Running on Xubuntu Feisty Fawn, I got this error when I launch gnome-alsamixer:
"An error occured while loading or saving configuration information for GNOME ALSA Mixer. Some of your configuration settings may not work properly.
Details:
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Master": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Master": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Bass": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Bass": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Treble": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Treble": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Rear_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_Sigmatel_-_Rear_Depth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PCM": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PCM": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Front": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Front": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Synth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Synth": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Wave_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line2_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Line2_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-CD": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-CD": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Video": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Video": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Phone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Phone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Coaxial": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Coaxial": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_LiveDrive": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_TTL": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_TTL": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PC_Speaker": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-PC_Speaker": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Aux": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Aux": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Capture": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Capture": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-AC97": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-AC97": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/slider_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_sliders/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_LFE": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Headphone_Center": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Tone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Tone": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_-_Switch": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-3D_Control_-_Switch": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Boost___20dB_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Boost___20dB_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Select": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mic_Select": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Optical_Raw": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-IEC958_Optical_Raw": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix_Mono": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Mix_Mono": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-External_Amplifier": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-External_Amplifier": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-SB_Live_Analog_Digital_Output_Jack": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-SB_Live_Analog_Digital_Output_Jack": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_4-Speaker_Stereo": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_4-Speaker_Stereo": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Output_Bias": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Output_Bias": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/toggle_display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround_Phase_Inversion_Playback_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_toggles/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11-Sigmatel_Surround_Phase_Inversion_Playback_": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_mixers/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names
Bad key or directory name: "/apps/gnome-alsamixer/display_names/SigmaTel_STAC9708,11": `,' is an invalid character in key/directory names"
I have an Sound Blaster Live! Player sound card.
I have this problem as well. I'm running Ubuntu Feisty AMD64 and have a 2 sound card setup. Card 0 is a HDA Digital X-Mystique 7.1 (based on the C-Media CMI8768 MC8 chipset), and card 1 is an old SB Ensoniq Audio PCI, which also uses a Sigmatel chipset like the OP's card above. The C-Media card doesn't have anything to do with the error, only the SB card and its 'invalid character' is mentioned. Attached is the full error message, which is the same as the above, apart from the different chipset (it's in German too, btw). The application still works despite this error.