain a relaxed keying posture and use a light touch to press the keys.

Keyboard is not a medical treatment

This keyboard is not a substitute for appropriate medical treatment! If any information in this guide appears to
contradict your health care professional’s advice, please follow your health care professional’s advice.

No warranty of injury prevention or cure

Kinesis bases its product designs on research, proven features and user evaluations. However, because of
the complex set of factors believed to contribute to computer-related injuries, the company can make no
warranty that its products will prevent or cure any physical ailment. Your particular risk of injury may be
affected by workstation and chair design, posture, time worked without breaks, type of work, activities outside
the workplace, and/or individual physiology.

1.2 Quick Start Guide

If you are eager to get started, please consult the included Quick Start Guide. The Quick Start Guide can also
be downloaded from KinesisGaming.com/Support. Consult this full User Manual for detailed descriptions of
both basic and advanced features.

1.3 Read This User’s Manual

Even if you don’t normally read manuals or you are a long-time user of Kinesis keyboards, we strongly
encourage you to review this entire manual. The Freestyle Edge is a fully-programmable keyboard with
powerful tools and features. If you unknowingly execute a programming shortcut or key combination, you
could inadvertently alter the layout of your keyboard which might necessitate a Hard Reset of the keyboard.

If you have no plans to re-program the keyboard and would like to disable all programming features see
Section 4.11.

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2.0 Keyboard Overview

2.1 Specifications

 Compact tenkeyless design with standard US ANSI key layout

 6’ USB cable and 20” adjustable linking cable

 2 year limited warranty

 Dimensions:

 With Palm Supports: 1.25” tall x 15.5” wide x 10.25” deep

 Without Palm Supports: 1.25” tall x 15.5” wide x 7.25” deep

 Weight: 2.8 lbs

2.2 Features

 Premium Cherry® MX mechanical switches

 Brilliant blue LED backlighting with 12 custom lighting modes

 SmartSet Programming Engine

 9 dual-layer, fully-programmable layouts

 4MB onboard memory (the v-Drive™)

 Multimedia actions in the embedded Fn layer

 Game Bank with 8 programmable game keys for binding macros and custom key actions

 Available Game Mode & NKRO Mode

 1000mz polling

 100% anti-ghosting

2.3 Package Contents

 Freestyle Edge mechanical keyboard & detachable Palm Supports

 SmartSet Programming App for Windows (preinstalled on the Edge’s v-Drive)

 Quick Start Guide

2.4 System Requirements

 Windows® 7-10, MacOS® X v10.6+, Chrome OS® or Linux® & full-size USB Port

2.5 Installation

To install the Freestyle Edge simply plug the USB cable into a full-size USB port on your computer. The Edge
does not require the installation of any special software or drivers or an internet connection.

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3.0 Introduction

3.1 Backlight On/Off

The Freestyle Edge is equipped with brilliant blue LED backlighting for
gaming in low-light conditions. Tap the LED key to quickly toggle between
Off and the Custom setting. See Section 4.17 for details on adjusting the
Custom setting.

3.2 Dual Layer Layouts (Embedded Fn Layer)

The Freestyle Edge has two separate layers so each of the 95 full-size keys
can be programmed to perform two unique actions per Layout– a top layer
action and an “embedded” Fn layer action. Tap the Fn key to toggle
between the top layer and the Fn layer. The Fn indicator light will illuminate
while the Fn layer is active.

The default Fn layer actions mirror the top layer except for 7 keys
which have unique actions: the F1-F6 keys (multimedia actions)
and the Pause key (Insert). These 7 keys have secondary key
legends at the bottom of the keycap.

Embedded Fn Layer actions shown in white

3.3 Multimedia Actions

Change your audio on the fly by accessing the 6 standard
multimedia actions by using the Fn key to toggle on the Fn layer.
These multimedia actions can be reassigned to any key on the
keyboard in either layer using onboard programming (see Section

Mute

4.3) or the SmartSet App (see Section 5).

3.4 Programming Cluster

The four Programming Cluster keys enable quick and easy onboard
reprogramming (see Section 4). The Layout key toggles between the 3
primary layouts (1, 2, and 3), the Macro key controls on-the-fly macro
recording, and the Remap key controls onboard remapping (aka rebinding).
The 4th key is the SmartSet Key, and it controls all onboard programming
shortcuts.

3.5 Indicator LEDs

The two Layout LEDs indicate which layout is currently active. The Macro
LED flashes when on-the-fly macro recording is in progress. The Remap
LED flashes when onboard remapping is in progress. The SmartSet LED
flashes to confirm certain programming commands.

Volume

Down

Volume

Up

Play/

Pause

Previous

Track

Next

Track

SmartSet

Key

The four indicator LEDs in the upper right corner of the right key module are
Caps Lock, Game Mode (see Section 4.8), Scroll Lock, and the Fn Layer.

Note: Num Lock can be enabled but there is indicator LED on the Edge.

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