Newbie to Recording. Need Help.

[basschanges]

Hi everyone. I'm a total amateur when it comes to recording. My purpose is to write and record songs using midi and my bass, and make instructional youtube videos to give back to the community that gave me so much vocabulary and knowledge over the years.

I'm using Ableton Live Standard (DAWs are complicated, I've been studying it for three days now and I still find it overwhelming)

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

Here's my question, which I think I already know the answer to: I'm direct monitoring to a set of logitech desktop speakers with a subwoofer as a temporary solution. Problem is, the volume when I monitor directly from the Focusrite to the speakers is very low and the subwoofer is inactive. The volume is too low to do any kind of recording or overdubbing. I think this is because the speakers do not have a powerful enough amplifier inside them (I'm still hearing a faint reproduction of my input signal so they must have a small amp) Am I right in assuming that proper active (or passive with an amp) studio monitors will fix this low volume problem when I monitor?

Thanks for the answers!

 

[basschanges]

Anybody? The problem with being a newbie is the fact that I don't know what I don't know and I don't know how to ask the proper questions. This would be of great help to me.

 

[FFTT]

Sounds like you need a headphone amplifier ( Rolls RA53b) and a good set of headphones coming out of the Focusrite to monitor while tracking and overdubbing.

You should not be recording with open speakers On, unless you want screaming feedback when you're using a mic.

 

[basschanges]

I wont be using a mic, at least not right now, just my bass straight into the focusrite. I'll look into your suggestion. Thanks so much for posting! Getting into recording feels like starting a new instrument. There is a ton I don't know.

 

[FFTT]

All the DAW programs have a learning curve.
Fortunately there's a lot of help out there today.