On July 1, 2026, the YouTube channel “monograph/ Hidetaka Horiguchi” shared an update report on the prototype version of the “conductor” split trackball keyboard, along with the current development status for mass production.
The conductor is a minimalist keyboard that combines a split layout with a trackball.
Based on the QAZ layout (a keyboard with 5 columns per side) and utilizing an ortholinear (grid) layout, many people might feel it’s closer to a “gadget” than a traditional keyboard.
Currently, a prototype version is being sold to channel members.
What we want to focus on this time is the major update to “conductor studio,” the dedicated app for configuring the conductor.
An update has been implemented that dramatically smooths out the process of “memorizing the keymap,” which is the biggest hurdle when using a small keyboard.
Additionally, the video revealed that work on the mass-production version (to be manufactured in a factory) is progressing in parallel with this prototype version.
While avoiding a specific release date, it was mentioned that they are “aiming for somewhere between late summer and early autumn,” suggesting that both the hardware and software are already reaching a certain level of completion.
With split keyboards gaining attention lately, there is a lot of interest in how the production version of the conductor—with its 17mm pitch keycaps and even fewer keys—will be received by the Japanese keyboard scene.
In this article, we will take a look at the major update to “conductor studio.”
This content provides an overview of the video’s details. For more information, please watch the published video.
Compact trackball models like the conductor are very attractive, but if you’re choosing a split keyboard for the first time, make sure to check the differences in key count and layout.
The conductor is a keyboard that combines a compact split layout with a trackball.
It was developed by Mr. Horiguchi from monograph.
Based on a 5-column by 4-row layout per hand—a so-called “QAZ layout”—its biggest feature is that it allows for typing and trackball operation while maintaining the home position.
Furthermore, the use of 17mm pitch keycaps achieves an even more compact appearance.
QAZ layout. The keymap shown is the author’s default.
In recent years, interest in “split trackball keyboards,” pioneered by the Keyball series, has been growing.
Looking at this conductor update, a major characteristic seems to be the effort to improve “ease of use” through dedicated software, rather than just creating a split trackball keyboard as hardware.
プロトタイプ版の製品仕様
Split layout
19mm thumb trackball
40-key ortholinear (grid) layout
Compatible with Kailh Choc V2 low-profile switches
Keycap design compatible with narrow pitch (17mm)
Wireless connection
Key customization via ZMK Studio
Switch between up to 4 devices
MagSafe-compatible magnets on the bottom
USB-C charging
Long battery life (approx. 15 days for the right hand and 1.5 months for the left hand on a full charge)
Quoted from Plot. Some phrasing has been modified.
It has been announced that since the prototype version is 3D printed and hand-assembled, there may be layer lines and individual variations in color.
Update Details for the conductor “Prototype Version”
Let’s look at the conductor update details introduced in the video.
The updates are divided into hardware (changes to keycaps and switches) and software (conductor studio).
Manufacturing of the “production version conductor” is currently underway, and it’s at the stage where it’s “finally taking shape.”
At this point, it is still in the development stage, and no official release date or price has been announced.
While this update is for the prototype version, the features will be carried over to the production version.
While previous prototypes used 3D-printed keycaps, future distributions will come standard with “notra” PBT injection-molded keycaps.
Since notra is an injection-molded product, the keycaps will have a higher, commercial-grade quality.
Commercially available keycaps compatible with a 17mm pitch are limited to options like the Tai-Hao MT 165, so this is great news for those who weren’t satisfied with 3D-printed keycaps.
Individual sales of notra will also continue.
Switches changed to 35g linear based on Kailh Choc V2
A particularly noteworthy part of this update is the evolution of the dedicated software, “conductor Studio.”
A Mac app version of conductor studio has been prepared.
It was explained that it was developed as an app not only to run more smoothly than the previous browser version but also to handle PC-side behaviors that are difficult to achieve with the keyboard alone.
Learning and mastering a small keyboard involves a certain amount of switching cost.
conductor studio gives the impression of being built to function as a sufficient support tool for this switching cost.
About conductor studio
Let’s look at the newly announced conductor studio Mac app.
The functions introduced here are excerpts from the video. Please watch the video for full details.
Display the keymap on screen
In conductor studio, you can display your current keymap on the screen.
Because small keyboards have fewer keys than standard ones, missing keys must be placed on “hidden layers.”
This placement varies by individual, and memorizing it is the biggest switching cost of a small keyboard.
Our editorial team believes this “keymap display function” has the potential to solve this dramatically.
Since conductor Studio can display the keymap on the screen, you can check the current key layout while using it without having to look at a paper cheat sheet or reopen the settings screen, which could significantly lower the learning cost.
The display size and transparency can also be adjusted, allowing it to be kept on screen at all times without getting in the way of your work.
This is more than just a convenience; it’s a system that uses software to compensate for the “difficulty of memorizing” a layered keyboard.
Real-time feedback for pressed keys and layers
Even more interesting is how the conductor hardware and conductor Studio work together.
When connected via Bluetooth, the keys you press are reflected in real-time on the on-screen keymap.
In other words, the on-screen keymap isn’t just a static image.
The keys you actually press are displayed visually, allowing you to see which key you’re currently pressing and which layer you’re in.
When you press a layer button, the keymap content changes accordingly, so you can visually see which keys are assigned to the hidden layer.
We consider this point to be revolutionary for using small keyboards.
The real-time display in conductor Studio is perhaps the most appropriate feature for significantly lowering the learning cost of a small keyboard.
Inertial scrolling support for a Mac-like feel
Inertial scrolling has also been integrated into conductor Studio.
With typical third-party mice or trackballs, scrolling can feel choppy and lacks the smooth inertial scroll of a Mac trackpad.
The video explained that the functionality previously provided by Mac Mouse Fix has now been integrated into conductor Studio.
Enabling inertial scrolling makes the behavior feel smooth and fluid, replicating the feel of a genuine Mac trackpad.
Furthermore, the smoothness and the way the inertia extends can be finely adjusted.
It’s wonderful to have such granular control.
It was also explained that detailed settings for cursor acceleration during trackball operation are now possible.
Supports combos and gestures in addition to keymap editing
conductor Studio also supports editing the keymap itself.
In addition to changing key assignments, a “combo” function—which triggers a different action by pressing multiple keys simultaneously—was introduced.
While it’s great that the original ZMK Studio now allows keymap changes via a GUI, intuitive operation is currently difficult as keys must be selected from pull-down menus.
In that regard, being able to change the keymap intuitively with this GUI is fantastic.
For combos and gestures, an example was shown where pressing the I and O keys simultaneously while moving the cursor triggers gesture operations like switching desktops or launching Mission Control.
On keyboards with few keys, simply reducing the number of keys would decrease usability.
Instead, you need to achieve more operations than the physical key count by combining layers, combos, and gestures. In this sense, the usability of conductor Studio feels exceptionally high.
Device-specific keymaps for switching between Mac and Windows
conductor Studio also supports device-specific keymaps.
The conductor has multiple Bluetooth profiles and is designed to be used with multiple devices.
The video introduced a feature to name each device for easier management, along with the ability to assign a default keymap for each connection destination.
This is extremely important, especially for users who use both Mac and Windows.
Modifier keys function differently depending on the OS—for example, Command+C for copy on Mac and Control+C on Windows.
Therefore, to maintain the same feel, you’ll want to switch the key layout for each device you connect to.
In conductor Studio, you can create and assign keymaps for each device, such as a MacBook, Windows PC, iPad, or Android device.
For users who want to use the same keyboard across multiple environments, this is a very practical feature.
Support for switching between US and JIS “Layout Display”
In conductor studio, you can switch the keymap setting “display” between “Japanese layout” and “English layout.”
Keyboard input signals vary depending on the settings of the receiving OS.
For example, suppose the OS recognizes the conductor as a “Japanese layout.”
In that case, pressing the “2” key with Shift will input a “”.
On the other hand, if the OS recognizes the conductor as an “English layout,” pressing the “2” key with Shift will input an “@”.
Thus, the OS recognizes keycodes differently depending on the layout it’s set to.
In other words, you can easily imagine how inconvenient it would be to change the keymap in a Japanese layout environment without this US/JIS switching function.
I suspect this level of consideration comes from Mr. Horiguchi’s experience developing split keyboards and typing in various environments, as well as feedback from the Discord channel.
Both hardware and software are essential for the spread of split keyboards
Our editorial team believes that the key to the spread of split keyboards is not just the hardware, but also essential software updates.
Particularly for small keyboards, the ability to visualize keys on the “hidden layers” you’ve set is crucial for minimizing switching costs.
We are currently seeing the arrival of a true “split keyboard boom.”
We believe this feature is what will prevent this boom from being a passing fad and keep people from thinking, “It’s just too difficult for me.”
The conductor isn’t just about making a split trackball keyboard as hardware; the fact that it’s designed to include the process of the user mastering the input experience seems to be a clear point of difference from other split keyboards.
We look forward to seeing the specifications and price of the mass-production version, given the usability of the updated conductor Studio.
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