Raymond,

how about using two microphones at different distances and do some
editing.

That won't work because one mike will sound more present and the other more
distant. But the concept is otherwise valid. You could use one microphone,
through a splitter, and record the exact same source onto two separate
tracks. If one track is set 10 to 20 dB softer than the other you could
later edit/switch to the softer track if the louder one distorts.

--Ethan