Apps :: sound/modify modules.conf

Hmm--now it's summer and i have a little time to play with my old laptop. I still cannot get that Toshiba to record, even though i downloaded all the appropriate alsa extensions. Digging around the alsa SoundCardTesting page, i think i might need to get amxer or alsa mixer -- but where??
Also - to boot, do i now need to type "Linux dsl alsa" every time to get alsa?

original here.