diff --git a/app/controllers/home_controller.rb b/app/controllers/home_controller.rb
index e1810d0c..95f29929 100644
--- a/app/controllers/home_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/home_controller.rb
@@ -1,30 +1,4 @@
-require './lib/external/original_audio_harvester'
-
 class HomeController < ApplicationController
-  include OriginalAudioHarvester
-
   def index
-=begin
-    topdir = File.join(Rails.root,'media','harvestwaiting')
-
-    harvest_paths = OriginalAudioHarvester.directory_list topdir
-    config_files = harvest_paths.collect {|dir| OriginalAudioHarvester.config_file_path dir }
-    file_lists = harvest_paths.collect {|dir| OriginalAudioHarvester.file_list dir}
-
-    config_file_objects = config_files.collect { |file| OriginalAudioHarvester.read_config_file file }
-
-    result = {}
-
-    file_lists.each do |files|
-      files.each do |file|
-        result[file] = OriginalAudioHarvester.file_info file
-      end
-    end
-
-    params[:testing] = result
-
-
-    raise RuntimeError
-=end
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/controllers/media_controller.rb b/app/controllers/media_controller.rb
index 960eeb99..e192a938 100644
--- a/app/controllers/media_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/media_controller.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+require './lib/modules/mime'
+
 class MediaController < ApplicationController
-  include FileCacher
+  include FileCacher, Mime
 
   #respond_to :xml, :json, :html, :png, :ogg, :oga, :webm, :webma, :mp3
 
@@ -113,22 +115,4 @@ def read_dir(dir)
       end
     end
   end
-end
-
-module Mime
-  class Type
-    class << self
-      # Lookup, guesstimate if fail, the file extension
-      # for a given mime string. For example:
-      #
-      # >> Mime::Type.file_extension_of 'text/rss+xml'
-      # => "xml"
-      def file_extension_of(mime_string)
-        set = Mime::LOOKUP[mime_string]
-        sym = set.instance_variable_get("@symbol") if set
-        return sym.to_s if sym
-        return $1 if mime_string =~ /(\w+)$/
-      end
-    end
-  end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/models/audio_recording.rb b/app/models/audio_recording.rb
index df5d7918..f4327c41 100644
--- a/app/models/audio_recording.rb
+++ b/app/models/audio_recording.rb
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@ class AudioRecording < ActiveRecord::Base
   # attr
   attr_accessible :bit_rate_bps, :channels, :data_length_bytes,
                   :duration_seconds, :file_hash, :media_type, :notes,
-                  :recorded_date, :sample_rate_hertz, :status, :uploader_id
+                  :recorded_date, :sample_rate_hertz, :status, :uploader_id,
+                  :site_id
+
+  accepts_nested_attributes_for :site
 
   # userstamp
   stampable
diff --git a/app/models/site.rb b/app/models/site.rb
index 13985418..72d5f357 100644
--- a/app/models/site.rb
+++ b/app/models/site.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ class Site < ActiveRecord::Base
   # attr
   attr_accessible :name, :latitude, :longitude, :notes
 
+  accepts_nested_attributes_for :audio_recordings
+
   # userstamp
   stampable
   belongs_to :user
diff --git a/lib/external/original_audio_harvester.rb b/lib/external/original_audio_harvester.rb
index b98618d6..7d24f4c7 100644
--- a/lib/external/original_audio_harvester.rb
+++ b/lib/external/original_audio_harvester.rb
@@ -1,26 +1,41 @@
 require 'yaml'
-require 'rest_client'
+require 'net/http'
+require 'json'
+require 'digest'
+
+=begin
+require './lib/modules/OS'
+require './lib/modules/audio_sox'
+require './lib/modules/audio_wavpack'
+require './lib/modules/audio_ffmpeg'
+require './lib/modules/audio_mp3splt'
+require './lib/modules/hash'
+
+require './lib/modules/audio'
+require './lib/modules/cache'
+require './lib/exceptions'
+=end
+
+require '../modules/OS'
+require '../modules/audio_sox'
+require '../modules/audio_wavpack'
+require '../modules/audio_ffmpeg'
+require '../modules/audio_mp3splt'
+require '../modules/hash'
+
+require '../modules/audio'
+require '../modules/cache'
+require '../exceptions'
+
 
 module OriginalAudioHarvester
-  include Audio, Cache
+  include Audio, Cache, Exceptions
 
   @folder_config = 'folder_config.yml'
 
 =begin
   Usage:
-  # get get all the sub dirs in the top level harvest directory (only one level deep, not recursive)
-  harvest_paths = OriginalAudioHarvester.directory_list topdir
-
-  # get the config files in each sub dir
-  config_files = harvest_paths.collect {|dir| OriginalAudioHarvester.config_file_path dir }
-  config_file_objects = config_files.collect { |file| OriginalAudioHarvester.read_config_file file }
-
-  # get the other files in the sub dirs (excluding config files)
-  file_lists = harvest_paths.collect {|dir| OriginalAudioHarvester.file_list dir}
 
-  # get the information about the files into a hash
-  # including calculating the recording start dates using either a recognised file name format,
-  # or file accessed/modified/created date
   # e.g.
 {
   file name => {
@@ -86,7 +101,7 @@ def self.file_info(full_file_path)
   end
 
   # calculate the audio recording start date and time
-  def self.recording_start_datetime(full_path)
+  def self.recording_start_datetime(full_path, utc_offset)
     if File.exists? full_path
       access_time = File.atime full_path
       change_time = File.ctime full_path
@@ -94,13 +109,15 @@ def self.recording_start_datetime(full_path)
 
       file_name = File.basename full_path
 
-      datetime_from_file = DateTime.new
+      datetime_from_file = modified_time
 
       # _yyyyMMdd_HHmmss.
-      file_name.scan(/.*_(\d{4})(\d{2})(\d{2})_(\d{2})(\d{2})(\d{2})\..+/) do |year,month, day, hour, min ,sec|
-        #datetime_from_file = DateTime.strptime
+      file_name.scan(/.*_(\d{4})(\d{2})(\d{2})_(\d{2})(\d{2})(\d{2})\..+/) do |year, month, day, hour, min ,sec|
+        datetime_from_file = DateTime.new(year.to_i, month.to_i, day.to_i, hour.to_i, min.to_i, sec.to_i, utc_offset)
       end
     end
+
+    datetime_from_file
   end
 
   # constructs the full path that a file will be moved to
@@ -108,9 +125,109 @@ def self.create_target_path(original_base_path, uuid, audio_info)
 
   end
 
+  def self.generate_hash(file_path)
+    incr_hash = Digest::SHA256.new
+
+    File.open(file_path) do|file|
+      buffer = ''
+
+      # Read the file 512 bytes at a time
+      until file.eof
+        file.read(512, buffer)
+        incr_hash.update(buffer)
+      end
+    end
+
+    incr_hash
+  end
+
+  def self.create_params(file_path, file_info, config_file_object)
+    # info we need to send, construct based on mime type
+
+    puts file_info
+
+    media_type = file_info[:info][:ffmpeg]['STREAM codec_type']+'/'+file_info[:info][:ffmpeg]['STREAM codec_name']
+    recording_start = recording_start_datetime(file_path, config_file_object['utc_offset'])
+
+    to_send = {
+        :file_hash => 'SHA256::'+OriginalAudioHarvester.generate_hash(file_path).hexdigest,
+        :sample_rate_hertz => file_info[:info][:ffmpeg]['STREAM sample_rate'],
+        :media_type => media_type,
+        :uploader_id => config_file_object['uploader_id'],
+        :site_id => config_file_object['site_id'],
+        :recorded_date => recording_start
+    }
+
+    if media_type == 'audio/wavpack'
+      to_send[:bit_rate_bps] = file_info[:info][:wavpack]['ave bitrate']
+      to_send[:data_length_bytes] = file_info[:info][:wavpack]['file size']
+      to_send[:channels] =  file_info[:info][:wavpack]['channels']
+      to_send[:duration_seconds] =  file_info[:info][:wavpack]['duration']
+    else
+      to_send[:bit_rate_bps] = file_info[:info][:ffmpeg]['FORMAT bit_rate']
+      to_send[:data_length_bytes] =file_info[:info][:ffmpeg]['FORMAT size']
+      to_send[:channels] = file_info[:info][:ffmpeg]['STREAM channels']
+      to_send[:duration_seconds] = AudioFfmpeg::parse_duration(file_info[:info][:ffmpeg]['FORMAT duration'])
+    end
+
+    to_send
+  end
+
   # get uuid for audio recording from website via REST API
-  def self.new_uuid()
+  # If you post to a Ruby on Rails REST API endpoint, then you'll get an
+  # InvalidAuthenticityToken exception unless you set a different
+  # content type in the request headers, since any post from a form must
+  # contain an authenticity token.
+  def self.rails_post(endpoint, post_params)
+    uri = URI.parse(endpoint)
+
+    request = Net::HTTP::Post.new uri.path
+    request.body = post_params.to_json
+    request["Content-Type"] = "application/json"
+
+    http1 = Net::HTTP.new uri.hostname, uri.port
+    http1.set_debug_output $stderr
+
+   response = http1.start() do |http|
+    #  http
+    #  http.request request
+    http.request request
+    end
+
+    response
+  end
+
+  def self.run_once_dir(top_dir)
+    # get a sub dir in the top level harvest directory (only one level deep, not recursive)
+    available_dir = OriginalAudioHarvester.directory_list(top_dir).first
+
+    # get a non-config file from the sub dir
+    file_to_process = OriginalAudioHarvester.file_list(available_dir).first
 
+    OriginalAudioHarvester.run_once_file file_to_process
   end
 
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+  def self.run_once_file(file_path)
+    # get the config file in the same dir
+    config_file = OriginalAudioHarvester.config_file_path(File.dirname(file_path))
+
+    # load the config file
+    config_file_object = OriginalAudioHarvester.read_config_file config_file
+
+    # get info about the file to process
+    file_info = OriginalAudioHarvester.file_info(file_path)
+
+    # get the params to send
+    to_send = OriginalAudioHarvester.create_params(file_path, file_info, config_file_object)
+
+    post_result = rails_post('http://localhost:3000/audio_recordings.json',to_send)
+
+    post_result
+  end
+
+end
+
+
+# run the script
+#topdir = File.join(Rails.root,'media','harvestwaiting')
+#OriginalAudioHarvester.run_once_file '20081202-07-koala-calls.mp3'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/modules/OS.rb b/lib/modules/OS.rb
index 6e5be786..95197cb2 100644
--- a/lib/modules/OS.rb
+++ b/lib/modules/OS.rb
@@ -1,18 +1,19 @@
 # From http://stackoverflow.com/questions/170956/how-can-i-find-which-operating-system-my-ruby-program-is-running-on
 module OS
-  def self.windows?
+
+  def OS.windows?
     (/cygwin|mswin|mingw|bccwin|wince|emx/ =~ RUBY_PLATFORM) != nil
   end
 
-  def self.mac?
+  def OS.mac?
    (/darwin/ =~ RUBY_PLATFORM) != nil
   end
 
-  def self.unix?
+  def OS.unix?
     !OS.windows?
   end
 
-  def self.linux?
+  def OS.linux?
     OS.unix? and not OS.mac?
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/modules/audio.rb b/lib/modules/audio.rb
index 2b8559e9..571fe4a6 100644
--- a/lib/modules/audio.rb
+++ b/lib/modules/audio.rb
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+require 'open3'
+
 module Audio
   include AudioSox, AudioMp3splt, AudioWavpack, AudioFfmpeg
 
@@ -7,13 +9,13 @@ def self.info(source)
     result = {}
 
     sox = AudioSox::info_sox source
-    result.deep_merge! sox
+    result = result.deep_merge sox
 
     ffmpeg = AudioFfmpeg::info_ffmpeg source
-    result.deep_merge!  ffmpeg
+    result = result.deep_merge  ffmpeg
 
     wavpack = AudioWavpack::info_wavpack source
-    result.deep_merge! wavpack
+    result = result.deep_merge wavpack
 
     # return the packaged info array
     result
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ def self.modify(source, target, modify_parameters)
 
       AudioWavpack::modify_wavpack(source, target_possible_paths.first, modify_parameters)
     end
+
   end
 
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/modules/audio_ffmpeg.rb b/lib/modules/audio_ffmpeg.rb
index c816ee28..ce0da293 100644
--- a/lib/modules/audio_ffmpeg.rb
+++ b/lib/modules/audio_ffmpeg.rb
@@ -3,6 +3,20 @@ module AudioFfmpeg
   @ffmpeg_path = if OS.windows? then "./vendor/bin/ffmpeg/windows/ffmpeg.exe" else "ffmpeg" end
   @ffprobe_path = if OS.windows? then "./vendor/bin/ffmpeg/windows/ffprobe.exe" else "ffprobe" end
 
+  # constants
+  CODECS = {
+      :wav => {
+          :codec_name => 'pcm_s16le',
+          :codec_long_name => 'PCM signed 16-bit little-endian',
+          :codec_type => 'audio',
+          :format_long_name => 'WAV / WAVE (Waveform Audio)'
+      },
+      :mp3 => {
+
+      }
+  }
+
+
   # public methods
   public
 
@@ -15,18 +29,19 @@ def self.info_ffmpeg(source)
     ffprobe_command = "#@ffprobe_path #{ffprobe_arguments_info} \"#{source}\""
     ffprobe_stdout_str, ffprobe_stderr_str, ffprobe_status = Open3.capture3(ffprobe_command)
 
-    Rails.logger.debug "Ffprobe info return status #{ffprobe_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{ffprobe_command}"
+    puts "Ffprobe info return status #{ffprobe_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{ffprobe_command}"
+    #Rails.logger.debug "Ffprobe info return status #{ffprobe_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{ffprobe_command}"
 
     if ffprobe_status.exitstatus == 0
       result[:info][:ffmpeg] = parse_ffprobe_output(ffprobe_stdout_str)
     else
-      Rails.logger.debug "Ffprobe info error. Return status #{ffprobe_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{ffprobe_command}"
+      #Rails.logger.debug "Ffprobe info error. Return status #{ffprobe_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{ffprobe_command}"
       result[:error][:ffmpeg] = parse_ffprobe_output(ffprobe_stdout_str)
     end
 
-    if result[:info][:ffmpeg]['FFPROBE STREAM codec_type'] != 'audio'
+    if result[:info][:ffmpeg]['STREAM codec_type'] != 'audio'
       result[:error][:ffmpeg][:file_type] = 'Not an audio file.'
-      Rails.logger.debug "Ffprobe gave info about a non-audio file."
+      #Rails.logger.debug "Ffprobe gave info about a non-audio file."
 
     end
 
@@ -40,6 +55,16 @@ def self.modify_ffmpeg(source, target, modify_parameters = {})
 
   end
 
+  # returns the duration in seconds (and fractions if present)
+  def self.parse_duration(duration_string)
+    duration_match = /(?<hour>\d+):(?<minute>\d+):(?<second>[\d+\.]+)/i.match(duration_string)
+    duration = 0
+    if !duration_match.nil? && duration_match.size == 4
+      duration = (duration_match[:hour].to_f * 60 * 60) + (duration_match[:minute].to_f * 60) + duration_match[:second].to_f
+    end
+    duration
+  end
+
   private
 
   def self.parse_ffprobe_output(raw)
diff --git a/lib/modules/audio_mp3splt.rb b/lib/modules/audio_mp3splt.rb
index 49627478..1084a51a 100644
--- a/lib/modules/audio_mp3splt.rb
+++ b/lib/modules/audio_mp3splt.rb
@@ -5,10 +5,6 @@ module AudioMp3splt
   # public methods
   public
 
-  def self.info_mp3splt(source)
-    [ [], [] ]
-  end
-
   # @param [file path] source
   # @param [file path] target
   # @param [hash] modify_parameters
@@ -17,27 +13,31 @@ def self.modify_mp3splt(source, target, modify_parameters = {})
     raise ArgumentError, "Source is not a mp3 file: #{File.basename(source)}" unless source.match(/\.mp3$/)
     raise ArgumentError, "Target is not a mp3 file: : #{File.basename(target)}" unless target.match(/\.mp3$/)
     raise ArgumentError, "Source does not exist: #{File.basename(source)}" unless File.exists? source
-    raise ArgumentError, "Target exists: #{File.basename(target)}" unless !File.exists? source
+    raise ArgumentError, "Target exists: #{File.basename(target)}" if File.exists? target
 
-    info = []
-    error = []
+    result = {
+        :info => { :wavpack => {} },
+        :error => { :wavpack => {} }
+    }
 
+    # mp3splt needs the file extension removed
     target_dirname = File.dirname target
-    target_no_ext = File.basename target
-    arguments = " -d \"#{target_dirname}\" -o #{target_no_ext} #{source}"
+    target_no_ext = File.basename(target, File.extname(target))
+    arguments = " -d \"#{target_dirname}\" -o \"#{target_no_ext}\" \"#{source}\""
 
     # WARNING: can't get more than an hour, since minutes only goes to 59.
     # formatted time: mm.ss.ss
-    if modify_parameters.include? :start_offset && modify_parameters[:start_offset] > 0
-      start_offset_formatted = Time.at(modify_parameters[:start_offset]).utc.strftime('%M.%S.%2N')
-      start_offset = start_offset_formatted
+    start_offset_num = 0.0
+    if modify_parameters.include?(:start_offset) && modify_parameters[:start_offset] > 0
+      start_offset = ' '+Time.at(modify_parameters[:start_offset]).utc.strftime('%M.%S.%2N')+' '
+      start_offset_num = modify_parameters[:start_offset]
     else
-      start_offset = 0
+      start_offset = ' 0.0 '
     end
 
     arguments += " #{start_offset} "
 
-    if modify_parameters.include? :end_offset && modify_parameters[:end_offset] > 0 && modify_parameters[:end_offset] > start_offset
+    if modify_parameters.include?(:end_offset) && modify_parameters[:end_offset] > 0 && modify_parameters[:end_offset] > start_offset_num
       end_offset_formatted = Time.at(modify_parameters[:end_offset]).utc.strftime('%M.%S.%2N')
       arguments += " #{end_offset_formatted} "
     else
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ def self.modify_mp3splt(source, target, modify_parameters = {})
     mp3splt_command = "#@mp3splt_path #{arguments}" # commands to get info from audio file
     mp3splt_stdout_str, mp3splt_stderr_str, mp3splt_status = Open3.capture3(mp3splt_command) # run the commands and wait for the result
 
+    Rails.logger.debug "mp3splt info return status #{mp3splt_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{mp3splt_command}"
+
     if mp3splt_status.exitstatus != 0 || !File.exists?(target)
       raise "Mp3splt exited with an error: #{mp3splt_stderr_str}"
     end
 
-    [info, error]
+    result
   end
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/modules/audio_shared.rb b/lib/modules/audio_shared.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3aee5796
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/modules/audio_shared.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+module AudioShared
+  def AudioShared.run_info(executable_file, command)
+    stdout_str, stderr_str, status = Open3.capture3("#{executable_file} #{command}")
+    if status.exitstatus != 0
+      raise
+    end
+    [stdout_str, stderr_str, status]
+  end
+
+  def AudioShared.run_convert(executable_file, command, target_file)
+    stdout_str, stderr_str, status = Open3.capture3("#{executable_file} #{command}")
+
+    if status.exitstatus != 0 || !File.exists?(target)
+
+    end
+    [stdout_str, stderr_str, status]
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/modules/audio_sox.rb b/lib/modules/audio_sox.rb
index ae95acad..f826b912 100644
--- a/lib/modules/audio_sox.rb
+++ b/lib/modules/audio_sox.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 module AudioSox
-  include OS
+include OS
   @sox_path = if OS.windows? then "./vendor/bin/sox/windows/sox.exe" else "sox" end
 
   # public methods
@@ -15,12 +15,17 @@ def self.info_sox(source)
     sox_command = "#@sox_path #{sox_arguments_info} \"#{source}\"" # commands to get info from audio file
     sox_stdout_str, sox_stderr_str, sox_status = Open3.capture3(sox_command) # run the commands and wait for the result
 
+
+    puts "sox info return status #{sox_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{sox_command}"
+
+    #Rails.logger.debug "mp3splt info return status #{sox_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{sox_command}"
+
     if sox_status.exitstatus == 0
       # sox std out contains info (separate on first colon(:))
       sox_stdout_str.strip.split(/\r?\n|\r/).each { |line| result[:info][:sox][ line[0,line.index(':')].strip] = line[line.index(':')+1,line.length].strip  }
       # sox_stderr_str is empty
     else
-      Rails.logger.debug "Sox info error. Return status #{sox_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{sox_command}"
+      #Rails.logger.debug "Sox info error. Return status #{sox_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{sox_command}"
       result[:error][:sox][:stderror] = sox_stderr_str
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/modules/audio_wavpack.rb b/lib/modules/audio_wavpack.rb
index 11f290d1..03d7cef1 100644
--- a/lib/modules/audio_wavpack.rb
+++ b/lib/modules/audio_wavpack.rb
@@ -1,22 +1,25 @@
 module AudioWavpack
   include OS
+
+  # path to the wvunpack executable for different platforms
   @wvunpack_path = if OS.windows? then "./vendor/bin/wavpack/windows/wvunpack.exe" else "wvunpack" end
 
-  # public methods
   public
 
-  # @return [array] contains info and error arrays
+  # get information about a wav file.
   def self.info_wavpack(source)
     result = {
         :info => { :wavpack => {} },
         :error => { :wavpack => {} }
     }
 
-    wvunpack_arguments_info = "-s"
-    wvunpack_command = "#@wvunpack_path #{wvunpack_arguments_info} \"#{source}\"" # commands to get info from audio file
-    wvunpack_stdout_str, wvunpack_stderr_str, wvunpack_status = Open3.capture3(wvunpack_command) # run the commands and wait for the result
+    # commands to get info from audio file
+    wvunpack_command = "#@wvunpack_path -s \"#{source}\""
+
+    # run the commands and wait for the result
+    wvunpack_stdout_str, wvunpack_stderr_str, wvunpack_status = Open3.capture3(wvunpack_command)
 
-    Rails.logger.debug "Wavpack info return status #{wvunpack_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{wvunpack_command}"
+    #Rails.logger.debug "Wavpack info return status #{wvunpack_status.exitstatus}."
 
     if wvunpack_status.exitstatus == 0
       # wvunpack std out contains info (separate on first colon(:))
@@ -42,15 +45,17 @@ def self.modify_wavpack(source, target, modify_parameters = {})
     raise ArgumentError, "Source is not a wavpack file: #{File.basename(source)}" unless source.match(/\.wv$/)
     raise ArgumentError, "Target is not a wav file: : #{File.basename(target)}" unless target.match(/\.wav$/)
 
+    result = {
+        :info => { :wavpack => {} },
+        :error => { :wavpack => {} }
+    }
+
     if File.exists? target
-      return [[],[]]
+      return result
     end
 
     raise ArgumentError, "Source does not exist: #{File.basename(source)}" unless File.exists? source
 
-    info = []
-    error = []
-
     # formatted time: hh:mm:ss.ss
     arguments = '-t -q'
     if modify_parameters.include? :start_offset
@@ -71,10 +76,13 @@ def self.modify_wavpack(source, target, modify_parameters = {})
 
     wvunpack_stdout_str, wvunpack_stderr_str, wvunpack_status = Open3.capture3(wvunpack_command) # run the commands and wait for the result
 
+    #Rails.logger.debug "mp3splt info return status #{wvunpack_status.exitstatus}. Command: #{wvunpack_command}"
+
     if wvunpack_status.exitstatus != 0 || !File.exists?(target)
       raise "Wvunpack command #{wvunpack_command} exited with an error: #{wvunpack_stderr_str}"
     end
 
-    [info, error]
+    result
   end
+
 end
diff --git a/lib/modules/file_cacher.rb b/lib/modules/file_cacher.rb
index fcd3741e..69887d4e 100644
--- a/lib/modules/file_cacher.rb
+++ b/lib/modules/file_cacher.rb
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def self.generate_spectrogram(modify_parameters = {})
     target_existing_paths.first
   end
 
-  def self. create_audio_segment(modify_parameters = {})
+  def self.create_audio_segment(modify_parameters = {})
     # first check if a cached audio file matches the request
     target_file = Cache::cached_audio_file modify_parameters
     target_existing_paths = Cache::existing_paths(Cache::cached_audio_storage_paths,target_file)
diff --git a/lib/modules/hash.rb b/lib/modules/hash.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b6b0305f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/modules/hash.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# http://qugstart.com/blog/uncategorized/ruby-multi-level-nested-hash-value/
+# user_hash.hash_val(:extra, :birthday, :year) => 1951
+class ::Hash
+
+  # http://stackoverflow.com/a/9381776
+  def deep_merge(second)
+    merger = proc { |key, v1, v2| Hash === v1 && Hash === v2 ? v1.merge(v2, &merger) : v2 }
+    self.merge(second, &merger)
+  end
+end
\ No newline at end of file