Can't hear guitar through laptop

[ledvedder]

This may be a stupid question, and maybe I'm just not getting it. I have my monitors connected to my Scarlett interface, and the interface is connected to my laptop via USB. The laptop is set to use the Scarlett for sound. Then, my Captor is connected to the Scarlett via XLR. I can hear the computer sounds (clicks, Windows dings, etc) through the monitors, but the only way I hear my guitar is if I turn up the monitor dial on the Scarlett. Is that normal?

[LukeBurke1]

Which DAW are you running? It could be a few different issues:

1) You may be running the wrong driver for your interface. Go into your DAW/VST's settings and select the Focusrite ASIO driver for your Scarlett
2) It could be a routing issue. If this is the case, check the Scarlett's manual to see which outputs are designated for your outputs and check the output routing in your DAW to make sure it's set to output to the monitors
3) When you play, do you see the meters flashing in your DAW? If not, try arming the track for recording.
4) I think Focusrite uses a desktop application now that can control the interface's levels and possibly routing. Your issue could lie with that app.

[Marc G]

you'll either need to open a DAW and have the track active or if your Scarlett has direct monitoring just turn that on

[ledvedder]

Ahh so I guess that was my stupid mistake? I need Reaper running. I thought the sound would just come through in Windows.