https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/946232
Found out another hack by poking around and using comment #32, along with uninstalling pulse, and re-installing kmix after uninstalling it. When it asks for devices to use, use the default devices and drivers listed; this helped with skype and with google voice search. As for any other models or modulations of the sound drivers tapped out at the moment.