SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB Setup on Lubuntu

I'm having trouble after installing Lubuntu-desktop on top of a Ubuntu Server (64 bit).

The problem is that I cannot get my X-Fi external USB soundcard to work without horrible hacks, and even then at best it only works in some applications.

I can currently only play media in VLC media player using the following hack in my ~./asoundrc

pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}
ctl.!default {
    type hw           
    card 1
}

This works as expected, but not for many applications (which fail to launch, with a error message related to below (no mixer controls))

┌──────────────────────────── AlsaMixer v1.0.24.2 ────────────────────────────┐
│ Card: SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro                      F1:  Help               │
│ Chip: USB Mixer                                     F2:  System information │
│ View: F3: Playback  F4: Capture  F5: All            F6:  Select sound card  │
│ Item:                                               Esc: Exit               │
│                                                                             │
│                                                                             │
│                This sound device does not have any controls.                │
│                                                                             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

What could I be missing? Some diagnostic information (any other information on request):

daniel@daniel-desktop:~$ aplay -L
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
front:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Digital
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Digital
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Digital
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Digital
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Analog
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
    HDA Intel, ALC888 Digital
    Hardware device with all software conversions
front:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=Pro,DEV=1
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio #1
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=Pro,DEV=1
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio #1
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=Pro,DEV=1
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio #1
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=Pro,DEV=1
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio #1
    Hardware device with all software conversions
hdmi:CARD=HDMI,DEV=0
    HDA ATI HDMI, HDMI 0
    HDMI Audio Output
dmix:CARD=HDMI,DEV=3
    HDA ATI HDMI, HDMI 0
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=HDMI,DEV=3
    HDA ATI HDMI, HDMI 0
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=HDMI,DEV=3
    HDA ATI HDMI, HDMI 0
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=HDMI,DEV=3
    HDA ATI HDMI, HDMI 0
    Hardware device with all software conversions