# KeyAxis: decoding a magnetic keyboard's analog HID stream

> KeyAxis documents the HID travel stream of keyboards using the 0416:7372 controller and turns key depth into virtual gamepad axes. Its protocol notes specify the vendor interface, ARM and DISARM commands, 64-byte host reports and row, column and depth fields recovered from captured traffic.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Protocol
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-06
- Original resource: <https://github.com/RigZeeel/KeyAxis>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/RigZeeel/KeyAxis/blob/53a7e1b267083ce8a979aea95635a4391962020a/PROTOCOL.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/keyaxis-keyboard-hid-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/keyaxis-keyboard-hid-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/keyaxis-keyboard-hid-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A keyboard exposing USB ID 0416:7372 and Windows 10/11 x64 are required; gamepad output needs ViGEmBus.
- **Prerequisites:** Running from source requires Python 3.9 or later.
- **Limits:** The on-screen layout covers 68 keys; vJoy output is planned.
- **License:** MIT license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/RigZeeel/KeyAxis/blob/53a7e1b267083ce8a979aea95635a4391962020a/PROTOCOL.md>
2. <https://github.com/RigZeeel/KeyAxis/blob/53a7e1b267083ce8a979aea95635a4391962020a/README.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.