Not getting sound in several programs

I get sound playing MP3s with Media Master.

However, don't get sound with the MPlayer plug-in for Firefox
I also don't get sound with the VLC player I just installed. (DivX or MP3s.)

I have the Linux version of Apspire ONe with no major modifications except that I turned on "Advanced" mode.

Any suggestions where I start? I'm pretty much a newbie to Linux.

 

Check the volume slider on vlc... By default it's very quiet.
-Duncan.

 

You might also try running alsamixer (from a terminal window) and check that the basic sound system settings are high enough.

 

Duncan,

Thanks for the suggestion but I tried that one. I'm a media guy, by profession, and volume levels are always the first thing I check since that's usually the problem with no sound! I saw that it was low.

Daldred,
I try your suggestion. Thanks.

 

THANKS GUYS! It worked.

The "PCM" volume was at zero.

I sort of remember PCM from old digital standards in Windows but what does it mean in Linux?

 

Every soundchip is half analog and half digital.
Physical inputs and outputs are mostly tied to the analog part.
Files and programs are tied to the digital part.
The 'mixer' is in the analog part.
The PCM slider controls what comes out of the digital part.

HTH --Japser.