Do you have a sound card like Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller and ALSA master volume doesn't work?

Some cards are using ALSA Headphone Volume to control "Master Volume". ALSA developers had put an option in module snd_intel8x0 to workaround this issue. Just put this line in /etc/modprobe.conf:

So, next time module is loaded you have Master Volume where is suppose to be. Ah, you must reconfigure your mixer settings.

More info/options in:
/usr/doc/alsa-driver-<version>/alsa-kernel/Documentation/ALSA-Configuration.txt
or ALSA documentation.

I'm pretty sure I got my sound to work on that chipset using:

'alsaconf'

then saving with:

'alsactl store'

the way I change my volume is with a commandline utility

'alsalmixer'

make sure that the volume is not muted and that is is raised higher on "Master" and "PCM"