Debian :: Can Record But Can't Echo Input

I can play audio in my alsa system and I can record. To keep things simple, I use arecord to record and aplay to play. So far so good. The problem is, I cannot hear what I am recording as I record it. Is there some way to get the input to be echoed to the output? I would optimally like to be able to do this before recording as well as during, so that I can check the levels, find the part to record on the tape, beforehand.

I have tried a test of my card: I had aplay running in one term and arecord running in another. They both ran fine and when I checked the just-recorded file, it was different audio from what I had been playing. This would indicate that the card is able to input and output at the same time, I think? I've done the usual googling as well as reading through URL... and I have done many passes of trial-and-error on my .asoundrc. The more I look at my .asoundrc, the more it looks like it should be doing what I want, but it is not.

My .asoundrc (which again, does works but does not echo audio input):
Code: Select all# pros: this allows playback and record.  Playback of several
# programs at the same time works (their outputs are mixed
# together, mono and stereo mixed to stereo)
#
# cons: input is never echoed!

[code]....