I've been influenced most (I think) by all the Motown greats, 70's rock, & my friends & family.
here's what I use;
Cubase SX, with a Presonus Firepod Audio interface, providing 8 line in/powered channels for simultaneous recording of drums. Windows XP home edition. I store all music files on my 200 gig WD external hard drive. Of course my 1908 Ludwig snare, in addition to my 1996 DW 6 piece drum kit with 5" maple snare, 22" kick, 10", 12", 14", 16" toms (all off floor mounts) and 20" Zildjian custom ride, 15" thin crash, 18" Sabian AA china crash, Sabian 12" AAX splash, 1979 Zildjian 14" hihats with heavy bottom. Tama Iron Cobra double kick pedals circa 1990.
I also have some sweet Gon Bop Bongos, and congas, and various shaker things.
microphones include my AKG d112 kick mic, audix f15 active overheads, (2) & audix f10 tom/snare mic's. I typically record with one on kick, two overheads, one snare, one mic on top tome, one mic on floor toms. I usually play my kit as a 5 piece, with one tom on top, two on the floor, snare, kick, and cymbals just describes. ! have assorted other cymbals in Zildjian and Sabian but this is my typical setup.
Eric, you are one of the BEST drummers I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I know you will not accept this, but you DO remind me of the late, great Jeff Porcaro!