diff --git a/samplebrain/qt/audio_thread.cpp b/samplebrain/qt/audio_thread.cpp
index 2ed5fd0..a810f6a 100644
--- a/samplebrain/qt/audio_thread.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/qt/audio_thread.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,8 @@ audio_thread::~audio_thread() {
 
 void audio_thread::start_audio() {
   if (m_audio_device!=NULL) delete m_audio_device;
-  m_audio_device = new audio_device("samplebrain",44100,2048);
+  m_audio_device = new audio_device("samplebrain",48000,2048);
+  //m_audio_device = new audio_device("samplebrain",48000,2048*4);
   m_audio_device->m_client.set_callback(run_audio, this);
 }
 
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/block.cpp b/samplebrain/src/block.cpp
index aeedbaf..038808c 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/block.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/block.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ void block::process(const sample &pcm, sample &fft, sample &mfcc, float &freq) {
   std::vector<std::complex<double> > mfspec;
   for (u32 i=0; i<m_block_size; ++i) {
     mfspec.push_back(std::complex<double>(m_fftw->m_spectrum[i][0],
-                                          m_fftw->m_spectrum[i][1]));
+					  m_fftw->m_spectrum[i][1]));
   }
 
   freq = m_fftw->calculate_dominant_freq();
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/block_stream.cpp b/samplebrain/src/block_stream.cpp
index 72e99ae..8858d30 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/block_stream.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/block_stream.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 // along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
 // Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
 
+#include <unistd.h>
 #include <iostream>
 #include "block_stream.h"
 
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ using namespace std;
 
 #define BUFFER_SIZE 4096*10
 #define MAX_BLOCKS 200
+#define NUM_WORKERS 4
 
 block_stream::block_stream() :
   m_ready(false),
@@ -29,8 +31,13 @@ block_stream::block_stream() :
   m_block_position(0),
   m_buffer_position(0),
   m_buffer(BUFFER_SIZE),
-  m_block_index_offset(0)
+  m_block_index_offset(0),
+  m_sent_block_index(0)
 {
+  for (u32 i=0; i<NUM_WORKERS; ++i) {
+    m_workers.push_back(new worker(i,&m_window));
+    usleep(1);  
+  }
 }
 
 block_stream::~block_stream() {}
@@ -38,16 +45,21 @@ block_stream::~block_stream() {}
 void block_stream::init(u32 block_size, u32 overlap, window::type t, bool ditchpcm) {
   m_block_size=block_size;
   m_overlap=overlap;
-  m_block_index=0;
+  m_block_index=20;
   m_block_position=0;
   m_buffer_position=0;
 
   if (m_overlap>=m_block_size) m_overlap=0;
-  cerr<<m_block_size<<endl;
+
   m_window.init(m_block_size);
   m_window.set_current_type(t);
 
   m_blocks.clear();
+  sample dummy(block_size);
+  for (u32 i=0; i<MAX_BLOCKS; i++) {
+    m_blocks.push_back(block(0,"dummy",dummy,44100,m_window));
+  }
+
   m_ready=true;
 }
 
@@ -69,8 +81,16 @@ void block_stream::process(const sample &left, const sample &right) {
       //cerr<<(s32)(m_buffer_position-m_block_size)<<" to "<<m_buffer_position<<endl;
       m_buffer.get_region(region,(s32)(m_buffer_position-m_block_size),
 			  m_buffer_position);
-      m_blocks.push_back(block(0,"input",region,44100,m_window));      
+
+      //cerr<<"starting block "<<m_block_index<<endl;
+      scatter_gather(m_block_index,region);
+      m_block_index=(m_block_index+1)%MAX_BLOCKS;
+      
+      //block b(0,"input",region,44100,m_window);
+      //m_blocks.push_back(b);      
+      
       m_block_position=0;
+      
 
       if (m_blocks.size()>MAX_BLOCKS) {
 	m_blocks.erase(m_blocks.begin());
@@ -80,9 +100,70 @@ void block_stream::process(const sample &left, const sample &right) {
     
     m_block_position++;
   }
-  cerr<<"num blocks: "<<m_blocks.size()<<endl;
 }
 
 const block &block_stream::get_block(u32 index) const {
-  return m_blocks[(index-m_block_index_offset)%m_blocks.size()];
+  //cerr<<"returning "<<(index-m_block_index_offset)%m_blocks.size()<<" ("<<m_blocks.size()<<")"<<endl;
+  u32 i = (index-m_block_index_offset)%MAX_BLOCKS;
+  //if (m_block_index<i) {
+  //  cerr<<i<<" ("<<(s32)(m_block_index-(s32)(i))<<")"<<endl;
+  //}
+  return m_blocks[i];
 }
+
+//-----------------------------------------------------------
+
+void _run_worker(void *p) {
+  ((block_stream::worker *)p)->run();
+}
+
+block_stream::worker::worker(u32 id, window *w) :
+  m_id(id),
+  m_status(READY),
+  m_window(w)
+{
+  m_worker_mutex = new pthread_mutex_t;
+  pthread_mutex_init(m_worker_mutex,NULL);
+  m_thread = new pthread_t;
+  pthread_create(m_thread,NULL,(void*(*)(void*))_run_worker,this);
+}
+
+void block_stream::worker::run() {
+  //cerr<<"worker "<<m_id<<" started..."<<endl;
+  while (true) {
+    pthread_mutex_lock(m_worker_mutex);
+    if (m_status==ACTIVATE) {
+      cerr<<"starting "<<m_id<<endl;
+      m_status=WORKING;
+      m_output = new block(0,"input",m_region,44100,*m_window);      
+      m_status=FINISHED;
+      cerr<<"ending "<<m_id<<endl;
+    }
+    pthread_mutex_unlock(m_worker_mutex);
+    usleep(5);
+  }
+}
+
+
+void block_stream::scatter_gather(u32 block_index, const sample &region) {
+  while(true) {
+    for (auto &w : m_workers) {
+      if (pthread_mutex_trylock(w->m_worker_mutex)) {
+	if (w->m_status == worker::FINISHED) {
+	  //cerr<<"adding finished block "<<w->m_block_index<<endl;
+	  m_blocks[w->m_block_index]=*w->m_output;      
+	  w->m_status = worker::READY;
+	}
+
+	if (w->m_status == worker::READY) {
+	  w->m_region = region;
+	  w->m_status = worker::ACTIVATE;
+	  w->m_block_index = block_index;
+	  return;
+	}
+	pthread_mutex_unlock(w->m_worker_mutex);
+      }    
+    }
+  }
+}
+
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/block_stream.h b/samplebrain/src/block_stream.h
index 825c144..676351f 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/block_stream.h
+++ b/samplebrain/src/block_stream.h
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <vector>
 #include "window.h"
 #include "block.h"
+#include "jellyfish/sample.h"
 #include "block_source.h"
 
 #ifndef BLOCK_STREAM
@@ -39,10 +40,33 @@ class block_stream : public block_source {
   virtual const block &get_block(u32 index) const;
   virtual u32 get_num_blocks() const { return UINT_MAX; } 
 
-  u32 last_block_index() const { return m_block_index_offset+m_blocks.size(); }
+  u32 last_block_index() const { return m_block_index_offset+m_blocks.size()-1; }
+
+  class worker {
+  public:
+    worker(u32 id, window *w);
+
+    enum worker_status { READY=0, ACTIVATE, WORKING, FINISHED };
+
+    void run();
+    
+    u32 m_id;
+    worker_status m_status;
+    pthread_mutex_t* m_worker_mutex;
+    sample m_region;
+    block *m_output;
+    window *m_window;
+    u32 m_block_index;
+
+    pthread_t *m_thread;
+  };
 
  private:
 
+  void scatter_gather(u32 block_index, const sample &region);
+
+  vector<worker*> m_workers;
+
   bool m_ready;
 
   u32 m_block_index;
@@ -55,6 +79,10 @@ class block_stream : public block_source {
   u32 m_block_index_offset;
   vector<block> m_blocks;
 
+  mutable s32 m_sent_block_index;
+
+  block *m_dummy_block;
+
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.cpp b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.cpp
index 1d4f547..f79d47a 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.cpp
@@ -22,57 +22,57 @@ using namespace std;
 
 command_ring_buffer::command::command(const char *name, const char *types, const char *data, unsigned int datasize)
 {
-	strcpy(m_name,name);
-	strcpy(m_types,types);
-	// already checking datasize fits in OSCserver.cpp
-    memcpy(m_data,data,datasize);
+  strcpy(m_name,name);
+  strcpy(m_types,types);
+  // already checking datasize fits in OSCserver.cpp
+  memcpy(m_data,data,datasize);
 
-	m_num_args=strlen(types);
+  m_num_args=strlen(types);
 
-	// figure out the offsets into the data to use later
-	int pos=0;
-	for(unsigned int i=0; i<m_num_args; i++)
+  // figure out the offsets into the data to use later
+  int pos=0;
+  for(unsigned int i=0; i<m_num_args; i++)
+    {
+      m_offsets[i]=pos;
+      switch(types[i])
 	{
-		m_offsets[i]=pos;
-		switch(types[i])
-		{
-			case 'i': pos+=4; break;
-			case 'f': pos+=4; break;
-			case 's': pos+=strlen(m_data+pos)+1; break;
-			case 'b': pos+=sizeof(char*); break;
+	case 'i': pos+=4; break;
+	case 'f': pos+=4; break;
+	case 's': pos+=strlen(m_data+pos)+1; break;
+	case 'b': pos+=sizeof(char*); break;
 
-			default:
-				// invalidate the command
-				for(unsigned int n=0; n<strlen(types); n++) m_offsets[n]=-1;
-				cerr<<"command_ring_buffer::command::command: erk! unknown type: "<<types[i]<<endl;
-				return;
-			break;
-		}
+	default:
+	  // invalidate the command
+	  for(unsigned int n=0; n<strlen(types); n++) m_offsets[n]=-1;
+	  cerr<<"command_ring_buffer::command::command: erk! unknown type: "<<types[i]<<endl;
+	  return;
+	  break;
 	}
+    }
 }
 
 int command_ring_buffer::command::get_int(unsigned int index)
 {
-	if (m_offsets[index]!=-1 && m_types[index]=='i') return *((int*)(m_data+m_offsets[index]));
-	return 0;
+  if (m_offsets[index]!=-1 && m_types[index]=='i') return *((int*)(m_data+m_offsets[index]));
+  return 0;
 }
 
 float command_ring_buffer::command::get_float(unsigned int index)
 {
-	if (m_offsets[index]!=-1 && m_types[index]=='f') return *((float*)(m_data+m_offsets[index]));
-	return 0;
+  if (m_offsets[index]!=-1 && m_types[index]=='f') return *((float*)(m_data+m_offsets[index]));
+  return 0;
 }
 
 char *command_ring_buffer::command::get_string(unsigned int index)
 {
-	if (m_offsets[index]!=-1 && m_types[index]=='s') return ((char*)(m_data+m_offsets[index]));
-	return 0;
+  if (m_offsets[index]!=-1 && m_types[index]=='s') return ((char*)(m_data+m_offsets[index]));
+  return 0;
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 command_ring_buffer::command_ring_buffer(unsigned int size):
-ring_buffer(size)
+  ring_buffer(size)
 {
 }
 
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ command_ring_buffer::~command_ring_buffer()
 
 bool command_ring_buffer::send(const command& command)
 {
-	return write((char*)&command,sizeof(command));
+  return write((char*)&command,sizeof(command));
 }
 
 bool command_ring_buffer::get(command& command)
 {
-	return read((char*)&command, sizeof(command));
+  return read((char*)&command, sizeof(command));
 }
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.h b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.h
index 4940547..2df8608 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.h
+++ b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/command_ring_buffer.h
@@ -23,39 +23,39 @@ static const unsigned int COMMAND_DATA_SIZE = 128;
 
 class command_ring_buffer : public ring_buffer
 {
-public:
-	command_ring_buffer(unsigned int size);
-	~command_ring_buffer();
+ public:
+  command_ring_buffer(unsigned int size);
+  ~command_ring_buffer();
 
-	class command
-	{
-	public:
-		command() {}
-		command(const char *name, const char *types, const char *data, unsigned int datasize);
-		~command() {}
+  class command
+  {
+  public:
+    command() {}
+    command(const char *name, const char *types, const char *data, unsigned int datasize);
+    ~command() {}
 
-		int get_int(unsigned int index);
-		float get_float(unsigned int index);
-		char *get_string(unsigned int index);
-		// unlike the string - ownership of the blob is yours
-		// you must delete it when you're done...
-		char *get_blob(unsigned int index);
-		unsigned int size() { return m_num_args; }
-		char m_name[256];
-		char m_types[64];
+    int get_int(unsigned int index);
+    float get_float(unsigned int index);
+    char *get_string(unsigned int index);
+    // unlike the string - ownership of the blob is yours
+    // you must delete it when you're done...
+    char *get_blob(unsigned int index);
+    unsigned int size() { return m_num_args; }
+    char m_name[256];
+    char m_types[64];
 
-	private:
-		char m_data[COMMAND_DATA_SIZE];
-		int m_offsets[64];
-		unsigned int m_num_args;
+  private:
+    char m_data[COMMAND_DATA_SIZE];
+    int m_offsets[64];
+    unsigned int m_num_args;
 
-	};
+  };
 
-	bool send(const command& command);
-	bool get(command& command);
+  bool send(const command& command);
+  bool get(command& command);
 
-private:
-	command m_current;
+ private:
+  command m_current;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/portaudio_client.cpp b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/portaudio_client.cpp
index d020b47..59d6b12 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/portaudio_client.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/portaudio_client.cpp
@@ -55,8 +55,14 @@ bool portaudio_client::attach(const string &client_name, const device_options &d
     fprintf( stderr, "error message: %s\n", Pa_GetErrorText( err ) );
   }
 
+  PaDeviceIndex output_device_num = Pa_GetDefaultOutputDevice(); 
+  PaDeviceIndex input_device_num = Pa_GetDefaultInputDevice(); 
+
+  //output_device_num = 4;
+  //input_device_num = 4;
+
   PaStreamParameters output_parameters;
-  output_parameters.device = Pa_GetDefaultOutputDevice(); /* default output device */
+  output_parameters.device = output_device_num;
   if (output_parameters.device == paNoDevice) {
     cerr<<"error: no default output device."<<endl;
   }
@@ -65,8 +71,10 @@ bool portaudio_client::attach(const string &client_name, const device_options &d
   output_parameters.suggestedLatency = Pa_GetDeviceInfo( output_parameters.device )->defaultLowOutputLatency;
   output_parameters.hostApiSpecificStreamInfo = NULL;
 
+  cerr<<"Connecting to "<<Pa_GetDeviceInfo( output_parameters.device )->name<<" for output"<<endl;
+
   PaStreamParameters input_parameters;
-  input_parameters.device = Pa_GetDefaultInputDevice(); /* default output device */
+  input_parameters.device = input_device_num;
   if (input_parameters.device == paNoDevice) {
     cerr<<"error: no default input device."<<endl;
   }
@@ -75,6 +83,8 @@ bool portaudio_client::attach(const string &client_name, const device_options &d
   input_parameters.suggestedLatency = Pa_GetDeviceInfo( input_parameters.device )->defaultLowInputLatency;
   input_parameters.hostApiSpecificStreamInfo = NULL;
 
+  cerr<<"Connecting to "<<Pa_GetDeviceInfo( input_parameters.device )->name<<" for input"<<endl;
+
   PaStream *stream;
 
   err = Pa_OpenStream(&stream,
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.cpp b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.cpp
index 082d404..d7f953a 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.cpp
@@ -23,107 +23,107 @@
 using namespace std;
 
 ring_buffer::ring_buffer(unsigned int size):
-m_read_pos(0),
-m_write_pos(0),
-m_size(size),
-m_size_mask(size-1),
-m_buffer(NULL)
+  m_read_pos(0),
+  m_write_pos(0),
+  m_size(size),
+  m_size_mask(size-1),
+  m_buffer(NULL)
 {
-	m_buffer = new char[m_size];
-	memset(m_buffer,'Z',m_size);
+  m_buffer = new char[m_size];
+  memset(m_buffer,'Z',m_size);
 }
 
 ring_buffer::~ring_buffer()	
 {
-	delete[] m_buffer;
+  delete[] m_buffer;
 }
 
 bool ring_buffer::write(char *src, unsigned int size)
 {
-	//cerr<<"write pos: "<<m_write_pos<<endl;
-	unsigned int space=write_space();
+  //cerr<<"write pos: "<<m_write_pos<<endl;
+  unsigned int space=write_space();
 
-	if (space<size) 
+  if (space<size) 
     {
-        cerr<<"ringbuffer ran out of space, needed: "<<size<<" have: "<<space<<endl;
-        return false;
+      cerr<<"ringbuffer ran out of space, needed: "<<size<<" have: "<<space<<endl;
+      return false;
     }
 	
-	if (size<m_size-m_write_pos)
-	{
-		//cerr<<"written to: "<<m_write_pos<<endl;
-		memcpy(&(m_buffer[m_write_pos]), src, size);
-		m_write_pos += size;
-		m_write_pos &= m_size_mask;
-	}
-	else // have to split data over boundary
-	{
-		unsigned int first = m_size-m_write_pos;
-		unsigned int second = (m_write_pos+size) & m_size_mask;
+  if (size<m_size-m_write_pos)
+    {
+      //cerr<<"written to: "<<m_write_pos<<endl;
+      memcpy(&(m_buffer[m_write_pos]), src, size);
+      m_write_pos += size;
+      m_write_pos &= m_size_mask;
+    }
+  else // have to split data over boundary
+    {
+      unsigned int first = m_size-m_write_pos;
+      unsigned int second = (m_write_pos+size) & m_size_mask;
 		
-		memcpy(&(m_buffer[m_write_pos]), src, first);
-		m_write_pos += first;
-		m_write_pos &= m_size_mask;
+      memcpy(&(m_buffer[m_write_pos]), src, first);
+      m_write_pos += first;
+      m_write_pos &= m_size_mask;
 		
-		memcpy(&(m_buffer[m_write_pos]), &src[first], second);
-		m_write_pos += second;
-		m_write_pos &= m_size_mask;
-	}
+      memcpy(&(m_buffer[m_write_pos]), &src[first], second);
+      m_write_pos += second;
+      m_write_pos &= m_size_mask;
+    }
 	
-	return true;
+  return true;
 }
 
 bool ring_buffer::read(char *dest, unsigned int size)
 {
-	//cerr<<"read pos: "<<m_read_pos<<endl;
-	unsigned int space=read_space();
-	if (space==0 || size>m_size) return false;
+  //cerr<<"read pos: "<<m_read_pos<<endl;
+  unsigned int space=read_space();
+  if (space==0 || size>m_size) return false;
 	
-	if (size<m_size-m_read_pos)
-	{
-		//cerr<<"reading from: "<<m_read_pos<<endl;
-		memcpy(dest, &(m_buffer[m_read_pos]), size);
-		m_read_pos += size;
-		m_read_pos &= m_size_mask;
-	}
-	else // have to split data over boundary
-	{
-		unsigned int first = m_size-m_read_pos;
-		unsigned int second = (m_read_pos+size) & m_size_mask;
+  if (size<m_size-m_read_pos)
+    {
+      //cerr<<"reading from: "<<m_read_pos<<endl;
+      memcpy(dest, &(m_buffer[m_read_pos]), size);
+      m_read_pos += size;
+      m_read_pos &= m_size_mask;
+    }
+  else // have to split data over boundary
+    {
+      unsigned int first = m_size-m_read_pos;
+      unsigned int second = (m_read_pos+size) & m_size_mask;
 		
-		memcpy(dest, &(m_buffer[m_read_pos]), first);
-		m_read_pos += first;
-		m_read_pos &= m_size_mask;
+      memcpy(dest, &(m_buffer[m_read_pos]), first);
+      m_read_pos += first;
+      m_read_pos &= m_size_mask;
 		
-		memcpy(&dest[first], &(m_buffer[m_read_pos]), second);
-		m_read_pos += second;
-		m_read_pos &= m_size_mask;
-	}
+      memcpy(&dest[first], &(m_buffer[m_read_pos]), second);
+      m_read_pos += second;
+      m_read_pos &= m_size_mask;
+    }
 	
-	return true;
+  return true;
 }
 
 void ring_buffer::dump()
 {
-	for (unsigned int i=0; i<m_size; i++) cerr<<m_buffer[i];
-	cerr<<endl;
+  for (unsigned int i=0; i<m_size; i++) cerr<<m_buffer[i];
+  cerr<<endl;
 }
 
 unsigned int ring_buffer::write_space()
 {
-	unsigned int read = m_read_pos;
-	unsigned int write = m_write_pos;
+  unsigned int read = m_read_pos;
+  unsigned int write = m_write_pos;
 	
-	if (write > read) return (read - write + m_size) & (m_size_mask - 1);
-	if (write < read) return (read - write) - 1;
-	return m_size - 1;
+  if (write > read) return (read - write + m_size) & (m_size_mask - 1);
+  if (write < read) return (read - write) - 1;
+  return m_size - 1;
 }
 
 unsigned int ring_buffer::read_space()
 {
-	unsigned int read = m_read_pos;
-	unsigned int write = m_write_pos;
+  unsigned int read = m_read_pos;
+  unsigned int write = m_write_pos;
 
-	if (write > read) return write - read;
-	else return (write - read + m_size) & m_size_mask;
+  if (write > read) return write - read;
+  else return (write - read + m_size) & m_size_mask;
 }
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.h b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.h
index 0dbcddb..c3cdab4 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.h
+++ b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/ring_buffer.h
@@ -22,25 +22,25 @@
 
 class ring_buffer
 {
-public:
-	ring_buffer(unsigned int size);
-	~ring_buffer();
+ public:
+  ring_buffer(unsigned int size);
+  ~ring_buffer();
 
-	//bool lock();
-	//bool unlock();
-	bool write(char *src, unsigned int size);
-	bool read(char *dest, unsigned int size);
-	void dump();
+  //bool lock();
+  //bool unlock();
+  bool write(char *src, unsigned int size);
+  bool read(char *dest, unsigned int size);
+  void dump();
 
-private:
-	unsigned int write_space();
-	unsigned int read_space();
+ private:
+  unsigned int write_space();
+  unsigned int read_space();
 
-	unsigned int m_read_pos;
-	unsigned int m_write_pos;
-	unsigned int m_size;
-	unsigned int m_size_mask;
-	char *m_buffer;
+  unsigned int m_read_pos;
+  unsigned int m_write_pos;
+  unsigned int m_size;
+  unsigned int m_size_mask;
+  char *m_buffer;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/stream.cpp b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/stream.cpp
index e7c0eed..39c8354 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/stream.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/jellyfish/stream.cpp
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ template<>ios &spiralcore::operator||(ios &s, string &v) {
     ofstream *pos=dynamic_cast<ofstream*>(&s);
     if (pos!=NULL) {
         ofstream &os = *pos;
-        size_t len = v.length();
-        os.write((char *)&len,sizeof(size_t));
+        u64 len = v.length();
+        os.write((char *)&len,sizeof(u64));
         os.write((char*)(v.c_str()),v.length());
         return os;
     }
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ template<>ios &spiralcore::operator||(ios &s, string &v) {
         ifstream *pis=dynamic_cast<ifstream*>(&s);
         assert(pis!=NULL);
         ifstream &is = *pis;
-        size_t len=0;
-        is.read((char *)&len,sizeof(size_t));
+        u64 len=0;
+        is.read((char *)&len,sizeof(u64));
         if (len>0) {
             char *str = new char[len+1];
             is.read(str,len);
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/main.cpp b/samplebrain/src/main.cpp
index 58be419..91ce2c9 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/main.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/main.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "block.h"
 #include "brain.h"
 #include "renderer.h"
+#include "block_stream.h"
 #include <pthread.h>
 
 using namespace std;
@@ -46,12 +47,23 @@ void unit_test() {
 }
 
 audio_device *a = NULL;
+block_stream *m_block_stream = NULL;
+bool m_mic_mode = true;
 
 void run_audio(void* c, unsigned int frames) {
     a->left_out.zero();
     renderer *rr = (renderer*)c;
     pthread_mutex_lock(m_fuz_mutex);
-    rr->process(frames,a->left_out.get_non_const_buffer());
+
+    block_stream *bs=NULL;
+
+    if (m_mic_mode) {
+      m_block_stream->process(a->left_in,a->right_in);      
+      bs = m_block_stream;
+    }
+
+    rr->process(frames,a->left_out.get_non_const_buffer(),bs);
+    
     pthread_mutex_unlock(m_fuz_mutex);
     a->right_out=a->left_out;
     a->maybe_record();
@@ -127,8 +139,15 @@ void fuz() {
 
     brain target;
     target.load_sound(fuz_samplefile(),brain::MIX);
-    u32 len=fuz_rr_i(500,5000);
-    target.init(len,len-len/fuz_rr_i(1,16),window::HANN);
+    //    u32 len=fuz_rr_i(500,5000);
+    //u32 overlap = len-len/fuz_rr_i(1,16);
+
+    u32 len=5000;
+    u32 overlap=len/2;
+    target.init(len,overlap,window::HANN);
+
+    m_block_stream = new block_stream();
+    m_block_stream->init(len,overlap,window::HANN);
 
     cerr<<"ready..."<<endl;
     cerr<<"we have "<<source.get_num_blocks()<<" brain blocks ("<<source.get_num_blocks()*len/44100.0<<" secs)"<<endl<<endl;
@@ -140,8 +159,8 @@ void fuz() {
     renderer rr(source,target);
     rr.set_playing(true);
     //    a->start_recording("debug");
-	a->m_client.set_callback(run_audio, &rr);
-
+    a->m_client.set_callback(run_audio, &rr);
+	
     //target.resynth("shosta-dream-0.5.wav",source,0.5);
 
     u32 counter=0;
@@ -199,6 +218,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     m_fuz_mutex = new pthread_mutex_t;
     pthread_mutex_init(m_fuz_mutex,NULL);
-    unit_test();
+    //unit_test();
+
+
     fuz();
 }
diff --git a/samplebrain/src/renderer.cpp b/samplebrain/src/renderer.cpp
index bbcbedd..aa1cbfa 100644
--- a/samplebrain/src/renderer.cpp
+++ b/samplebrain/src/renderer.cpp
@@ -57,15 +57,14 @@ void renderer::process(u32 nframes, float *buf, const block_stream *bs) {
   // or the realtime block stream
   const block_source *source = (block_source*)bs;
   if (source==NULL) {
-    cerr<<"not using block stream..."<<endl;
     source = &m_target;
   } else {
-    if (m_target_index<bs->last_block_index()-10) {
-      cerr<<"catch up..."<<endl;
+    if ((s32)m_target_index<(s32)(bs->last_block_index()-100)) {
+      //cerr<<"catch up... "<<(s32)m_target_index<<" "<<(s32)bs->last_block_index()<<endl;
       m_target_index = bs->last_block_index();
     }
     if (m_target_index>bs->last_block_index()) {
-      cerr<<"catch down..."<<endl;
+      //cerr<<"catch down..."<<endl;
       m_target_index = bs->last_block_index();
     }
   }
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@ bool renderer::find_render_blocks(const block_source &target, u32 nframes) {
   }
 
   
-    cerr<<"-----------------"<<endl;
+  /*    cerr<<"-----------------"<<endl;
     cerr<<"tgt start:"<<m_target_index<<endl;
     cerr<<"tgt end:"<<tgt_end<<endl;
     cerr<<":"<<tgt_end-m_target_index<<endl;
@@ -117,7 +116,7 @@ bool renderer::find_render_blocks(const block_source &target, u32 nframes) {
     cerr<<"render time (index) "<<m_render_index*tgt_shift<<endl;
     cerr<<"real vs index = "<<(s32)m_render_time-(s32)(m_render_index*tgt_shift)<<endl;
     cerr<<m_render_blocks.size()<<endl;
-  
+  */
 
   // search phase
   // get indices for current buffer