volume control extremely sensitive (kmix)

[Christopher J. Bottaro]

i don't know if this is specific to kmix, but thats what i use to control my
volume.

kmix says nvidia nforce2, but lsmod shows snd_intel8x0 (as opposed to
nvsound).

anyways, the problem is that tiny adjustments to volume slider create
massive changes in volume.  also, if i bring the volume below about 60%, it
becomes very very low, basically muted.  so all the volume control happens
at the top 40% of the slider and each increment in that range is dramatic.

in kmix, all my output volume sliders are at about 66-75%.  the problem i
describe above is when i'm moving the "master" slider.

a little off topic, but i've always wanted to know:  why does having the PCM
volume turned all the way up distort the sound?

thank you for the help.