off and on sound problem

[Douglas Pollard]

I am using Ubuntu studio 10.04.   I get sound for a while after start up 
but then loose it. I typed pavucontrol into the terminal. The volume 
control panel comes up and I get an error message ( connection failed: 
connection terminated).  The little speaker thingies in the Volume 
control are showing and X as if muted. If I restart I have sound for a 
while but then loose it.  If I play VLC media player sound stops and 
starts and beaks up and after a while it shuts down altogether. I would 
appreciate any help with this.  Thanks  Doug