Newbie question about Ubuntu Linux Sound Systems

[Matt Philmon]

As I gradually become better at finding the answers on Linux/Ubuntu issues
for myself and asking better questions when I'm at a loss. I only ask that
people be patient with me when I ask questions like this one:

I'm very suddenly having a lot of very strange sound problems. The problem
is that while I've learned a great deal about building and installing from
source, using the repositories, tracking down dependencies, and fixing
general problems, I am still a complete newbie in understanding how Linux
handles/deals with Hardware. In this particular case, the sound system. I
see lots of things I try to "fiddle" with but I don't even really know where
to start with my troubleshooting.

For instance, what is esound? What is ALSA, OSS, etc? What should the
default be and where should I configure it? Little things: Mplayer is the
only media player I've been able to get to play all my media files
(downloading and installing the codecs referenced on their web page). I have
not been able to get totem to do this. I have Muine built and running nicely
with Mono 1.0.5 but that Winamp lookalike. XMMS? Locks up immediately when I
press play and can't only be brought down forcibly. I don't understand how
all this relates to gstreamer and all of those related packages. I don't get
why in Mplayer I have to choose ESD (I think) to get it to play sound while
ALSA doesn't work and yet I clearly see ALSA being started during the boot
process. Why does Mplayer freak out using ESD if I turn on the system sounds
(let the sound server start)? About a week ago as soon as ALSA system starts
I get a loud hiss from one speaker. Sound plays along with the hiss. The
speakers and sound card have checked out fine (an older Sound Blaster). I've
moved the speakers to another output jack (I think it's mono or something)
that removes the hiss but this has never been necessary before. 

EEEEK. I'm just really lost. Help?

Matt
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