> Make sure you have the mutes set to "off":

>   mixerctl -d /dev/mixer1 -a | grep mute
>
> If they're not "off", try changing them, like so:
>
>   mixerctl -d /dev/mixer1 -w outputs.master.mute=off

well, the mutes _are_ set to off.  but looking at the output of

mixerctl -d /dev/mixer1 -a

it doesn't look much like the output of

mixerctl -d /dev/mixer0 -a

here's the former:

fea1-i12-mute=off
fea1-i12-master=0,0
fea1-i12-bass=127
fea1-i12-treble=127
fea1-i12-agc=off
fea1-i12-bassboo=off
fea6-i11-mute=off
fea6-i11-master=221

now if I manually set fea1-i12-master to some other pair of values, I 
can get xmms to play.  but I have to control the volume using mixerctl 
- xmms's volume control won't do it.

maybe iMic's work differently than they used to?

Keith