I *finally* figured out how to get arecord to work --many thanks to this list! :-) What I do not yet know is how to get the output to be useable. It is difficult --if not impossible, to merely explain this --an audio sample would be much better-- but I shall try: The resultant output from arecord contains a noise spike which occurs at the rate of roughly 1.25cps and occupys the entire output. If arecord is activated w/o any input, the spike is still there, though at a mere fraction of the intensity during a recording containing audio data. If anyone would be willing to check the output file, I would be most happy to e-mail a small snippet which will dramatically illustrate the problem. Many thanks... ...CH P.S. For the first time in nearly 2-1/2 weeks I can now use SuSE for actual work. Thanks, once again, to all who helped me w/issues which puzzled me greatly --and frustrated me a bit, as well. :-) -- SuSE is all U need 2 drive U nuts.