ALSA and HDMI

[Ximik]

Ok, i spent like few hours trying to make my system work with monitor with speakers. It works somehow (with aplay, but not from chromium or VLC), but

1. I can't change HDMI audio volume via KMix (or alsamixer). Ok, i've added new Softvol controller, but it doesn't make sense to me, because i should change everything with PCM/Master instead (this is why we are having it in ALSA, right?). Also i can't mute it from alsamixer (KMix mutes only left channel). So it sucks.
2. Seems like it can't work with both soundcards. The most obvious use-case is when i plug the speakers the sound should go to them, otherwise - to HDMI.

Will PulseAudio or JACK or smth else will fix this issue? I just need Master sound controller and be able to change where to output sound from ALL applications in the system (better it should be auto-detected).

Thanks.

UPD: Just for those who have similar problem. Seems like the best option for now is having pulseaudio with two separated volume mixings. KMix works just find with them and you can set the master channel to the one you're using now.

[lilrc]

On my laptop I can select HDMI sound in VLC. Try to go into Tools->Preferences and choose Audio. You can then select ALSA as output module (you built vlc with alsa, right?) and then select the device. Hopefully some device is HDMI.

Please post the output of