Using Artistx updated to 9.04 ... Firefox sound works sometimes, but not always
 

Hello everyone, this is my very first post. I'm a self-taught geek I guess, building pc's and installing OS's and software. I have a lot to learn still, especially with Linux, and so far I love the GNU/Linux concepts. I'll try to be as smart as I can with my questions.

This is about my soundcard working with Firefox. I've recently been using Artistx for everything including ripping/editing/authoring completely using Acidrip, Avidmux, and QDVDAuthor. I've just discovered lshw for the terminal. thus:

*-multimedia
description: Multimedia audio controller
product: 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.5
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.5
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=Intel ICH latency=0 module=snd_intel8x0

My issue, I get everything working setting sound to OSS, it seems ok, but in firefox it works sometimes and sometimes not. I reboot, sometimes the website sound works, in chat.

My question then is, when using so many different apps, will the sound-card driver get kidnapped, so to speak, and need resetting in preferences from time to time? The aforementioned apps need constant tweaking to get the sound working properly. Is this typical when using so many different apps? Should I be using ALSA instead? Cinelerra sound needs tweeking everytime too.

Thanks for your help in advance, as I will contribute as I learn more, whenever I can. Long live GNU/Linux!