tracking drums in a big room

[The Garage]

i've been tracking drums in a small room in my house. it's got a dry, tight sound to it. however, i'm interested in recording in my living room -- very large, high ceilings. it has great acoustics for classical music. i want to record the drums in there. i plan on close mic'ing everything -- two toms, kick, snare (top and bottom), and two overheads. this will give me a dry sound. i also want to put up a mic or two to capture some of the room. any suggestions? what are things i should avoid or try when tracking in a very live room?
and if you had access to a digimax lt, 2 avalon 737s, a manley preamp (forgot the model), and a joemeek vc1q, which preamps would you use on what? and if you had an la-2a compressor, what would you put it on? thanks.
-teddy

 

[chessrock]

I like the Behringer ecm8000's for room mics.

 

[tubedude]

Given that proper technique is being used and that everything is placed (room mics especially) where there are no phase problems, the room will sound much better and probably more natural. Learn the techiniques for getting in-phase room mics.
Being the smartie that I am, I would use the avalons as overheads since they are stereo, more or less... then probably the Manley on either snare or room mic, unless its a stereo unit, then I would use it on overheads OR snare AND room, then the VC1Q on kick with the compressor turned where it has that thick meekishness to it, sounds nice for a kick most times.
I would then focus ONLY on the overheads, kick and room mics since that will almost always get me 95% of drum sounds, and worry with the toms and shit later, if ever.
LA-2A on drum submix if possible, I think is where i would start on that thing.

 

[Kendog]

I'm thinking that you'd better have some damn heavy-duty mic stands if you're going to follow tubedude's advice and use your Avalons on the Overheads.

Ken Rutkowski
Outer Limit Recording Studio