Hi, thank you everyone for helping. I found out, that even without X you can start the hdspmixer. it will complain about no display, but initializes the mixer-settings. so that is similar to what jamie suggested later.
I had also problems running pd -jack as user, a different story, and I hopefully know how to solve now.
however, after unplugging the hdsp card from electricity, I always have to boot my computer twice. first time I boot and do all the junk, the hdsp card looks like it is working, but no sound. on the second boot, everything works fine. note: I only need to do this when I unplug the hdsp card. if the hdsp is plugged into electricity between boots, then I can carry on without booting twice.
august, do you do this by hand? or would it be possible to do that automatically?
marius.