diff --git a/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.cpp b/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.cpp
index ffc55d4..5a663ec 100644
--- a/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -32,19 +32,21 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow() :
     setUnifiedTitleAndToolBarOnMac(true);
 
     m_sound_item_enable_mapper = new QSignalMapper(this);
+    m_sound_item_delete_mapper = new QSignalMapper(this);
     m_Ui.brain_contents->setAlignment(Qt::AlignTop);
     m_Ui.brain_contents->setSpacing(0);
     m_Ui.brain_contents->setMargin(0);
     m_Ui.brain_contents->setContentsMargins(0,0,0,0);
     connect(m_sound_item_enable_mapper,
             SIGNAL(mapped(int)), this, SLOT(sound_enable(int)));
+    connect(m_sound_item_delete_mapper,
+            SIGNAL(mapped(int)), this, SLOT(delete_sound(int)));
     m_current_sound_id=0;
 
     // add default local dest
     // turn on first one
 
     QSignalMapper* enable_mapper = new QSignalMapper(this);
-    QSignalMapper* connect_mapper = new QSignalMapper(this);
 
     for (int i=0; i<10; i++) {
       osc_destination d;
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow() :
       d.m_process_address = lo_address_new_from_url("osc.udp://localhost:8889");
       if (i==0) d.m_enabled=true;
       else d.m_enabled=false;
-      add_gui_address(d,enable_mapper,connect_mapper);
+      add_gui_address(d,enable_mapper);
 
       if (i==0) {
         d.m_enable->setChecked(true);
@@ -63,7 +65,6 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow() :
     }
 
     connect(enable_mapper, SIGNAL(mapped(int)), this, SLOT(net_enable(int)));
-    connect(connect_mapper, SIGNAL(mapped(int)), this, SLOT(net_connect(int)));
 
     m_Ui.netContainer->addItem(new QSpacerItem(20, 40, QSizePolicy::Minimum, QSizePolicy::Expanding));
 
@@ -77,8 +78,7 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow() :
 }
 
 void MainWindow::add_gui_address(osc_destination &dest,
-                                 QSignalMapper* enable_mapper,
-                                 QSignalMapper* connect_mapper) {
+                                 QSignalMapper* enable_mapper) {
   QHBoxLayout *h = new QHBoxLayout();
   dest.m_enable = new QCheckBox();
   dest.m_enable->setText("enable");
@@ -86,15 +86,10 @@ void MainWindow::add_gui_address(osc_destination &dest,
   h->addWidget(dest.m_enable);
   dest.m_address = new QLineEdit();
   h->addWidget(dest.m_address);
-  //QPushButton *ping = new QPushButton();
-  //ping->setText("connect");
-  //h->addWidget(ping);
   m_Ui.netContainer->addLayout(h);
 
   QObject::connect(dest.m_enable, SIGNAL(clicked()), enable_mapper, SLOT(map()));
   enable_mapper->setMapping(dest.m_enable, dest.m_id);
-  //QObject::connect(ping, SIGNAL(clicked()), connect_mapper, SLOT(map()));
-  //connect_mapper->setMapping(ping, dest.m_id);
 }
 
 void MainWindow::init_from_session(const string &filename) {
@@ -161,11 +156,9 @@ void MainWindow::init_from_session(const string &filename) {
   m_Ui.comboBoxBrainShape->setCurrentIndex(source_window);
 
   // brain samples
-  //  m_Ui.listWidgetSounds->clear();
-  const std::list<brain::sound> samples = s.get_samples();
-  for (std::list<brain::sound>::const_iterator i=samples.begin();
-       i!=samples.end(); ++i) {
-        add_sound_item(i->m_filename);
+  clear_sound_items();
+  for (auto &i:s.get_samples()) {
+    add_sound_item(i.m_filename,i.m_enabled);
   }
 
 
@@ -182,7 +175,7 @@ void MainWindow::init_from_session(const string &filename) {
 }
 
 
-void MainWindow::add_sound_item(const string &name) {
+void MainWindow::add_sound_item(const string &name, bool enabled) {
   sound_item si;
   si.m_filename = name;
   si.m_id = m_current_sound_id++;
@@ -191,42 +184,69 @@ void MainWindow::add_sound_item(const string &name) {
 
   si.m_container = new QHBoxLayout();
   si.m_enable = new QCheckBox();
-  si.m_enable->setChecked(true);
+  si.m_enable->setChecked(enabled);
   si.m_enable->setStyleSheet(style);
   si.m_container->addWidget(si.m_enable);
-  QLabel *l = new QLabel();
-
 
+  si.m_label = new QLabel();
   QFileInfo fi(QString::fromStdString(name));
-  l->setText(fi.fileName());
-  l->setStyleSheet(style);
-  si.m_container->addWidget(l);
+  si.m_label->setText(fi.fileName());
+  si.m_label->setStyleSheet(style);
+  si.m_label->setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy::MinimumExpanding,
+                            QSizePolicy::Minimum);
+  si.m_container->addWidget(si.m_label);
 
-  QSpacerItem *spacer = new QSpacerItem(40, 20, QSizePolicy::Expanding, QSizePolicy::Minimum);
-  //spacer->setStyleSheet(style);
-  si.m_container->addItem(spacer);
-
-  QPushButton *del = new QPushButton();
-  del->setText("x");
-  del->setMaximumWidth(20);
-  del->setMaximumHeight(20);
-  si.m_container->addWidget(del);
+  si.m_del = new QPushButton();
+  si.m_del->setText("x");
+  si.m_del->setMaximumWidth(20);
+  si.m_del->setMaximumHeight(20);
+  si.m_del->setStyleSheet(style);
+  si.m_container->addWidget(si.m_del);
 
   m_Ui.brain_contents->addLayout(si.m_container);
 
   QObject::connect(si.m_enable, SIGNAL(clicked()), m_sound_item_enable_mapper, SLOT(map()));
   m_sound_item_enable_mapper->setMapping(si.m_enable, si.m_id);
+  QObject::connect(si.m_del, SIGNAL(clicked()), m_sound_item_delete_mapper, SLOT(map()));
+  m_sound_item_delete_mapper->setMapping(si.m_del, si.m_id);
 
   m_sound_items.push_back(si);
 }
 
 void MainWindow::clear_sound_items() {
-  for (auto si:m_sound_items) {
+  for (auto &si:m_sound_items) {
+    delete si.m_enable;
+    delete si.m_del;
+    delete si.m_label;
     delete si.m_container;
   }
   m_sound_items.clear();
 }
 
+void MainWindow::recolour_sound_items() {
+  u32 c=0;
+  for (auto &si:m_sound_items) {
+    QString style("background-color:lightblue;");
+    if (c%2==0) style="background-color:pink;";
+    si.m_enable->setStyleSheet(style);
+    si.m_del->setStyleSheet(style);
+    si.m_label->setStyleSheet(style);
+    c++;
+  }
+}
 
 void MainWindow::delete_sound_item(const string &name) {
+  for (auto i=m_sound_items.begin(); i!=m_sound_items.end(); ++i) {
+    if (i->m_filename==name) {
+      // not sure why deleteLater-ing the container does not
+      // remove the children (like it does with delete)
+      i->m_container->deleteLater();
+      i->m_enable->deleteLater();
+      i->m_label->deleteLater();
+      i->m_del->deleteLater();
+      m_sound_items.erase(i);
+      recolour_sound_items();
+      return;
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.h b/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.h
index d840235..e120082 100644
--- a/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.h
+++ b/samplebrain/qt/MainWindow.h
@@ -156,21 +156,40 @@ private slots:
 
         send_process_osc("/load_sample","s",m_last_file.toStdString().c_str());
 
-        add_sound_item(m_last_file.toStdString());
-        //m_Ui.listWidgetSounds->addItem(m_last_file);
+        add_sound_item(m_last_file.toStdString(),true);
     }
-    void delete_sound() {
-      //QList<QListWidgetItem *> itemList = m_Ui.listWidgetSounds->selectedItems();
-      //for (int i=0; i<itemList.size(); i++) {
-      //  send_process_osc("/delete_sample","s",itemList[i]->text().toStdString().c_str());
-      //}
-      //qDeleteAll(m_Ui.listWidgetSounds->selectedItems());
+
+    void sound_enable(int id) {
+      // search for this id...
+      for (auto si:m_sound_items) {
+        if (si.m_id==id) {
+          if (si.m_enable->isChecked()) {
+            send_process_osc("/activate_sound","s",si.m_filename.c_str());
+          } else {
+            send_process_osc("/deactivate_sound","s",si.m_filename.c_str());
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    void delete_sound(int id) {
+      // search for this id...
+      for (auto &si:m_sound_items) {
+        if (si.m_id==id) {
+          send_process_osc("/delete_sample","s",si.m_filename.c_str());
+          delete_sound_item(si.m_filename);
+          // iterator is now invalidated...
+          return;
+        }
+      }
     }
     void clear_brain() {
-      //for (int i=0; i<m_Ui.listWidgetSounds->count(); i++) {
-      //  send_process_osc("/delete_sample","s",m_Ui.listWidgetSounds->item(i)->text().toStdString().c_str());
-      //}
-      //m_Ui.listWidgetSounds->clear();
+      cerr<<"clear brain"<<endl;
+
+      for (auto &si:m_sound_items) {
+        send_process_osc("/delete_sample","s",si.m_filename.c_str());
+      }
+      clear_sound_items();
     }
     void restart_audio() { send_audio_osc("/restart_audio",""); }
 
@@ -271,18 +290,6 @@ private slots:
 
     }
 
-    void sound_enable(int id) {
-      // search for this id...
-      for (auto si:m_sound_items) {
-        if (si.m_id==id) {
-          if (si.m_enable->isChecked()) {
-            send_process_osc("/activate_sound","s",si.m_filename.c_str());
-          } else {
-            send_process_osc("/deactivate_sound","s",si.m_filename.c_str());
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    }
 
 private:
 
@@ -296,14 +303,17 @@ private:
       string m_filename;
       // can't find a way to address these via qt
       QCheckBox *m_enable;
+      QPushButton *m_del;
+      QLabel *m_label;
       QHBoxLayout *m_container;
     };
 
     vector<sound_item> m_sound_items;
 
-    void add_sound_item(const string &name);
+    void add_sound_item(const string &name, bool enabled);
     void delete_sound_item(const string &name);
     void clear_sound_items();
+    void recolour_sound_items();
 
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
@@ -361,8 +371,7 @@ private:
 
     void init_from_session(const string &filename);
     void add_gui_address(osc_destination &dest,
-                         QSignalMapper* enable_mapper,
-                         QSignalMapper* connect_mapper);
+                         QSignalMapper* enable_mapper);
 
     string m_save_wav;
     QString m_last_file;
@@ -372,4 +381,5 @@ private:
 
     int m_current_sound_id;
     QSignalMapper* m_sound_item_enable_mapper;
+    QSignalMapper* m_sound_item_delete_mapper;
 };
diff --git a/samplebrain/qt/process_thread.cpp b/samplebrain/qt/process_thread.cpp
index 6749dd8..e00f944 100644
--- a/samplebrain/qt/process_thread.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/qt/process_thread.cpp
@@ -68,14 +68,11 @@ void process_thread::process() {
                 pthread_mutex_unlock(m_brain_mutex);
             }
             if (name=="/activate_sound") {
-              cerr<<"recieved activate"<<endl;
               pthread_mutex_lock(m_brain_mutex);
               m_source.activate_sound(cmd.get_string(0),1);
               pthread_mutex_unlock(m_brain_mutex);
             }
             if (name=="/deactivate_sound") {
-              cerr<<"recieved deactivate"<<endl;
-
                 pthread_mutex_lock(m_brain_mutex);
                 m_source.activate_sound(cmd.get_string(0),0);
                 pthread_mutex_unlock(m_brain_mutex);
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/brain.cpp b/samplebrain/src/brain.cpp
index 0f44862..c7e958c 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/brain.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/brain.cpp
@@ -84,8 +84,7 @@ void brain::delete_sound(std::string filename) {
 }
 
 void brain::activate_sound(std::string filename, bool active) {
-  for (vector<sample_section>::iterator i=m_sample_sections.begin();
-       i!=m_sample_sections.end(); ++i) {
+  for (auto i=m_samples.begin(); i!=m_samples.end(); ++i) {
     if (filename==i->m_filename) {
       i->m_enabled=active;
     }
@@ -97,7 +96,6 @@ void brain::clear() {
    m_blocks.clear();
    m_samples.clear();
    m_active_sounds.clear();
-   m_sample_sections.clear();
 }
 
 // rewrites whole brain
@@ -108,18 +106,15 @@ void brain::init(u32 block_size, u32 overlap, window::type t, bool ditchpcm) {
     m_window.init(block_size);
     m_window.set_current_type(t);
     u32 count=0;
-    for (auto s : m_samples) {
+    for (auto s=m_samples.begin(); s!=m_samples.end(); ++s) {
         count++;
-        chop_and_add(s, count, ditchpcm);
+        chop_and_add(*s, count, ditchpcm);
     }
     status::update("all samples processed");
 }
 
 void brain::chop_and_add(sound &s, u32 count, bool ditchpcm) {
-  sample_section ss;
-  ss.m_filename = s.m_filename;
-  ss.m_enabled = true;
-  ss.m_start = m_blocks.size();
+  s.m_start = m_blocks.size();
   u32 pos=0;
   if (m_overlap>=m_block_size) m_overlap=0;
   while (pos+m_block_size-1<s.m_sample.get_length()) {
@@ -129,25 +124,19 @@ void brain::chop_and_add(sound &s, u32 count, bool ditchpcm) {
     m_blocks.push_back(block(m_blocks.size(),s.m_filename,region,44100,m_window,ditchpcm));
     pos += (m_block_size-m_overlap);
   }
-  ss.m_end = m_blocks.size()-1;
-  cerr<<"adding sample section "<<ss.m_start<<" "<<ss.m_end<<endl;
-  s.m_num_blocks = ss.m_end-ss.m_start;
+  s.m_end = m_blocks.size()-1;
+  s.m_num_blocks = s.m_end-s.m_start;
 
-  m_sample_sections.push_back(ss);
+  cerr<<s.m_start<<" "<<s.m_end;
 }
 
 // needed after we delete a sample from the brain
 void brain::recompute_sample_sections() {
-  m_sample_sections.clear();
   u32 pos=0;
-  for (auto s : m_samples) {
-    sample_section ss;
-    ss.m_filename = s.m_filename;
-    ss.m_enabled = true;
-    ss.m_start = pos;
+  for (auto &s : m_samples) {
+    s.m_start = pos;
     pos += s.m_num_blocks;
-    ss.m_end = pos;
-    m_sample_sections.push_back(ss);
+    s.m_end = pos+1;
   }
 }
 
@@ -180,10 +169,10 @@ u32 brain::search(const block &target, const search_params &params) {
     double closest = FLT_MAX;
     u32 closest_index = 0;
     // check each sample section
-    for (auto ss : m_sample_sections) {
-      if (ss.m_enabled) { // are we turned on?
+    for (auto &s : m_samples) {
+      if (s.m_enabled) { // are we turned on?
         // loop through indexes for this section
-        for (u32 i=ss.m_start; i<ss.m_end; ++i) {
+        for (u32 i=s.m_start; i<s.m_end; ++i) {
           double diff = target.compare(m_blocks[i],params);
           if (diff<closest) {
             closest=diff;
@@ -202,10 +191,10 @@ u32 brain::rev_search(const block &target, const search_params &params) {
     double furthest = 0;
     u32 furthest_index = 0;
     // check each sample section
-    for (auto ss : m_sample_sections) {
-      if (ss.m_enabled) { // are we turned on?
+    for (auto &s : m_samples) {
+      if (s.m_enabled) { // are we turned on?
         // loop through indexes for this section
-        for (u32 i=ss.m_start; i<ss.m_end; ++i) {
+        for (u32 i=s.m_start; i<s.m_end; ++i) {
           double diff = target.compare(m_blocks[i],params);
           if (diff>furthest) {
             furthest=diff;
@@ -224,8 +213,8 @@ u32 brain::rev_search(const block &target, const search_params &params) {
 // really slow - every to every comparison of blocks calculating average distance
 double brain::calc_average_diff(search_params &params) {
     double diff=0;
-    for (auto i:m_blocks) {
-      for (auto j:m_blocks) {
+    for (auto &i:m_blocks) {
+      for (auto &j:m_blocks) {
             diff += j.compare(i,params);
         }
         diff/=(double)m_blocks.size();
@@ -238,15 +227,15 @@ void brain::build_synapses_thresh(search_params &params, double thresh) {
     double err = m_average_error*thresh;
     u32 brain_size = m_blocks.size();
     u32 outer_index = 0;
-    for (vector<block>::iterator i=m_blocks.begin(); i!=m_blocks.end(); ++i) {
+    for (auto &i : m_blocks) {
         u32 index = 0;
         status::update("building synapses %d%%",(int)(outer_index/(float)brain_size*100));
-        for (vector<block>::iterator j=m_blocks.begin(); j!=m_blocks.end(); ++j) {
+        for (auto &j : m_blocks) {
             if (index!=outer_index) {
                 // collect connections that are under threshold in closeness
-                double diff = i->compare(*j,params);
+                double diff = i.compare(j,params);
                 if (diff<err) {
-                    i->get_synapse().push_back(index);
+                    i.get_synapse().push_back(index);
                 }
             }
             ++index;
@@ -262,16 +251,16 @@ void brain::build_synapses_fixed(search_params &params) {
     u32 num_synapses = NUM_FIXED_SYNAPSES;
     if (num_synapses>=m_blocks.size()) num_synapses=m_blocks.size()-1;
 
-    for (vector<block>::iterator i=m_blocks.begin(); i!=m_blocks.end(); ++i) {
+    for (auto &i:m_blocks) {
         status::update("building synapses %d%%",(int)(outer_index/(float)brain_size*100));
         u32 index = 0;
         vector<pair<u32,double>> collect;
 
         // collect comparisons to all other blocks
-        for (vector<block>::iterator j=m_blocks.begin(); j!=m_blocks.end(); ++j) {
+        for (auto &j:m_blocks) {
             assert(index<m_blocks.size());
             if (index!=outer_index) {
-              double diff = i->compare(*j,params);
+              double diff = i.compare(j,params);
               collect.push_back(pair<u32,double>(index,diff));
             }
             ++index;
@@ -287,7 +276,7 @@ void brain::build_synapses_fixed(search_params &params) {
         // add the closest ones to the list
         for(u32 n=0; n<num_synapses; ++n) {
             assert(collect[n].first<m_blocks.size());
-            i->get_synapse().push_back(collect[n].first);
+            i.get_synapse().push_back(collect[n].first);
         }
 
         ++outer_index;
@@ -306,8 +295,8 @@ void brain::jiggle() {
 
 bool brain::is_block_active(u32 index) {
   // check each sample section
-  for (auto ss : m_sample_sections) {
-    if (index>=ss.m_start && index<ss.m_end && ss.m_enabled) {
+  for (auto &s:m_samples) {
+    if (index>=s.m_start && index<s.m_end && s.m_enabled) {
       return true;
     }
   }
@@ -397,19 +386,11 @@ ios &spiralcore::operator||(ios &s, brain::sound &b) {
     s||id||version;
     s||b.m_filename||b.m_sample;
     if (version>0) {
-      s||b.m_num_blocks;
+      s||b.m_num_blocks||b.m_start||b.m_end||b.m_enabled;
     }
     return s;
 }
 
-ios &spiralcore::operator||(ios &s, brain::sample_section &b) {
-    u32 version=1;
-    string id("sample_section");
-    s||id||version;
-    s||b.m_filename||b.m_enabled||b.m_start||b.m_end;
-    return s;
-}
-
 ios &spiralcore::operator||(ios &s, brain &b) {
     u32 version=1;
     string id("brain");
@@ -420,9 +401,6 @@ ios &spiralcore::operator||(ios &s, brain &b) {
     s||b.m_block_size||b.m_overlap||b.m_window;
     s||b.m_current_block_index||b.m_current_error||
         b.m_average_error||b.m_usage_falloff;
-    if (version>0) {
-      stream_vector(s,b.m_sample_sections);
-    }
     return s;
 }
 
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/brain.h b/samplebrain/src/brain.h
index cf9db8a..8f37a0a 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/brain.h
+++ b/samplebrain/src/brain.h
@@ -75,12 +75,20 @@ public:
     class sound {
     public:
         sound(const std::string &name, const sample &sample) :
-              m_filename(name), m_sample(sample), m_num_blocks(0) {}
+            m_filename(name), m_sample(sample), m_num_blocks(0),
+            m_enabled(true), m_start(0), m_end(0) {}
         sound() {}; // needed for streaming
         std::string m_filename;
         sample m_sample;
         // filled in during chop_and_add
         u32 m_num_blocks;
+        bool m_enabled;
+        // we store the blocks separately in a flat list, so we can
+        // directly index them, but we need to filter them by source
+        // sound - so we need to be able to turn large contiguous sets
+        // of them on and off (without a big impact on the processing
+        // time)
+        u32 m_start,m_end;
     };
 
     const std::list<sound> &get_samples() { return m_samples; }
@@ -94,22 +102,9 @@ private:
     // checks sample sections
     bool is_block_active(u32 index);
 
-    // we store the blocks in a flat list, so we can directly index
-    // them, but we need to filter them by source sound - so we need
-    // to be able to turn large contiguous sets of them on and off
-    // (without a big impact on the processing time)
-    class sample_section {
-    public:
-      std::string m_filename;
-      bool m_enabled;
-      u32 m_start,m_end;
-    };
-
     vector<block> m_blocks;
     std::list<sound> m_samples;
     vector<string> m_active_sounds;
-    vector<sample_section> m_sample_sections;
-
 
     u32 m_block_size;
     u32 m_overlap;
@@ -122,13 +117,11 @@ private:
     float m_usage_falloff;
 
     friend ios &operator||(ios &s, brain &b);
-    friend ios &operator||(ios &s, sample_section &b);
     friend ios &operator||(ios &s, sound &b);
 
 };
 
 ios &operator||(ios &s, brain::sound &b);
-ios &operator||(ios &s, brain::sample_section &b);
 ios &operator||(ios &s, brain &b);
 
 }