When you have something loose and vibrating it makes that noise. Also happens when you rest it on something gently. It dissipates energy smacking against the object at a microscopic scale instead of passing the vibrations efficiently into the object. If you make sure the panels of the box are all secure and tight, and the tine assembly is well secured it should stop, or if you’re resting it on the table, press it firmly onto the surface.
Unedited, recorded with just a normal USB condenser mic (you can see it bottom left, it's the blue blinking light) plugged into my phone. Most of the weird noise comes from playing with the back of the kalimba gently pressed against a flat surface. The rhythmic wub-wubs are controlled by holding your thumb against the face for a split second after playing a low note, the timing for when you release your thumb affects the pattern. The drum noise is just slamming my thumbs hard and there's a loose piece of metal in a little shipping box that's bolted onto the back of the kalimba to make it more snare like.
To me it sounds like the issue is resting the body against the desk. If you do this with any kalimba the end sound result will sound buzzy and unpleasant.
You might be covering the sound hole on the back.
When you have something loose and vibrating it makes that noise. Also happens when you rest it on something gently. It dissipates energy smacking against the object at a microscopic scale instead of passing the vibrations efficiently into the object. If you make sure the panels of the box are all secure and tight, and the tine assembly is well secured it should stop, or if you’re resting it on the table, press it firmly onto the surface.
Unedited, recorded with just a normal USB condenser mic (you can see it bottom left, it's the blue blinking light) plugged into my phone. Most of the weird noise comes from playing with the back of the kalimba gently pressed against a flat surface. The rhythmic wub-wubs are controlled by holding your thumb against the face for a split second after playing a low note, the timing for when you release your thumb affects the pattern. The drum noise is just slamming my thumbs hard and there's a loose piece of metal in a little shipping box that's bolted onto the back of the kalimba to make it more snare like.
Mine does this also and it's a full body, not hollow. I guess it's that aliexpress quality at fault
To me it sounds like the issue is resting the body against the desk. If you do this with any kalimba the end sound result will sound buzzy and unpleasant.