Have trouble configuring alsa driver
The error I'm getting on startup:

"Couldn't open mixer device /dev/sound/mixer"

Redhat 8.0
Soundblaster Live Xgamer!
Alsa 0.9.2(tarball)

Modules.conf:

# Alsa driver
alias char-major-116 snd
alias sound-card-0 snd-emu10k1
#
# OSS/Free portion
alias char-major-14 soundcore
alias sound snd-card-0
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss

Output of /var/log/messages:

modprobe: Can't locate module sound-slot-0

Alsa install method(as instucted by alsa):

./configure
make install
.snddevices

Can manually do /sbin/modprobe snd-emu10k1, which will get sound working but the volume is real loud. Adjusting the volume using alsamixer or aumix does not effect the volume level output. I do NOT have /dev/sound/mixer but I do have /dev/mixer[0-3]. If I do need /dev/sound/mixer, How do I create the device in /dev directory? Tried symlinking to /dev/mixer but that did not work.

add a line in module.conf
alias sound-slot-0 sound-card-0

I tried that, still no luck. I would think that the problem has something to do with modules.conf. I have been trying different combinations in modules.conf but still no luck. Whatever is wanting to point to /dev/sound/mixer, I don't think it should be pointing there. I think something similar to /dev/mixer would be more appropriate. That is just my opinion. I have the emu10k1 driver working, but commented out for the time being because I'm trying to get the Alsa driver working for other reasons. Here is the current status of my modules.conf file:

# Alsa driver
alias char-major-116 snd
alias sound-card-0 snd-emu10k1
alias sound-slot-0 sound-card-0
#
# OSS/Free portion
alias char-major-14 soundcore
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss

Does anyone have any ideas?

after you install the modules through modprobe you can try /proc/asound for changing parameters
there is a file called /etc/asound.state which stores the current state
change the values in the file and do a alsactl restore
you will get the desired volume
and for the modules.conf i don't know what is wrong
instead you can add the bit in your rc.sysinit
something like this
action $"Starting Alsa Driver :" modprobe snd-emu10k1
RETURN = $?
action $"Restoring Alsa Mixer Setting :" alsactl restore
RETURN = $?
#now check this last one
#i think it is snd-seq(or is it something else)
action $"Loading Sequencer :" modprobe snd-seq
RETURN = $?