Took me a little while to track this down but finally solved it.

1. I bet you are using OSS aren't you?

2. Make sure permissions on all /dev/dsp & /dev/mixer & /dev/sound are group audio

3. Make sure you are in group audio

4 Get and install ALSA even if you don't use it - KMix calls an ALSA lib from what I can see. Just don't START ALSA in your starup scripts.

5. Open up your kernel config prog of choice and change the M or dot to a TICK for SOUND; OSS & the OSS MODULE that you are using.

5. make make_modules make modules install reboot as normal after kernel play-time

Job done.