The best thing to do to check for gain staging errors is: 1. Lower all values on mixer to null/0/nada 2. start playing mp3 3. take master volume to @ 80% 4 start raising each slider individually if it has no effect turn it down if it adds noise turn it down if it makes music decide where you want it. PCM levels can make your computer sound great! full, more bottom end etc. and will cause needless distortion if set too high. (in some cases) Repeat these these steps for mp3/wav, midi timiditity/kmidi and midi kmid. CD etc. When all the setting are as you want them. Save the settings and alsa will remember them on every start. -- Gary Counsellor http://www.musician2000.com sineigs.all.attitudes@eskimo.com Please remove .all.attitudes before replying