Congrats. I love mine.
Check out this thread - the photos are very instructive:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,17020.0.htmlThe "front" assuming you are running anything but omnis as has been stated is the side with the ADK, the switch side is the back.
As has also been mentioned, I too use the prongs on the supermounts to eyeball align my mics to ~ 90 degree angle between the pair. Any other angle assume an imaginary line across the top of the mic running through the center from the switch side to the ADK emblem side is the same axis as the focal point for the actual diaphragms and go from there... Hold the mic up in a bright light and you can see the diaphragms behind the grill on the front and the back and then what I mean by the imaginary line across the middle should be obvious.
A few other suggestions:
Assuming you have the "Supermounts" - gray elastic bands, mad heavy:
1) Get clamps and whatever you need to run vertical instead of horizontal for coincident configs. Horizontal with that style of shockmount puts a lot of uneven stress on the bands - they are really only suitable for running the mics in a vertical position, with the tubes pointed either up or down - i.e. "sitting on the basket" or "hanging down from the basket".
2) The pattern switch does not have a really strong "click" action, so it's easily jogged during setup. After you have yoiur mics on the stand, angled and spaced, and ready to sky,
double check that the pattern switch is still where you wanted it to be as the next to the last step before you slip on the foams and lift 'em. Don't want to record a show only to realize you had the left on hyper and the right on card etc. May be obvious, but I still always double check this before I lift em.
3) Take ONE of the supermounts and disassemble it (you'll need to be able to look at an assembled one as a model). Then figure out how to string the bands. Trust me. your first reaction is gonna be "Why the hell did I want to fix something that's not broken?" Mine certainly was. But eventually you probably will find yourself in the position where one is broken. If you have not already done it at least a few or more times in a no pressure situation - like sitting at home - then all I can say is good luck doing it stressed and pressed for time in the field!!!
4) There has been some debate on whether the mic can fall through the mount if a band breaks. Assuming you have the "newer" style supermount, the mic can definitely drop if a band breaks. You should be able to look at it and tell if the center ring can or cannot fall through the outer ring, but I can post a pic of the newer style if you are not sure. (I'm not saying bands breaking is a big problem, it;s just a possibility). I leave a little slack in my cables but then wrap them with a generous amount of gaffers tape near the top of the stand so that if I were to break a band the taped cable should prevent a catastrophic dump of the mic itself.
Finally enjoy! I picked mine up this past fall, have only taped 6 shows with them so far, but... for those of us that don't have fortunes to spend on gear, to get a full kit - shocks, and 4 patterns, you've got a lot of bang for your buck. And price aside, the 51TL is just a damn fine microphone period.