Hahaha, so how do I specify this. All I need is to make a little script that will change the #1 sound card and then restart the sound system so everything adapts the new card. That's all.

The only way I can think of is rmmod the alsa mods. Change the /etc/modprobe.d/sound file, then modprobe the alsa mods.

There are quite a few alsa mods, and some rely on others, so you will need to rmmod and modprobe them in the right order. You may not need to rmmod or modprobe all of them though. I've never tried this so my best advice is experiment and see what happens.

lsmod | grep snd

Will give you a clue

Will try, thanks a lot.

how do you specify which is first? i have a problem where it detects my webcam, my sound card, and my tv tuner all as audio devices (the 1st and 3rd are caputre only), since the webcam comes up as device 0 I have errors whenever something tries to play and no sound. I read a bit on the ALSA wiki but couldn't quite figure it out.

I also have a wierd thing where I don't have lscpi? I try /sbin/lscpi -v or just lscpi and it says "lscpi not found" or something to that effect. I'd go into more detail if I were on my computer right now but I have no access to it or my notes until I get home but I saw this thread and figured I'd ask and maybe get an answer before i get back

Read my post on first page of this topic about how to specify first, second etc.

whoops sorry didn't notice the second page I'll try tomorrow thanks