I've just bought a Zoom Q3 and have done numerous recordings. The jazz tunes sound really nice in my recordings except for the first jazz chord which sounds awful - really loud and way off the wave meter.
No matter how softly I play the first jazz chord, it always sounds like the Zoom Q3 is in shock from a thick jazz chord at the beginning of the song.
Classical chords are less thick and the chords at the beginning of my classical recordings have sounded fine.
Is there a setting I need to adjust before recording ?

The Zoom Q3 does not come with software. I haven't purchased any editing software.

Where do you have the mic gain switch set? If you have it on the auto setting that may be the problem.

That's my guess as to the problem. The way the Q3 works on the auto setting is that you play a short portion of the loudest part of the piece right after you press the red dot. The Zoom uses that as a baseline and adjusts the gain levels downward from there.

Not sure why you would have any difference in jazz vs. classical chords, though. The only thing I can think of is that maybe your classical chords are all quieter, and the jazz is louder, so you're hearing more distortion in the jazz chord.

The Zoom does come with software bundled on it; when you plug it into the computer, it will load the software for you. It's not fancy software; all it lets you do is clip off the beginning and end of the recording. But it's all you need to get rid of the first dissonant chord when setting the sound levels.

EP and Monica
You're brilliant.
Yes I did have the mic gain switch set on Auto. I then changed it to low and my first jazz chord sounded as even on the sound loudness spectrum as the rest of the chords.
Many thanks for your answer.

Do you get loud enough recordings on the low setting? I never did, which is why I use auto.

You do realize, don't you, that now you have no excuse to stop you from submitting something to the next recital.

Hi Monica
Good question. It's temperamental. Sometimes I can't hear the recording at all on the low setting, despite turning my speakers to maximum. Sometimes when I listen to it a second time, I can hear it !
I think I'm not using an efficient methodology. Maybe one of my problems is that I'm too hyperactive/impatient/lazy to read instructions.
What does the High setting do ?
Please forgive me, I'm ashamed to admit I've never gone into the recital thread ! I will take a look.