Hi, I have two "cards": an onboard sis7012 (snd_intel8x0) and a pci Ensoniq ES1371 (snd_ens1371). cat /proc/asound/cards 0 [SI7012 ]: ICH - SiS SI7012 SiS SI7012 with CMI9738 at 0xdc00, irq 10 1 [AudioPCI ]: ENS1371 - Ensoniq AudioPCI Ensoniq AudioPCI ENS1371 at 0xc800, irq 10 Both works. I'm trying to make a ~/.asoundrc , first test is to give a "comprehensive" name: pcm.hwEnsoniq { type hw; card 1; device 0; } pcm.hwSis { type hw; card 0; device 0; } I can use hwEnsoniq: aplay /usr/share/sounds/KDE_Window_UnSticky.wav -D hwEnsoniq But: aplay /usr/share/sounds/KDE_Window_UnSticky.wav -D hwSis Playing WAVE '/usr/share/sounds/KDE_Window_UnSticky.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 22050 Hz, Mono aplay: set_params:887: Channels count non available I can only use Sis chip with a parameter like: pcm.plugSis { type plug slave { pcm "hw:0,0" } Then: aplay /usr/share/sounds/KDE_Window_UnSticky.wav -D plugSis works: Playing WAVE '/usr/share/sounds/KDE_Window_UnSticky.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 22050 Hz, Mono Does someone could explain why I could not set up Sis as hw type ? My aim is to be able to use this two cards as output without time syncro (need not jack) but as predict It's a little hard to do for someone like me :) Thanks, Jody