Thank you. I put an Aklot in my cart earlier today but haven't checked it out yet. I'm happy that you did this video! I would be at beginning level & having hand issues, it looks like the Aklot would be a bit easier on my hands, although I don't plan on playing with my fingers. (Tendonitis) I just want the sounds to relax & mentally detox by. Thanks again!
From this video, the Aklot seems much better to me, I like how it has feet for flat surfaces and I love the easier to play, thinner titanium that the aklot is made of
Thanks for watching. Personally, I think the Vibedrum sounds much much better but the Aklot is a really good value. Everyone hears things differently though, so if you like the Aklot's tone... go for it.
Excellent info. I noticed the same thing in a drum I bought (Rakumi). That one note resonates nearby notes. I realize I'm not going crazy now. And why this is happening. Need to return this and try another brand. THANKS :)
Nice comparison and great points! I think the vibe drum reminds me of my idiopan drums. Also made in the usa in melbourne florida I like both ! And i am thinking about the vibe drum now. They all have so much to offer. If you haven’t heard of a rav vast you have to hear it. I bought one in early 2017 after the idiopan and i was hooked. I was blessed to come 2nd place in a contest they sponsored and I won one. They are made in Russia. I will look for the video I made so you can hear it. I had only had the drum a short time at that point
You are really on my frequency (no pun intended). When I bought my first tongue drum, it was between the Idiopan and the VibeDrum. I've always wanted a Rav but they are a bit pricey. So cool that you won one! That cover of Snow Patrol is amazing. Absolutely beautiful. Such a cool idea!
poorness studios ha ha i know I kept going from one video to another of yours and felt that we liked to create a similar vibe. Glad i found you and subscribed!
Thanks. I'm working with a few different vendors to see if I can get a few more tongue drums. I'd love to do a comparison video of a bunch of them someday.
so interesting! I am a classical pianist, just bought my first small steel tongue drum and I have some difficulties tuning it precisely so it really sounds "full" in sound-quality...
Thanks for checking out the video. You'll probably find the higher end steel tongue drums like the VibeDrum or Idiopan sound a bit better with other instruments. The Chinese-made drums on Amazon sound pretty good by themselves, but they don't seem to fit in with other instruments. At least that's what I've found.
@@musicalmiscellany yes, I bought a chinese-steel tongue and I think if right tuned, all 8 "keys" (?) can sound nice/full. I will try to find somebody who is experienced in tuning those vehicles :-)
@@Piargane Check out www.vibedrums.com. Vernon, the owner, is a really nice guy and he will do custom scales upon request. I am completely blown away by their customer service.
Good comparison - however, the price point is so incredibly different, I don't know that it's a fair review - although, with the much lower price point and the great sound, the Aklot is the better drum in my opinion. 13 gauge stainless steel may be important to a professional drummer, but for home use the titanium alloy of the Aklot is the way to go for me at least. Being "made in the US" is actually a minus in my opinion as I am not American and like a lot of people here, I usual boycott US products until your next election at least :D
Is there a web forum, facebook group or other web site that is for learners? I'm needing to re-focus some of my creative energy back into music world. I have an ocarina which was plaing today but haven't in a few years, and my guitar hasn't been played in months. But I cannot put the time and cash investment into a physical hand drum right now, but I would like to get some of the rhythm and songs using an ipad app, before maybe buying a drum next year.
The Aklot is definitely more of an entry-level drum. I can't argue with you there. I do think it offers a decent amount of value for a beginner though.
If you're weird you're not alone. I like the look and the quality of the expensive one but when it comes to the sound I like the cheap Chinese drum a lot better.
@@Sourdoughgirl Everyone's ears prefer different sounds. Price doesn't necessarily have a bearing on that. You should go with what your ears tell you. One other thing to note (no pun intended), the Aklot is tuned in C Major at 440 Hz. This VibeDrum is tuned to an E minor augmented scale at 432 Hz. The average person's ears prefer C Major (and 440 Hz) because most western music is based on that. Scale could also have a factor in why something may sound more or less natural to you. To truly do an apples to apples comparison, they'd both have to be tuned in similar scales.
The price difference isn’t quite that dramatic but yes… there’s definitely a big difference. Like so many things in audio though… you pay a lot of money for small improvements. A $300 stereo is never three times as good as a $99 one but it is most certainly better. Thanks for watching.
At that time that I made the video, the Aklot was around $100 and the Vibedrum was a little over $200. Those prices could've changed, I haven't kept up. Regardless, I was pretty new to steel tongue drums when I made this video (but I was doing it at a viewer request). I later made this video with much more perspective on price and purpose. th-cam.com/video/OAYLlJSOSOw/w-d-xo.html I'd invite you to watch that one if you're unsure about the cost differences. I cover it in much more detail. Thanks for watching all the same.
Thank you! These kinds of comparisons are hard to find.
You're welcome. I hope it was helpful to you.
Thank you. I put an Aklot in my cart earlier today but haven't checked it out yet. I'm happy that you did this video!
I would be at beginning level & having hand issues, it looks like the Aklot would be a bit easier on my hands, although I don't plan on playing with my fingers.
(Tendonitis)
I just want the sounds to relax & mentally detox by.
Thanks again!
I'm glad to help. I do these videos hoping they help somebody so it's always good to hear things like this. Thanks for watching.
From this video, the Aklot seems much better to me, I like how it has feet for flat surfaces and I love the easier to play, thinner titanium that the aklot is made of
Thanks for watching. Personally, I think the Vibedrum sounds much much better but the Aklot is a really good value. Everyone hears things differently though, so if you like the Aklot's tone... go for it.
Really good comparisons.....Thank you very much!
You bet. I always hope somebody learns something from my videos so I appreciate your comment. Thanks for checking it out.
Thank you for this really thorough review. It's really helpful.
You're welcome. I'm glad I could help.
Great comparison video! Very thorough!
Thanks Steve. I tried to keep it objective.
Thank you. Very good comparison. Just might get the Aklot. Take care, Bob
Thanks for watching.
Excellent info. I noticed the same thing in a drum I bought (Rakumi). That one note resonates nearby notes. I realize I'm not going crazy now. And why this is happening. Need to return this and try another brand. THANKS :)
I'm glad to hear the video was helpful but sorry to hear the drum didn't work out for you. Good luck.
0:59 .. awesome for that note.
Nice comparison and great points! I think the vibe drum reminds me of my idiopan drums. Also made in the usa in melbourne florida I like both ! And i am thinking about the vibe drum now. They all have so much to offer. If you haven’t heard of a rav vast you have to hear it. I bought one in early 2017 after the idiopan and i was hooked. I was blessed to come 2nd place in a contest they sponsored and I won one. They are made in Russia. I will look for the video I made so you can hear it. I had only had the drum a short time at that point
Here is the video i did with the Rav vast
th-cam.com/video/72hV85Wh1Nk/w-d-xo.html
You are really on my frequency (no pun intended). When I bought my first tongue drum, it was between the Idiopan and the VibeDrum. I've always wanted a Rav but they are a bit pricey. So cool that you won one! That cover of Snow Patrol is amazing. Absolutely beautiful. Such a cool idea!
poorness studios ha ha i know I kept going from one video to another of yours and felt that we liked to create a similar vibe. Glad i found you and subscribed!
@@MariaCalfaDePaul I totally agree. Love your channel too.
poorness studios thanks so much!!
Thank you! Very helpful.
You're welcome. I do these videos hoping to help someone else so it's always good to hear that kind of feedback.
haha when he said "is thinner" at 2:24 he sounded flamboyant
Please review more of these
Thanks. I'm working with a few different vendors to see if I can get a few more tongue drums. I'd love to do a comparison video of a bunch of them someday.
so interesting! I am a classical pianist, just bought my first small steel tongue drum and I have some difficulties tuning it precisely so it really sounds "full" in sound-quality...
Thanks for checking out the video. You'll probably find the higher end steel tongue drums like the VibeDrum or Idiopan sound a bit better with other instruments. The Chinese-made drums on Amazon sound pretty good by themselves, but they don't seem to fit in with other instruments. At least that's what I've found.
@@musicalmiscellany yes, I bought a chinese-steel tongue and I think if right tuned, all 8 "keys" (?) can sound nice/full. I will try to find somebody who is experienced in tuning those vehicles :-)
@@Piargane Check out www.vibedrums.com. Vernon, the owner, is a really nice guy and he will do custom scales upon request. I am completely blown away by their customer service.
I like the sound of the Aklot better. It's also very much cheaper. I paid $49 and $12 dollars shipping.
Thanks for watching the video.
Aklot with fingers.
Vibe with mallets.
The VibeDrum does really have a nice ring with mallets. Thanks for watching.
solid comparison video!
Thanks. I hope it was helpful.
Good comparison - however, the price point is so incredibly different, I don't know that it's a fair review - although, with the much lower price point and the great sound, the Aklot is the better drum in my opinion. 13 gauge stainless steel may be important to a professional drummer, but for home use the titanium alloy of the Aklot is the way to go for me at least. Being "made in the US" is actually a minus in my opinion as I am not American and like a lot of people here, I usual boycott US products until your next election at least :D
Understood. Glad to help. :-)
Is there a web forum, facebook group or other web site that is for learners? I'm needing to re-focus some of my creative energy back into music world. I have an ocarina which was plaing today but haven't in a few years, and my guitar hasn't been played in months. But I cannot put the time and cash investment into a physical hand drum right now, but I would like to get some of the rhythm and songs using an ipad app, before maybe buying a drum next year.
There may be but I don't know of one. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Haha guess the wind & the plants dance with ur tongue drums play
The wind was very vocal I guess. Ha ha.
you can buy the akot drum at walmart. enough said? sometimes (almost always) you do get what you pay for.
The Aklot is definitely more of an entry-level drum. I can't argue with you there. I do think it offers a decent amount of value for a beginner though.
Agreed, i was looking at aklot but eeegh...sounds dreadful.
I’m not a musician and the cheap drum sounds better to my ears. Is that weird?
Not at all. Everyone's ears are different. There's nothing to say that one instrument is better or worse, just different.
If you're weird you're not alone. I like the look and the quality of the expensive one but when it comes to the sound I like the cheap Chinese drum a lot better.
@@Sourdoughgirl Everyone's ears prefer different sounds. Price doesn't necessarily have a bearing on that. You should go with what your ears tell you. One other thing to note (no pun intended), the Aklot is tuned in C Major at 440 Hz. This VibeDrum is tuned to an E minor augmented scale at 432 Hz. The average person's ears prefer C Major (and 440 Hz) because most western music is based on that. Scale could also have a factor in why something may sound more or less natural to you. To truly do an apples to apples comparison, they'd both have to be tuned in similar scales.
the real difference is price. the AKLOT is $65 the VIBE is $380. no small difference
The price difference isn’t quite that dramatic but yes… there’s definitely a big difference. Like so many things in audio though… you pay a lot of money for small improvements. A $300 stereo is never three times as good as a $99 one but it is most certainly better. Thanks for watching.
50 dollars vs 220 dollars.
???
At that time that I made the video, the Aklot was around $100 and the Vibedrum was a little over $200. Those prices could've changed, I haven't kept up. Regardless, I was pretty new to steel tongue drums when I made this video (but I was doing it at a viewer request). I later made this video with much more perspective on price and purpose. th-cam.com/video/OAYLlJSOSOw/w-d-xo.html I'd invite you to watch that one if you're unsure about the cost differences. I cover it in much more detail. Thanks for watching all the same.
@@musicalmiscellany Was just an observation. The video was actually pretty good. Got a subscriber. Keep it going brutha. Good stuff
@@johnsuggs7828 I appreciate it. Thanks for tuning in.