[NTLUG:Discuss] How to insure the correct sound card is used?

[Lance Simmons]

I have a soundcard built into the motherboard, and a tv-out card that
has sound-out as well.
When I boot the computer, about half the time the card that works is
the one on the motherboard, and about half the time the one on the
tv-out card.

Does anyone know how to control this? Is it something GNOME does, or
do I need to look at ALSA?  Or does it have to do with the order in
which the kernel recognizes them?

And, most of all, why on earth would it change?  Shouldn't it be the
same every time?

-- 
Lance Simmons