These are some great suggestions here. I love the guitar tuning analogy.
I have two things to add in terms of pacing. Sometimes 2 hits are more effective than 3 equally-sized hits. Timing can play a big role. You've got this narrow time-window in which to inhale all the DMT. After that window closes (which isn't always perceptually clear), smoking DMT doesn't really usually do all too much. It's kind of like a sling-shot; The window of time you have is the time it takes you to draw back and release the shot. After you've done so, drawing back the sling again isn't really going to make that mid-air shot go any further or faster. Not getting to hyperspace fast enough can muddy up what would have otherwise been a clear take-off.
To add onto this, I find it in my best interest to align with the meridians/multidimensional panorama. As you say, it's hard to explain, but somehow I manage to align my perspective and physical self with hyperspace. The reason for achieving this alignment is twofold. The geometries that were successfully aligned will glow neon or "hypercolors." This additional energy not only makes them seem more beautiful, but appears to give the things the power necessary to do the amazing things they do, and then some. The other part to this is that proper alignment will increase the likelihood that the experience is happening to you as much as possible. In other words, if the experience is severely misaligned from my perspective, it appears that the events are not happening to me, but rather around me. I don't find this to be satisfactory or engaging in any way. It's like the multidimensional stuff is still there, but I have no connection to it. Even in the event of good initial alignment, something sudden like an abrupt change in music, the door slamming, a dog barking, the phone ringing, etc...can derail the experience in a very physical and literal manner.
Couldn't agree more. When I see something I want to remember, I direct all my faculties to do so. I think it's a brilliant idea you have to go in looking for three things to remember. Often so many things can happen, and we get greedy and want to unrealistically remember it all, but limiting yourself to looking for three things can be a much more manageable task, and you're more likely to be able to bring back three details you remember. Even if you come back with one great thing you remember, that can be better than many of those times when you cannot remember a single thing that happened.