$ alsactl store
alsactl: save_state:1530: Cannot open /var/lib/alsa/asound.state for writing: Permission denied
$ sudo alsactl store
E: core-util.c: Home directory /home/mycurrentuser not ours.

So I deciced to change “/var/lib/alsa/asound.state” ownership temporarily to the current user and then was able to successfully save my sound settings (then switched back ownership to root). I also added “alsactl restore” to /etc/rc.local to automatically reload my sound settings when I reboot.

1. Install pavucontrol if it’s not already installed
2. Start pavucontrol
3. Play a sound in the application where you need to change the default sound device.
4. While the sound is playing, switch back to pavucontrol and change the sound device.
5. that should be it.

I needed to set my Logitech Clearchat Wireless Headphones as the default sound device for Skype 2.1.0.47 beta in Ubuntu Karmic Alpha (pavucontrol was not installed).