First up, I'm a dumb noob when it comes to Linux Sound. I shouldn't be - I've been round this loop too many times now. It doesn't seem to get any easier. Everything else Ubuntu seems to "just work" for me - but not sound.

I've been through the Comprehensive Sound Problem Solutions Guide. Some things work, most things don't. I'd appreciate a little help at this point.

Code:
aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: AD198x Analog [AD198x Analog]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: AD198x Digital [AD198x Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: M2496 [M Audio Audiophile 24/96], device 0: ICE1712 multi [ICE1712 multi]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
When I open the System > Preferences > Sound Preferences control panel, I get a test tone to work ONLY when I select some of the OSS outputs. The drop down menu lists these choices (exactly verbatim):

  1. Autodetect
  2. M Audio Audiophile 24/96 ICE1712 multi (ALSA)
  3. HDA Intel AD198x Digital (ALSA)
  4. HDA Intel AD198x Analog (ALSA)
  5. M Audio Audiophile 24/96 ICE1712 multi (OSS)
  6. M Audio Audiophile 24/96 ICE1712 multi (OSS)
  7. Logitech Inc, QuickCam Pro 9000 OSS PCM Device (OSS)
  8. Logitech Inc, QuickCam Pro 9000 OSS PCM Device (OSS)
  9. HDA Intel AD198x Analog (OSS)
  10. HDA Intel AD198x Analog (OSS)
  11. HDA Intel AD198x Analog (OSS)
  12. ALSA - Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
  13. OSS - Open Sound System
  14. PulseAudio Sound Server


Ignoring the Audiophile card, which I haven't tested recently, only items 10 and 11 produce a sound when the Test button is pressed (this is via the motherboard's own green output socket fed to my speakers). Notably, none of the Alsa options work.

I want Alsa to work because I want more than one source to be mixed together - am I right thinking OSS can't do this?

Because the OSS works, I can at least listen to one thing at a time. But I have to terminate that application completely in order to be able to switch between sources. Not good. Bad, in fact.

Particularly, this is the sort of thing Ubuntu needs to make much easier if Ubuntu isn't going to be roundly rejected by Windows users who might otherwise be tempted to switch.

Suggestions most welcome.

Rick