with snd_pcm_open (handle, "default", SND_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK, 0) I can open a device twice with snd_pcm_open (handle, "plughw:0,0", SND_PCM_STREAM_PLAYBACK, 0) the 2. call fails with error -16. The docu says: The default device is equal to plug plugin with hw plugin as slave. ???? Reiner