diff --git a/packages/superdough/README.md b/packages/superdough/README.md
index 7a441841..4d09e7fd 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/README.md
+++ b/packages/superdough/README.md
@@ -17,10 +17,11 @@ npm i superdough --save
 ```js
 import { superdough, samples } from 'superdough';
 // load samples from github
-const loadSamples = samples('github:tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/master');
+const init = samples('github:tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/master');
 
 // play some sounds when a button is clicked 
-document.getElementById('play').addEventListener('click', () => {
+document.getElementById('play').addEventListener('click', async () => {
+  await init;
   superdough({ s: "bd", delay: .5 }, 0);
   superdough({ s: "sawtooth", cutoff: 600, resonance: 8 }, 0);
   superdough({ s: "hh" }, 0.25);
diff --git a/packages/superdough/example/main.js b/packages/superdough/example/main.js
index 50861938..7b74fb40 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/example/main.js
+++ b/packages/superdough/example/main.js
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import { superdough, samples, initAudioOnFirstClick, registerSynthSounds } from 'superdough';
 
-initAudioOnFirstClick();
-
-const load = Promise.all([samples('github:tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/master'), registerSynthSounds()]);
-
-let button = document.getElementById('play');
+const init = Promise.all([
+  initAudioOnFirstClick(),
+  samples('github:tidalcycles/Dirt-Samples/master'),
+  registerSynthSounds(),
+]);
 
 const loop = (t = 0) => {
+  // superdough(value, time, duration)
   superdough({ s: 'bd', delay: 0.5 }, t);
   superdough({ note: 'g1', s: 'sawtooth', cutoff: 600, resonance: 8 }, t, 0.125);
   superdough({ note: 'g2', s: 'sawtooth', cutoff: 600, resonance: 8 }, t + 0.25, 0.125);
@@ -15,9 +16,8 @@ const loop = (t = 0) => {
   superdough({ s: 'hh' }, t + 0.75);
 };
 
-button.addEventListener('click', async () => {
-  console.log('play');
-  await load;
+document.getElementById('play').addEventListener('click', async () => {
+  await init;
   let t = 0.1;
   while (t < 16) {
     loop(t++);
diff --git a/packages/superdough/package.json b/packages/superdough/package.json
index 1065d3f8..6f487cd0 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/package.json
+++ b/packages/superdough/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "superdough",
-  "version": "0.9.0",
+  "version": "0.9.1",
   "description": "simple web audio synth and sampler intended for live coding. inspired by superdirt and webdirt.",
   "main": "index.mjs",
   "type": "module",
diff --git a/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs b/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs
index 17275a99..0df5ec15 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/sampler.mjs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { logger, noteToMidi, valueToMidi } from '@strudel.cycles/core';
+import { noteToMidi, valueToMidi } from './util.mjs';
 import { getAudioContext, registerSound } from './index.mjs';
 import { getEnvelope } from './helpers.mjs';
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ function humanFileSize(bytes, si) {
 export const getSampleBufferSource = async (s, n, note, speed, freq, bank, resolveUrl) => {
   let transpose = 0;
   if (freq !== undefined && note !== undefined) {
-    logger('[sampler] hap has note and freq. ignoring note', 'warning');
+    // logger('[sampler] hap has note and freq. ignoring note', 'warning');
   }
   let midi = valueToMidi({ freq, note }, 36);
   transpose = midi - 36; // C3 is middle C
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ export const getSampleBufferSource = async (s, n, note, speed, freq, bank, resol
 export const loadBuffer = (url, ac, s, n = 0) => {
   const label = s ? `sound "${s}:${n}"` : 'sample';
   if (!loadCache[url]) {
-    logger(`[sampler] load ${label}..`, 'load-sample', { url });
+    //logger(`[sampler] load ${label}..`, 'load-sample', { url });
     const timestamp = Date.now();
     loadCache[url] = fetch(url)
       .then((res) => res.arrayBuffer())
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export const loadBuffer = (url, ac, s, n = 0) => {
         const took = Date.now() - timestamp;
         const size = humanFileSize(res.byteLength);
         // const downSpeed = humanFileSize(res.byteLength / took);
-        logger(`[sampler] load ${label}... done! loaded ${size} in ${took}ms`, 'loaded-sample', { url });
+        //logger(`[sampler] load ${label}... done! loaded ${size} in ${took}ms`, 'loaded-sample', { url });
         const decoded = await ac.decodeAudioData(res);
         bufferCache[url] = decoded;
         return decoded;
@@ -224,12 +224,12 @@ export async function onTriggerSample(t, value, onended, bank, resolveUrl) {
 
   // asny stuff above took too long?
   if (ac.currentTime > t) {
-    logger(`[sampler] still loading sound "${s}:${n}"`, 'highlight');
+    //logger(`[sampler] still loading sound "${s}:${n}"`, 'highlight');
     // console.warn('sample still loading:', s, n);
     return;
   }
   if (!bufferSource) {
-    logger(`[sampler] could not load "${s}:${n}"`, 'error');
+    //logger(`[sampler] could not load "${s}:${n}"`, 'error');
     return;
   }
   bufferSource.playbackRate.value = Math.abs(speed) * bufferSource.playbackRate.value;
diff --git a/packages/superdough/util.mjs b/packages/superdough/util.mjs
index 860aa9c1..db056376 100644
--- a/packages/superdough/util.mjs
+++ b/packages/superdough/util.mjs
@@ -27,3 +27,27 @@ export const midiToFreq = (n) => {
   return Math.pow(2, (n - 69) / 12) * 440;
 };
 export const clamp = (num, min, max) => Math.min(Math.max(num, min), max);
+
+export const freqToMidi = (freq) => {
+  return (12 * Math.log(freq / 440)) / Math.LN2 + 69;
+};
+
+export const valueToMidi = (value, fallbackValue) => {
+  if (typeof value !== 'object') {
+    throw new Error('valueToMidi: expected object value');
+  }
+  let { freq, note } = value;
+  if (typeof freq === 'number') {
+    return freqToMidi(freq);
+  }
+  if (typeof note === 'string') {
+    return noteToMidi(note);
+  }
+  if (typeof note === 'number') {
+    return note;
+  }
+  if (!fallbackValue) {
+    throw new Error('valueToMidi: expected freq or note to be set');
+  }
+  return fallbackValue;
+};