ALBUM

Album is a handwired 36-key split keyboard with a custom firmware for the Atmega32u4 MCU.

Specifically Adafriut's ItsyBitsy Atmega32u4 16MHz 5V version found here.

It has a column-stagger with each half having two thumb keys and a TOTEM inspired pinky key.
The inital version did have a significant splay on the outer columns and the thumb keys, however my 3D printer had enough issues with layer shifting and thus I had to simplify it for V1.

Album firmware currently runs the master code on the LEFT and the slave on the RIGHT.
Master can be connected to any computer over the Atmega32u4 Micro-B port.
The master and the slave parts can be connected over the TRRS jack.

The Album firmware does not plan to rival others like QMK, instead it was a challenging but fun process to plan and build out the features that I personally wanted to use.
A previous DEMO version used a single 3x3 macro-pad style keyboard and a VIAL-like keymap updater (through the USB-HID Vendor Reports) that does not need to compile or re-flash the firmware just to update a single keymap value change. It recieved a correct HID Report in a format according to a very simple protocol and overwrote the keymap in SRAM but also the stored keymap in EEPROM.
Very nice.

I am working on the new version for the V1 release and so far it seems very promising!

On the Source

This is a final project for an IoT- and Embedded Systems Degree, the final source will be published at the end of the project.
The source code will be come with the corresponding dependencies and build scripts for compiling everything along with the USB layer/keymap/macro updater scripts.

Case and Materials

The STL files can be found here.
The bill-of-materials can be found here link.

Photos

Credits

Really cool initial inspiration from the TOTEM keyboard in terms of visual design.
TOTEM Keyboard by GEIGEIGEIST

Fantastic website with lots of references for keyboard design!
kbd.news

Great jumping off point to be able to start working on a deeper implementation of USB-HID on the Atmega32u4.
KMani314's Atmega32u4 HID Keyboard

Font is Cinzel-Regular by ndiscovered, you can download it here

Switch and Keycaps:
Switch (Kailh Choc low-profile white/clicky)
Keycaps (Choc low-profile 1U white)

If you are going to make your own, I would recommend using slient tactile switches instead. The clicky ones are slightly echo-y in the V1 case unless you add support foam etc...