diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.cc b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.cc
index e46fb12391..8e57d9a0c4 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.cc
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@
 #include "i18n.h"
 
 #include "ardour/audio_library.h"
+#include "ardour/rc_configuration.h"
+#include "pbd/pthread_utils.h"
+#include "gui_thread.h"
 
 using namespace PBD;
 
@@ -63,9 +66,12 @@ static const std::string api_key = "9d77cb8d841b4bcfa960e1aae62224eb"; // ardour
 Mootcher::Mootcher()
 	: curl(curl_easy_init())
 {
-	std::string path;
-	path = Glib::get_home_dir() + "/Freesound/";
-	changeWorkingDir ( path.c_str() );
+	cancel_download_btn.set_label (_("Cancel"));
+	progress_hbox.pack_start (progress_bar, true, true);
+	progress_hbox.pack_end (cancel_download_btn, false, false);
+	progress_bar.show();
+	cancel_download_btn.show();
+	cancel_download_btn.signal_clicked().connect(sigc::mem_fun (*this, &Mootcher::cancelDownload));
 };
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Mootcher:: ~Mootcher()
@@ -74,9 +80,17 @@ Mootcher:: ~Mootcher()
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void Mootcher::changeWorkingDir(const char *saveLocation)
+
+void Mootcher::ensureWorkingDir ()
 {
-	basePath = saveLocation;
+	std::string p = ARDOUR::Config->get_freesound_download_dir();
+
+	if (!Glib::file_test (p, Glib::FILE_TEST_IS_DIR)) {
+		if (g_mkdir_with_parents (p.c_str(), 0775) != 0) {
+			PBD::error << "Unable to create Mootcher working dir" << endmsg;
+		}
+	}
+	basePath = p;
 #ifdef __WIN32__
 	std::string replace = "/";
 	size_t pos = basePath.find("\\");
@@ -85,20 +99,6 @@ void Mootcher::changeWorkingDir(const char *saveLocation)
 		pos = basePath.find("\\");
 	}
 #endif
-	//
-	size_t pos2 = basePath.find_last_of("/");
-	if(basePath.length() != (pos2+1)) basePath += "/";
-}
-
-void Mootcher::ensureWorkingDir ()
-{
-	std::string p = Glib::build_filename (basePath, "snd");
-
-	if (!Glib::file_test (p, Glib::FILE_TEST_IS_DIR)) {
-		if (g_mkdir_with_parents (p.c_str(), 0775) != 0) {
-			PBD::error << "Unable to create Mootcher working dir" << endmsg;
-		}
-	}
 }
 	
 
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ size_t Mootcher::WriteMemoryCallback(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, void
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-std::string Mootcher::sortMethodString(enum sortMethod sort) {
+std::string Mootcher::sortMethodString(enum sortMethod sort)
+{
 // given a sort type, returns the string value to be passed to the API to
 // sort the results in the requested way.
 
@@ -202,6 +203,18 @@ std::string Mootcher::doRequest(std::string uri, std::string params)
 }
 
 
+std::string Mootcher::searchSimilar(std::string id)
+{
+	std::string params = "";
+
+	params += "&fields=id,original_filename,duration,filesize,samplerate,license,serve";
+	params += "&num_results=100";
+
+	return doRequest("/sounds/" + id + "/similar", params);
+}
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 std::string Mootcher::searchText(std::string query, int page, std::string filter, enum sortMethod sort)
 {
 	std::string params = "";
@@ -264,7 +277,7 @@ std::string Mootcher::getSoundResourceFile(std::string ID)
 	// get the file name and size from xml file
 	if (name) {
 
-		audioFileName = basePath + "snd/" + ID + "-" + name->child("text")->content();
+		audioFileName = Glib::build_filename (basePath, ID + "-" + name->child("text")->content());
 
 		//store all the tags in the database
 		XMLNode *tags = freesound->child("tags");
@@ -296,10 +309,61 @@ int audioFileWrite(void *buffer, size_t size, size_t nmemb, void *file)
 };
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::string Mootcher::getAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string ID, std::string audioURL, SoundFileBrowser *caller)
+
+void *
+Mootcher::threadFunc() {
+CURLcode res;
+
+	res = curl_easy_perform (curl);
+	fclose (theFile);
+	curl_easy_setopt (curl, CURLOPT_NOPROGRESS, 1); // turn off the progress bar
+	
+	if (res != CURLE_OK) {
+		/* it's not an error if the user pressed the stop button */
+		if (res != CURLE_ABORTED_BY_CALLBACK) {
+			error <<  string_compose (_("curl error %1 (%2)"), res, curl_easy_strerror(res)) << endmsg;
+		}
+		remove ( (audioFileName+".part").c_str() );  
+	} else {
+		rename ( (audioFileName+".part").c_str(), audioFileName.c_str() );
+		// now download the tags &c.
+		getSoundResourceFile(ID);
+	}
+
+	return (void *) res;
+}
+ 
+void
+Mootcher::doneWithMootcher()
+{
+
+	// update the sound info pane if the selection in the list box is still us 
+	sfb->refresh_display(ID, audioFileName);
+
+	delete this; // this should be OK to do as long as Progress and Finished signals are always received in the order in which they are emitted
+}
+
+static void *
+freesound_download_thread_func(void *arg) 
+{ 
+	Mootcher *thisMootcher = (Mootcher *) arg;
+	void *res;
+
+	// std::cerr << "freesound_download_thread_func(" << arg << ")" << std::endl;
+	res = thisMootcher->threadFunc();
+
+	thisMootcher->Finished(); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
+	return res;
+}
+
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+bool Mootcher::checkAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string theID)
 {
 	ensureWorkingDir();
-	std::string audioFileName = basePath + "snd/" + ID + "-" + originalFileName;
+	ID = theID;
+	audioFileName = Glib::build_filename (basePath, ID + "-" + originalFileName);
 
 	// check to see if audio file already exists
 	FILE *testFile = g_fopen(audioFileName.c_str(), "r");
@@ -307,29 +371,31 @@ std::string Mootcher::getAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string ID,
 		fseek (testFile , 0 , SEEK_END);
 		if (ftell (testFile) > 256) {
 			fclose (testFile);
-			return audioFileName;
+			return true;
 		}
 		
-		// else file was small, probably an error, delete it and try again
+		// else file was small, probably an error, delete it 
 		fclose(testFile);
 		remove( audioFileName.c_str() );  
 	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+
+bool Mootcher::fetchAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string theID, std::string audioURL, SoundFileBrowser *caller)
+{
+	ensureWorkingDir();
+	ID = theID;
+	audioFileName = Glib::build_filename (basePath, ID + "-" + originalFileName);
 
 	if (!curl) {
-		return "";
+		return false;
 	}
-
-	// if already cancelling a previous download, bail out here  ( this can happen b/c getAudioFile gets called by various UI update funcs )
-	if ( caller->freesound_download_cancel ) {
-		return "";
-	}
-	
 	// now download the actual file
-	FILE* theFile;
-	theFile = g_fopen( audioFileName.c_str(), "wb" );
+	theFile = g_fopen( (audioFileName + ".part").c_str(), "wb" );
 
 	if (!theFile) {
-		return "";
+		return false;
 	}
 	
 	// create the download url
@@ -340,57 +406,59 @@ std::string Mootcher::getAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string ID,
 	curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_WRITEFUNCTION, audioFileWrite);
 	curl_easy_setopt(curl, CURLOPT_WRITEDATA, theFile);
 
-	/* hack to get rid of the barber-pole stripes */
-	caller->freesound_progress_bar.hide();
-	caller->freesound_progress_bar.show();
-
 	std::string prog;
 	prog = string_compose (_("%1"), originalFileName);
-	caller->freesound_progress_bar.set_text(prog);
+	progress_bar.set_text(prog);
+
+	Gtk::VBox *freesound_vbox = dynamic_cast<Gtk::VBox *> (caller->notebook.get_nth_page(2));
+	freesound_vbox->pack_start(progress_hbox, Gtk::PACK_SHRINK);
+	progress_hbox.show();
+	cancel_download = false;
+	sfb = caller;
 
 	curl_easy_setopt (curl, CURLOPT_NOPROGRESS, 0); // turn on the progress bar
 	curl_easy_setopt (curl, CURLOPT_PROGRESSFUNCTION, progress_callback);
-	curl_easy_setopt (curl, CURLOPT_PROGRESSDATA, caller);
+	curl_easy_setopt (curl, CURLOPT_PROGRESSDATA, this);
 
-	CURLcode res = curl_easy_perform(curl);
-	fclose(theFile);
+	Progress.connect(*this, invalidator (*this), boost::bind(&Mootcher::updateProgress, this, _1, _2), gui_context());
+	Finished.connect(*this, invalidator (*this), boost::bind(&Mootcher::doneWithMootcher, this), gui_context());
+	pthread_t freesound_download_thread;
+	pthread_create_and_store("freesound_import", &freesound_download_thread, freesound_download_thread_func, this);
 
-	curl_easy_setopt (curl, CURLOPT_NOPROGRESS, 1); // turn off the progress bar
-	caller->freesound_progress_bar.set_fraction(0.0);
-	caller->freesound_progress_bar.set_text("");
-	
-	if( res != 0 ) {
-		/* it's not an error if the user pressed the stop button */
-		if (res != CURLE_ABORTED_BY_CALLBACK) {
-			error <<  string_compose (_("curl error %1 (%2)"), res, curl_easy_strerror(res)) << endmsg;
-		}
-		remove( audioFileName.c_str() );  
-		return "";
-	} else {
-		// now download the tags &c.
-		getSoundResourceFile(ID);
-	}
-
-	return audioFileName;
+	return true;
 }
 
 //---------
-int Mootcher::progress_callback(void *caller, double dltotal, double dlnow, double /*ultotal*/, double /*ulnow*/)
-{
 
-SoundFileBrowser *sfb = (SoundFileBrowser *) caller;
-	//XXX I hope it's OK to do GTK things in this callback. Otherwise
-	// I'll have to do stuff like in interthread_progress_window.
-	if (sfb->freesound_download_cancel) {
+void 
+Mootcher::updateProgress(double dlnow, double dltotal) 
+{
+	if (dltotal > 0) {
+		double fraction = dlnow / dltotal;
+		// std::cerr << "progress idle: " << progress->bar->get_text() << ". " << progress->dlnow << " / " << progress->dltotal << " = " << fraction << std::endl;
+		if (fraction > 1.0) {
+			fraction = 1.0;
+		} else if (fraction < 0.0) {
+			fraction = 0.0;
+		}
+		progress_bar.set_fraction(fraction);
+	}
+}
+
+int 
+Mootcher::progress_callback(void *caller, double dltotal, double dlnow, double /*ultotal*/, double /*ulnow*/)
+{
+	// It may seem curious to pass a pointer to an instance of an object to a static
+	// member function, but we can't use a normal member function as a curl progress callback,
+	// and we want access to some private members of Mootcher.
+
+	Mootcher *thisMootcher = (Mootcher *) caller;
+	
+	if (thisMootcher->cancel_download) {
 		return -1;
 	}
-	
-	
-	sfb->freesound_progress_bar.set_fraction(dlnow/dltotal);
-	/* Make sure the progress widget gets updated */
-	while (Glib::MainContext::get_default()->iteration (false)) {
-		/* do nothing */
-	}
+
+	thisMootcher->Progress(dlnow, dltotal); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.h b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.h
index 7e39ba4ae4..48fb11b638 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_freesound_mootcher.h
@@ -65,18 +65,31 @@ enum sortMethod {
 };
 
 
-class Mootcher
+class Mootcher: public sigc::trackable, public PBD::ScopedConnectionList
 {
 public:
 	Mootcher();
 	~Mootcher();
 
-	std::string	getAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string ID, std::string audioURL, SoundFileBrowser *caller);
+	bool		checkAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string ID);
+	bool		fetchAudioFile(std::string originalFileName, std::string ID, std::string audioURL, SoundFileBrowser *caller);
 	std::string	searchText(std::string query, int page, std::string filter, enum sortMethod sort);
+	std::string	searchSimilar(std::string id);
+	void *		threadFunc();
+	SoundFileBrowser *sfb; 
+	std::string	audioFileName;
+	std::string	ID;
+
+	/** signal emitted when mootcher reports progress updates during download.
+	 * The parameters are current and total numbers of bytes downloaded.
+	 */
+	PBD::Signal2<void, double, double> Progress;
+	/** signal emitted when the mootcher has finished downloading. */
+	PBD::Signal0<void> Finished;
+
 
 private:
 
-	void		changeWorkingDir(const char *saveLocation);
 	void		ensureWorkingDir();
 
 	std::string	doRequest(std::string uri, std::string params);
@@ -90,6 +103,21 @@ private:
 	CURL *curl;
 	char errorBuffer[CURL_ERROR_SIZE];	// storage for cUrl error message
 
+	FILE* theFile;
+
+	void updateProgress(double dlnow, double dltotal);
+	void doneWithMootcher();
+
+	Gtk::HBox progress_hbox;
+	Gtk::ProgressBar progress_bar;
+	Gtk::Button cancel_download_btn;
+
+	bool cancel_download;
+	void cancelDownload() { 
+		cancel_download = true;
+		progress_hbox.hide();
+	}
+
 	std::string basePath;
 	std::string xmlLocation;
 };
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
index 85b4f7d7ef..e8db9d4939 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ using namespace Editing;
 using std::string;
 
 string SoundFileBrowser::persistent_folder;
+typedef TreeView::Selection::ListHandle_Path ListPath;
 
 static ImportMode
 string2importmode (string str)
@@ -512,8 +513,6 @@ SoundFileBrowser::SoundFileBrowser (string title, ARDOUR::Session* s, bool persi
 	found_search_btn.signal_clicked().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::found_search_clicked));
 	found_entry.signal_activate().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::found_search_clicked));
 	
-	freesound_stop_btn.signal_clicked().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_stop_clicked));
-	
 	notebook.append_page (*vbox, _("Search Tags"));
 
 #ifdef FREESOUND
@@ -555,9 +554,9 @@ SoundFileBrowser::SoundFileBrowser (string title, ARDOUR::Session* s, bool persi
 	freesound_more_btn.set_label(_("More"));
 	freesound_more_btn.set_sensitive(false);
 
-	passbox->pack_end   (freesound_stop_btn, false, false);
-	freesound_stop_btn.set_label(_("Stop"));
-	freesound_stop_btn.set_sensitive(false);
+	passbox->pack_start (freesound_similar_btn, false, false);
+	freesound_similar_btn.set_label(_("Similar"));
+	freesound_similar_btn.set_sensitive(false);
 	
 	scroll = manage(new ScrolledWindow);
 	scroll->add(freesound_list_view);
@@ -566,9 +565,8 @@ SoundFileBrowser::SoundFileBrowser (string title, ARDOUR::Session* s, bool persi
 	vbox = manage(new VBox);
 	vbox->set_spacing (3);
 	vbox->pack_start (*passbox, PACK_SHRINK);
-	vbox->pack_start (freesound_progress_bar, PACK_SHRINK);
 	vbox->pack_start (*scroll);
-	
+
 	freesound_list_view.append_column(_("ID")      , freesound_list_columns.id);
 	freesound_list_view.append_column(_("Filename"), freesound_list_columns.filename);
 	// freesound_list_view.append_column(_("URI")     , freesound_list_columns.uri);
@@ -577,20 +575,22 @@ SoundFileBrowser::SoundFileBrowser (string title, ARDOUR::Session* s, bool persi
 	freesound_list_view.append_column(_("Samplerate"), freesound_list_columns.smplrate);
 	freesound_list_view.append_column(_("License"), freesound_list_columns.license);
 	freesound_list_view.get_column(0)->set_alignment(0.5);
-	freesound_list_view.get_column(1)->set_expand(true);
+	freesound_list_view.get_column(1)->set_expand(true); // filename
+	freesound_list_view.get_column(1)->set_resizable(true); // filename
 	freesound_list_view.get_column(2)->set_alignment(0.5);
 	freesound_list_view.get_column(3)->set_alignment(0.5);
 	freesound_list_view.get_column(4)->set_alignment(0.5);
 	freesound_list_view.get_column(5)->set_alignment(0.5);
 	
 	freesound_list_view.get_selection()->signal_changed().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_list_view_selected));
+	freesound_list_view.set_tooltip_column(1);
 
 	freesound_list_view.get_selection()->set_mode (SELECTION_MULTIPLE);
 	freesound_list_view.signal_row_activated().connect (sigc::mem_fun (*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_list_view_activated));
 	freesound_search_btn.signal_clicked().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_search_clicked));
 	freesound_entry.signal_activate().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_search_clicked));
 	freesound_more_btn.signal_clicked().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_more_clicked));
-	freesound_stop_btn.signal_clicked().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_stop_clicked));
+	freesound_similar_btn.signal_clicked().connect(sigc::mem_fun(*this, &SoundFileBrowser::freesound_similar_clicked));
 	notebook.append_page (*vbox, _("Search Freesound"));
 #endif
 
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ SoundFileBrowser::found_list_view_selected ()
 	} else {
 		string file;
 
-		TreeView::Selection::ListHandle_Path rows = found_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
+		ListPath rows = found_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
 
 		if (!rows.empty()) {
 			TreeIter iter = found_list->get_iter(*rows.begin());
@@ -802,55 +802,6 @@ SoundFileBrowser::found_list_view_selected ()
 	}
 }
 
-void
-SoundFileBrowser::freesound_list_view_selected ()
-{
-	freesound_download_cancel = false;
-	freesound_stop_btn.set_sensitive(true);
-
-#ifdef FREESOUND
-	if (!reset_options ()) {
-		set_action_sensitive (false);
-	} else {
-		Mootcher mootcher; 
-		string file;
-
-		TreeView::Selection::ListHandle_Path rows = freesound_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
-
-		if (!rows.empty()) {
-			TreeIter iter = freesound_list->get_iter(*rows.begin());
-
-			string id  = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.id];
-			string uri = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.uri];
-			string ofn = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.filename];
-
-			// download the sound file			
-			GdkCursor *prev_cursor;
-			prev_cursor = gdk_window_get_cursor (get_window()->gobj());
-			gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), gdk_cursor_new(GDK_WATCH));
-			gdk_flush();
-
-			file = mootcher.getAudioFile(ofn, id, uri, this);
-
-			gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), prev_cursor);
-
-			if (file != "") {
-				chooser.set_filename (file);
-				set_action_sensitive (true);
-			}
-		} else {
-			set_action_sensitive (false);
-		}
-
-		freesound_progress_bar.set_text(
-			string_compose(P_("found %1 match", "found %1 matches", matches), matches));
-
-		preview.setup_labels (file);
-	}
-#endif
-	freesound_stop_btn.set_sensitive(false);
-}
-
 void
 SoundFileBrowser::found_search_clicked ()
 {
@@ -875,6 +826,91 @@ SoundFileBrowser::found_search_clicked ()
 	}
 }
 
+
+std::string
+SoundFileBrowser::freesound_get_audio_file(Gtk::TreeIter iter)
+{
+
+	Mootcher *mootcher = new Mootcher;
+	std::string file;
+
+	string id  = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.id];
+	string uri = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.uri];
+	string ofn = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.filename];
+
+	if (mootcher->checkAudioFile(ofn, id)) {
+		// file already exists, no need to download it again
+		file = mootcher->audioFileName;
+		delete mootcher;
+		(*iter)[freesound_list_columns.started] = false;
+		return file;
+	}
+	if (!(*iter)[freesound_list_columns.started]) {
+		// start downloading the sound file
+		(*iter)[freesound_list_columns.started] = true;
+		mootcher->fetchAudioFile(ofn, id, uri, this);
+	}
+	return "";
+}
+
+void
+SoundFileBrowser::freesound_list_view_selected ()
+{
+
+	if (!reset_options ()) {
+		set_action_sensitive (false);
+	} else {
+		std::string file;
+		ListPath rows = freesound_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
+		for (ListPath::iterator i = rows.begin() ; i != rows.end(); ++i) {
+			file = freesound_get_audio_file (freesound_list->get_iter(*i));
+		}
+
+		switch (rows.size()) {
+			case 0:
+				// nothing selected
+				freesound_similar_btn.set_sensitive(false);
+				set_action_sensitive (false);
+				break;
+			case 1:
+				// exactly one item selected
+				if (file != "") {
+					// file exists on disk already
+					chooser.set_filename (file);
+					preview.setup_labels (file);
+					set_action_sensitive (true);
+				}
+				freesound_similar_btn.set_sensitive(true);
+				break;
+			default:
+				// multiple items selected
+				preview.setup_labels ("");
+				freesound_similar_btn.set_sensitive(false);
+				break;
+		}
+
+	}
+}
+
+void
+SoundFileBrowser::refresh_display(std::string ID, std::string file)
+{
+	// called when the mootcher has finished downloading a file
+	ListPath rows = freesound_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
+	if (rows.size() == 1) {
+		// there's a single item selected in the freesound list
+		//XXX make a function to be used to construct the actual file name both here and in the mootcher
+		Gtk::TreeIter row = freesound_list->get_iter(*rows.begin());
+		std::string selected_ID = (*row)[freesound_list_columns.id]; 
+		if (ID == selected_ID) {
+			// the selected item in the freesound list is the item that has just finished downloading
+			chooser.set_filename(file);
+			preview.setup_labels (file);
+			set_action_sensitive (true);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 void
 SoundFileBrowser::freesound_search_clicked ()
 {
@@ -895,18 +931,32 @@ SoundFileBrowser::freesound_more_clicked ()
 }
 
 void
-SoundFileBrowser::freesound_stop_clicked ()
+SoundFileBrowser::freesound_similar_clicked ()
 {
-	freesound_download_cancel = true;
-}
+	ListPath rows = freesound_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
+	if (rows.size() == 1) {
+		Mootcher mootcher;
+		string id;
+		Gtk::TreeIter iter = freesound_list->get_iter(*rows.begin());
+		id = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.id];
+		freesound_list->clear();
 
+		GdkCursor *prev_cursor;
+		prev_cursor = gdk_window_get_cursor (get_window()->gobj());
+		gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), gdk_cursor_new(GDK_WATCH));
+		gdk_flush();
+		
+		std::string theString = mootcher.searchSimilar(id);
+		
+		gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), prev_cursor);
+		handle_freesound_results(theString);
+	}
+}
 
 void
 SoundFileBrowser::freesound_search()
 {
-#ifdef FREESOUND
 	Mootcher mootcher;
-	freesound_list_view.get_column(1)->set_sizing(TREE_VIEW_COLUMN_GROW_ONLY);
 
 	string search_string = freesound_entry.get_text ();
 	enum sortMethod sort_method = (enum sortMethod) freesound_sort.get_active_row_number();
@@ -914,7 +964,6 @@ SoundFileBrowser::freesound_search()
 	GdkCursor *prev_cursor;
 	prev_cursor = gdk_window_get_cursor (get_window()->gobj());
 	gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), gdk_cursor_new(GDK_WATCH));
-	freesound_progress_bar.set_fraction(0.0);
 	gdk_flush();
 
 	std::string theString = mootcher.searchText(
@@ -929,7 +978,11 @@ SoundFileBrowser::freesound_search()
 			);
 
 	gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), prev_cursor);
+	handle_freesound_results(theString);
+}
 
+void
+SoundFileBrowser::handle_freesound_results(std::string theString) {
 	XMLTree doc;
 	doc.read_buffer( theString );
 	XMLNode *root = doc.root();
@@ -1065,14 +1118,6 @@ SoundFileBrowser::freesound_search()
 			matches++;
 		}
 	}
-
-	if (matches == 0) {
-		freesound_progress_bar.set_text(_("Search returned no results."));
-	} else {
-		freesound_progress_bar.set_text(string_compose(P_("Found %1 match", "Found %1 matches", matches), matches));
-	}
-	freesound_list_view.get_column(1)->set_sizing(TREE_VIEW_COLUMN_AUTOSIZE);
-#endif
 }
 
 vector<string>
@@ -1093,9 +1138,7 @@ SoundFileBrowser::get_paths ()
 			}
 		}
 
-	} else if (n==1){
-
-		typedef TreeView::Selection::ListHandle_Path ListPath;
+	} else if (n == 1) {
 
 		ListPath rows = found_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
 		for (ListPath::iterator i = rows.begin() ; i != rows.end(); ++i) {
@@ -1106,28 +1149,12 @@ SoundFileBrowser::get_paths ()
 		}
 	} else {
 #ifdef FREESOUND
-		typedef TreeView::Selection::ListHandle_Path ListPath;
-		Mootcher mootcher;
-
 		ListPath rows = freesound_list_view.get_selection()->get_selected_rows ();
 		for (ListPath::iterator i = rows.begin() ; i != rows.end(); ++i) {
-			TreeIter iter = freesound_list->get_iter(*i);
-			string id  = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.id];
-			string uri = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.uri];
-			string ofn = (*iter)[freesound_list_columns.filename];
-
-			GdkCursor *prev_cursor;
-			prev_cursor = gdk_window_get_cursor (get_window()->gobj());
-			gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), gdk_cursor_new(GDK_WATCH));
-			gdk_flush();
-
-			string str = mootcher.getAudioFile(ofn, id, uri, this);
+			string str = freesound_get_audio_file (freesound_list->get_iter(*i));
 			if (str != "") {
 				results.push_back (str);
 			}
-			
-			gdk_window_set_cursor (get_window()->gobj(), prev_cursor);
-
 		}
 #endif
 	}
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h
index bed800ad73..5d8decddf4 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.h
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ class SoundFileBrowser : public ArdourWindow
 		Gtk::TreeModelColumn<std::string> filesize;
 		Gtk::TreeModelColumn<std::string> smplrate;
 		Gtk::TreeModelColumn<std::string> license;
+		Gtk::TreeModelColumn<bool>        started;
 
 		FreesoundColumns() {
 			add(id); 
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ class SoundFileBrowser : public ArdourWindow
 			add(filesize);
 			add(smplrate);
 			add(license);
+			add(started);
 		}
 	};
 
@@ -150,8 +152,9 @@ class SoundFileBrowser : public ArdourWindow
 	Glib::RefPtr<Gtk::ListStore> freesound_list;
 
 	Gtk::Button freesound_more_btn;
-	Gtk::Button freesound_stop_btn;
+	Gtk::Button freesound_similar_btn;
 
+	void handle_freesound_results(std::string theString);
   public:
 	SoundFileBrowser (std::string title, ARDOUR::Session* _s, bool persistent);
 	virtual ~SoundFileBrowser ();
@@ -177,11 +180,10 @@ class SoundFileBrowser : public ArdourWindow
 
 	Gtk::Button freesound_search_btn;
 	Gtk::TreeView freesound_list_view;
-	Gtk::ProgressBar freesound_progress_bar;
-
-	bool freesound_download_cancel;
+	Gtk::Notebook notebook;
 
 	void freesound_search();
+	void refresh_display(std::string ID, std::string file);
 	
   protected:
 	bool resetting_ourselves;
@@ -203,7 +205,6 @@ class SoundFileBrowser : public ArdourWindow
 
 	static std::string persistent_folder;
 
-	Gtk::Notebook notebook;
 
 	GainMeter* gm;
 	Gtk::VBox meter_packer;
@@ -224,10 +225,11 @@ class SoundFileBrowser : public ArdourWindow
 	void freesound_list_view_activated (const Gtk::TreeModel::Path& path, Gtk::TreeViewColumn*);
 	void freesound_search_clicked ();
 	void freesound_more_clicked ();
-	void freesound_stop_clicked ();
+	void freesound_similar_clicked ();
 	int freesound_page;
 	
 	void chooser_file_activated ();
+	std::string freesound_get_audio_file(Gtk::TreeIter iter);
 
 	bool on_audio_filter (const Gtk::FileFilter::Info& filter_info);
 	bool on_midi_filter (const Gtk::FileFilter::Info& filter_info);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
index f19f8fe808..d8440f24f3 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/rc_configuration_vars.h
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, sound_midi_notes, "sound-midi-notes", false)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (bool, use_plugin_own_gui, "use-plugin-own-gui", true)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (uint32_t, max_recent_sessions, "max-recent-sessions", 10)
 CONFIG_VARIABLE (double, automation_thinning_factor, "automation-thinning-factor", 20.0)
+CONFIG_VARIABLE (std::string, freesound_download_dir, "freesound-download-dir", Glib::get_home_dir() + "/Freesound/snd")
 
 /* denormal management */