Could the capsule geometry be optimized to get top snare drums sound?

?They were specifically made to be put over a drum.. how much more 'optimal' can you get. If you mean turning it into more of a lipstick-shaped mic, to me that would be killing the advantages of this mic's design (and there are other mics already like that).

Of course I find it perfect for toms for example. But for the snare drums I feel more confortable with bodies and capsules pointing to the center of the drum like many microphones. But they don t behave like the josephson...

You re right. Small condenser microphones (with small body) like oktava mk012 are usefull. But they catch a lot of the hi hat sound. It s sometimes a problem at mixing stage when equing the snare drum. It s why I m looking for a mic with similar e22 behavior.

you can still point it at the center of the snare. it's such a low profile microphone that it's not very likely it'll get hit, and if it does, then it'll survive it.I don't see a way of putting a microphone, any microphone, above the center of the snare without getting in the way of the drummer.

I wouldn't shy away from aiming the capsule (any capsule) parallel-ish to the edge of the snare top head. It really captures the sound and ring of the shell, which can be otherwise hard to get. Also it will reject more hi hat bleed, though hi hat control is a big, separate conversation..I've heard e22s used on bass cabs, guitar cabs, and kick drum res heads, and have a hard time believing it wouldn't make a great snare mic as is.

I just mean there are usually more significant contributors to hi hat bleed and smear overall (as crazy hi hats spill into all of the mics) than the polar pattern & placement of the snare mic: material/weight/size/pitch of hats, placement, player's touch, arrangement, acoustics, and so on. If all those things are truly squared away (or can't be changed) then yeah this $1,500 microphone might offer slightly more separation than most condenser mics.

If it rejects more hi hat bleed I will try this way. I don't know if it should a separate conversation. I think the choice and placement of the snare drum microphone is closely linked with hi hat bleed