Unlike the Vengeance K70 the K95 has a software suite, and it's been designed chiefly for the configuration of the G-Keys. The appearance and layout matches the software utilities of the M65 and M60 mice reviewed previously, which should come as no surprise. We should note that if the software for both Corsair mouse and K95 keyboard are installed they will appear in one unified utility with individual configuration panes. Different hardware can be selected in the top-right of the main software screen, where an icon representing each connected compatible hardware device is located.
We used the latest software revision at the time of testing: K95 Gaming Software Update - SW V1.0.0.4
In the case of the Vengeance K95 there are two main configuration screens: Assign Keys and Manage Profiles. The meat of the work goes on in Assign Keys, which is where macros can be created and assigned to the keyboard's G-Keys. Manage Profiles on the other hand allow the creation of new profiles, which can then be uploaded to the keyboard if desired.
Assign Keys
It's hard to imagine a design for this window which could be more simple. On the left, where the G-Keys would be located on the physical keyboard, is the 3 x 6 G-Key array. In a bar above that are four buttons, also mirrors the keyboard layout and representing Macro Recording and the selection of each of the Profile 'M-States'. You also select the active Profile and brightness level from this top bar.
Right-clicking on the G-Key brings up a small menu for exporting or importing each macro. Coupled with profile backups, this is one of the most robust macro handling systems we have seen.
Pressing MR and then selecting a G-Key starts the recording of a macro, ceasing once MR is pressed for a second time. It's worth noting that this mimics the keyboard operations when using Live Record functionality, and is a great example of Corsair reinforcing learning in their products by mirroring their operation. The maximum length of a macro is
A macro can be created with or without delays recorded between keypresses, and individual delays can be edited in software. Alternatively a G-Key can be assigned to a specific Windows task (Copy/Paste/Select All etc.) or individual keystrokes. The macro/assignment can also be set with specific repeat options, including a set number of loops per keypress or looping whilst the key is held down. We were able to assign a macro with over fifty keystrokes to a G-Key, and in total there are 54 assignments possible per profile.
Modes M1-M3 have separate assignments, and are perfect for games or other applications that have very varied modes. The primary, secondary and tertiary talent specs. of character classes in MMORPGs immediately came to mind, but other workflow patterns would almost certainly be able to benefit from it too. Building this in at the hardware level is excellent, and sets the K95 in a class of its own when it comes to mechanical keyboards we have tested.
Manage Profiles
By comparison, this window is bland but functional. Here you create profiles, edit them, back them up and if desired associate them with a particular application to be launched concurrently. If you intend to run K95 on a separate machine without software configuration utility installed you can choose to save a profile to the K95, placing all macros within the keyboard's on-board memory and eliminating the need for an interpretive software layer.
In terms of the competition, the Vengeance K95 lacks very little of importance. Perhaps the most obvious is the lack of synergy between Mouse and Keyboard - as it stands interactions with the keyboard won't affect an attached Corsair mouse, and visa-versa. Being able to set up the M1-M3 states to also reflect new mouse macro configurations would be quite powerful conceptually. Other than that, the software doesn't allow the selective reassignment of any non-G-Key, nor configuration of the lighting (which all happens in hardware). Neither is a deal-breaker, and as we've commented in the past this sort of full-customisation of non-macro keys is a little redundant if the software title is even average in having a PC-optimised control scheme.
So that's the Corsair K95 software - simple, robust and powerful. We've seen more in-depth tools for other keyboards in the past, but it's tailored near-perfectly for the hardware. Those who have experience with other Corsair peripheral config utilities should find it a breeze to use, and newcomers won't have any problems so long as they remember they have a right-click on their mouse. Yes. there's more which could in theory be added, but that might undermine the simplicity which makes it so usable.
