Comment 5 for bug 295832

I've installed Ubuntu 9.04 alpha 2 and applied all the updates for this test. I don't have two sound cards in this test machine, so I can't confirm exactly the same behaviour, but I've made a simpler test as described below and I believe the problem is still present.

- start alsamixer
  - check that default mixer is pulseaudio

- create a ~/.asoundrc file with the following content:

--- cut here ---
ctl.!default {
  type hw
  card 0
}
--- cut here ---

- start alsamixer
  - check default mixer and it's still pulseaudio (bug!). ~/.asoundrc should override default settings, but it's not working.

- comment ctl.!default entry in /usr/share/alsa/pulse-alsa.conf

- start alsamixer
  - check that hw:0 mixer is the default mixer.

- change ~/.asoundrc with the following content:

--- cut here ---
ctl.!default {
  type pulse
}
--- cut here ---

- start alsamixer
  - check that pulseaudio is the default mixer. just to make sure ~/.asoundrc is being read. (ok!)

So, the conclusion is that's not possible to change default alsa devices without changing files in /usr/share.