Well, I have been facing a lot of issues whilst configuring multiple sound cards on ubuntu karmic, and observed there are no standard step by step procedures in configuring the same over the internet.
Hence the baby steps here..
Assuming all or atleast one of your sound cards were working when you were with other crappy OSes..
Post installation of Ubuntu Karmic Kola (9.10) click here for i386
1. Download pulseaudio_0.9.19-0ubuntu4_i386.deb and install (by basic installation of karmic lays this on your machine if not!!)
2. Download pulseaudio-module-x11_0.9.19-0ubuntu4_i386.deb
3. Download padevchooser_0.9.3-2ubuntu4_i386.deb
That is all with the downloading.. Also, during the installations make sure the dependencies are resolved automatically by KPackgeKit.
Nice, now simple steps with configurations
1. From the KDE menu, Settings > Pulse Audio Preferences select the last tab, which is Simultaneous output. Tick the check box to "Add virtual output devices for simultaneous output on all local sound cards. This is a crucial step in making all your sound cards to work and be broadcast by the pulse sound server.
2. Again, from Settings>System Settings>Multimedia you will see sound and video configuration window. Click on Audio Output and you should see all the sound cards (Hardware) and PulseAudio. Click on PulseAudio and press the Test button. you should here the sample sound track played.Amazing true quality is n't it.... Yeah I know linux ALSA and PulseAudio Rocks!!!
3. The final step is to Click on every entry on the left navigation tree and Prefer PulseAudio.
You are done.... Enjoy multiple track sound as it is meant to be...
PS: Mine is a Intel ICH5 with AD1980 and SB Audigy 7 Channel output cards...
