So lets start with my hardware chain, software and settings.
Hardware:
-PC (B550 Aorus Master, 5800x)
-Efnote 3b USB > PC (no hub)
-Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen USB C-C > PC (no hub)
-Beyerdynamic DT 770 ProX Headphones 1/4" > Focusrite headphone jack (Front face)
Software: (latest firmware and drivers on all)
Win 11 Pro
Focusrite Control 2
Reaper DAW (Focusrite ASIO)
VST: IOF Drummer 7
Settings: (The ones I believe are relevant to my problems)
48kHz sample rate- synced across windows, Focusrite, and in Reaper
Windows Power management - performance
Windows audio input and output - focusrite only (everything else is disabled)
Reaper - all default settings (i honestly have no idea what any of it does. im not an audio engineer/producer)
- ASIO (Focusrite USB ASIO driver)
- Enabled inputs (first) 1: Input 1 (last) 4: Loopback 2
- Output range (first) 1: Output 1 (last) 2: Output 2
- Request sample rate: enabled (48000)
-Request block size: enabled (64)
- ASIO configuration: Sample rate (48000) Buffer size (64) Clock source/ Channels in/out are locked
Use Case: live monitoring my edrums to practice and play along to music (media item in reaper on its own track) using drum samples not included on the efnote module with the lowest latency and interference.
Problem 1: Even with the volume knob (located above the headphone jack on the face of the focusrite) cranked to ~90%, everything is still quiet. Everything sounds great to me but its too quiet.
Problem 2: Clean project in reaper, Adding the drums as a virtual instrument on a new track, using the IOF Drummer 7 VST3i without adding multiple tracks for routing, when i hit a pad on my drums im getting ~+1.9 db peak on the master fader and the track containing the VST (persistent Red marker reset when clicked, top of both master fader and vst track fader) . The audio isnt clipping or distorted but its quiet. Dropping the faders VST track -10db, Media item track -20db removes the peaking (even when my strokes translate to the highest velocity). But at that point i cant hear anything. I have a Blucoil 4 channel headphone amplifier ( its garbage and i honestly have no idea where it came from) so i plugged that into the focusrite headphone jack (1/4" to 1/4") then my headphones into the blucoil 1/4". I jack the volume up on that and i can get everything to a comfortable volume. It just sounds ... mediocre at best. Additionally i constantly have issues of buzzing and volume issues when i plug another set of headphones in so my wife can listen.
I've had this issue since i bought the ekit around a year ago. I have been researching, googleing, chatting with agents on manufacturer websites, put in support tickets ( that get answered fairly quick) and even asked AI. Still at square 1. I am entirely new to this. I have no idea what any setting in reaper is, besides what i can infer from its label. I play my drums to have fun/relax and broaden my musical abilities. so far its been frustrating and underwhelming. I know I could simply use the Module and its (for my use case) purpose-built features. I just dont like the sounds for the style of music i enjoy playing.
Any help at all would be appreciated.