I'm looking for one to use at home. I want to record my drumming... so I can hear myself. ....just to hear my improvement or ...mistakes (change something on my drums or my technique so it sounds better). So I am looking for quality. I want to hear everything.... I don't want it to not be able to record my bass for example... or hear static because it's too loud. This is one that I've been keeping an eye on:http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/h4n/index.php
For home practice recording, it's amazing what can work. Even an old analog cassette machine with 2 well placed mics (stereo) can give good results for your purposes. [i still like cassette for the simplicity of it]:rolleyes:Lame
That said - These days we're livin' in a Digital World, something you've grown up with completely. The H4 is a cool machine as well (always read reviews first http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=zoom+H4,+pros+cons&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8). A drummer friend of mine has one. - - In a way, any machine w/ built in mics will require a bit of experimenting to get a good balance of your whole kit, from kick thru cymbal frequencies. - - Any recorder has the potential to distort (static) if the level is too hot coming in. The Zoom units probably both have compressor/limiter circuits to help prevent over-driving - my H2 does - called ACG - Auto Gain Control. It even has a compression pre-set called Comp3 for recording drums - though I haven't tried it - yet.
The simple point is, no matter what device you use, it'll take experimenting for the best placement to pick up your kit well.
One thing that can be very cool is if you have a little digital multi-track (or a small mixer into a 2 track/stereo recorder), you can set up separate mics for your kick, snare / hi-hat, toms, overhead, etc. - One can get away with 2, 3, 4, mics - like one per track on a small digital (or analog) multi-track with a dedicated mixer. That way, your drums can be recored/listened to/scrutinized a bit more closely - like kick on one track, for example.
BUT, this means extra mics / stands or clip ons for recording. Like anything, it can get compelicated electricit - plus mic placement won't always give you a true idea of what your drums really sound like. But, different mic and EQ techniques can flatter the sound of a drum, or make it sound like yuck - even if in reality, it doesn't.
Personally, for practice, keeping it simple is good. Since learning to record stuff is a similar path to learning an instrument, it's good to start simple, get good with simple, and improve on your gear and techniques as you grow.
In other words, an H4 (or H2) could be a good start, but it will take practice in placement of the recorder, as well as learning to best use its bells & whistles, to get the quality you want.
:confused: Aren't you glad you asked :p
P.S. DAVID HAS A VERY GOOD POINT ABOUT USING VIDEO