How about a quick run-over on gain and volume settings?

O.K., so I am recording, mixing, doing all the stuff that brings us to this site. BUT, I am having a problem deciding how I should be setting my volume, gain, and recording with it all. Anybody have suggestions?

depending on the interface you have.... I didn't have time to read the manual.... there may be a software control panel for it where the input levels are set.

My interface has this. Check to see if yours does. If not, perhaps the input levels are set by the windows sound mixer panel. My interface also has 2 input level knobs on it to adjust the level from the hardware without having to mess with the software settings. Yours probably does too. 

I'm thinking you need to set a good basic level in the software and then use the hardware for the fine level adjustments while recording.

I have the levels set fairly high. I want a good sound to noise ratio.

Have it too low and you have to turn the volume up and that brings in hiss from the amp circuits. So having a nice strong signal is very important.  You don't want it so high that it is distorted or clipping so you need to play with it a bit to get it set properly.

Once it's set, it's simply a matter of keeping the meters out of the red.