Which is left/right in X/Y stereo mic setup?

[EddieRay]

Sorry if this is a newbie question but:

In some of the stereo recording mic configs I've learned about it's obvious that the left mic, pointing left of center, should go to a left track, and the right mic should go to a right track.

But in an X/Y setup, the left mic is point to the right, and the right mic is pointing to the left. So should the left mic be assigned to the right track? Or does it even matter?

 

[Richard Monroe]

If your left ear was on the right side of your head and vice versa, would it matter? No, except you'd look stupid. Just so you know which is which for level matching.-Richie

 

[Drummer4Life05]

Great analogy there Richie!
It all makes sense now!

 

[Robert D]

see below

 

[Robert D]

It might matter if you are trying to acurately represent a sound stage, concert hall, or even a drum set. Then you would also have to decide whether you are presenting the audience perspective or the stage perspective. Let's say you want to present the audience perspective, and you're stereo miking a drum set with X/Y overheads. The right mic, viewed from the audience, is miking the left side of the kit, as the audience see's it, and should be in the left channel, and vice versa. This would be pretty important for live work, and for sound stage work. For recording a band, ask the drummer if he wants the drummers perspective or the audience perspective to be presented. Also, make sure the overheads and individual drum mics are panned in agreement.

RD