diff --git a/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.cpp b/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.cpp
index c52d8f1447..ab0948e328 100644
--- a/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.cpp
+++ b/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 static const QString RING_BUFFER_OVERFLOW_DEBUG { "AudioRingBuffer::writeData has overflown the buffer. Overwriting old data." };
 static const QString DROPPED_SILENT_DEBUG { "AudioRingBuffer::addSilentSamples dropping silent samples to prevent overflow." };
 
+template<>
 AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::AudioRingBufferTemplate(int numFrameSamples, int numFramesCapacity) :
     _numFrameSamples(numFrameSamples),
     _frameCapacity(numFramesCapacity),
@@ -41,22 +42,26 @@ AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::AudioRingBufferTemplate(int numFrameSamples, i
 
     static QString repeatedOverflowMessage = LogHandler::getInstance().addRepeatedMessageRegex(RING_BUFFER_OVERFLOW_DEBUG);
     static QString repeatedDroppedMessage = LogHandler::getInstance().addRepeatedMessageRegex(DROPPED_SILENT_DEBUG);
-};
+}
 
+template<>
 AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::~AudioRingBufferTemplate() {
     delete[] _buffer;
 }
 
+template<>
 void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::clear() {
     _endOfLastWrite = _buffer;
     _nextOutput = _buffer;
 }
 
+template<>
 void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::reset() {
     clear();
     _overflowCount = 0;
 }
 
+template<>
 void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::resizeForFrameSize(int numFrameSamples) {
     delete[] _buffer;
     _numFrameSamples = numFrameSamples;
@@ -73,14 +78,17 @@ void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::resizeForFrameSize(int numFrameSamples) {
     reset();
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::readSamples(Sample* destination, int maxSamples) {
     return readData((char*)destination, maxSamples * SampleSize) / SampleSize;
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::writeSamples(const Sample* source, int maxSamples) {
     return writeData((char*)source, maxSamples * SampleSize) / SampleSize;
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::readData(char *data, int maxSize) {
     // only copy up to the number of samples we have available
     int maxSamples = maxSize / SampleSize;
@@ -104,6 +112,7 @@ int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::readData(char *data, int maxSize) {
     return numReadSamples * SampleSize;
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::writeData(const char* data, int maxSize) {
     // only copy up to the number of samples we have capacity for
     int maxSamples = maxSize / SampleSize;
@@ -137,6 +146,7 @@ int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::writeData(const char* data, int maxSize) {
     return numWriteSamples * SampleSize;
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::samplesAvailable() const {
     if (!_endOfLastWrite) {
         return 0;
@@ -149,6 +159,7 @@ int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::samplesAvailable() const {
     return sampleDifference;
 }
 
+template<>
 int16_t* AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::shiftedPositionAccomodatingWrap(Sample* position, int numSamplesShift) const {
     // NOTE: It is possible to shift out-of-bounds if (|numSamplesShift| > 2 * _bufferLength), but this should not occur
     if (numSamplesShift > 0 && position + numSamplesShift >= _buffer + _bufferLength) {
@@ -162,6 +173,7 @@ int16_t* AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::shiftedPositionAccomodatingWrap(Sampl
     }
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::addSilentSamples(int silentSamples) {
     // NOTE: This implementation is nearly identical to writeData save for s/memcpy/memset, refer to comments there
     int numWriteSamples = std::min(silentSamples, _sampleCapacity);
@@ -186,6 +198,7 @@ int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::addSilentSamples(int silentSamples) {
     return numWriteSamples;
 }
 
+template<>
 float AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::getFrameLoudness(const Sample* frameStart) const {
     // FIXME: This is a bad measure of loudness - normal estimation uses sqrt(sum(x*x))
     float loudness = 0.0f;
@@ -203,6 +216,7 @@ float AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::getFrameLoudness(const Sample* frameStar
     return loudness;
 }
 
+template<>
 float AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::getFrameLoudness(ConstIterator frameStart) const {
     if (frameStart.isNull()) {
         return 0.0f;
@@ -210,6 +224,7 @@ float AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::getFrameLoudness(ConstIterator frameStar
     return getFrameLoudness(&(*frameStart));
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::writeSamples(ConstIterator source, int maxSamples) {
     int samplesToCopy = std::min(maxSamples, _sampleCapacity);
     int samplesRoomFor = _sampleCapacity - samplesAvailable();
@@ -231,6 +246,7 @@ int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::writeSamples(ConstIterator source, int max
     return samplesToCopy;
 }
 
+template<>
 int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::writeSamplesWithFade(ConstIterator source, int maxSamples, float fade) {
     int samplesToCopy = std::min(maxSamples, _sampleCapacity);
     int samplesRoomFor = _sampleCapacity - samplesAvailable();
@@ -251,3 +267,192 @@ int AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::writeSamplesWithFade(ConstIterator source,
 
     return samplesToCopy;
 }
+
+template<>
+AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::AudioRingBufferTemplate(int numFrameSamples, int numFramesCapacity) :
+    _numFrameSamples(numFrameSamples),
+    _frameCapacity(numFramesCapacity),
+    _sampleCapacity(numFrameSamples * numFramesCapacity),
+    _bufferLength(numFrameSamples * (numFramesCapacity + 1))
+{
+    if (numFrameSamples) {
+        _buffer = new Sample[_bufferLength];
+        memset(_buffer, 0, _bufferLength * SampleSize);
+        _nextOutput = _buffer;
+        _endOfLastWrite = _buffer;
+    }
+
+    static QString repeatedOverflowMessage = LogHandler::getInstance().addRepeatedMessageRegex(RING_BUFFER_OVERFLOW_DEBUG);
+    static QString repeatedDroppedMessage = LogHandler::getInstance().addRepeatedMessageRegex(DROPPED_SILENT_DEBUG);
+}
+
+template<>
+AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::~AudioRingBufferTemplate() {
+    delete[] _buffer;
+}
+
+template<>
+void AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::clear() {
+    _endOfLastWrite = _buffer;
+    _nextOutput = _buffer;
+}
+
+template<>
+void AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::reset() {
+    clear();
+    _overflowCount = 0;
+}
+
+template<>
+void AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::resizeForFrameSize(int numFrameSamples) {
+    delete[] _buffer;
+    _numFrameSamples = numFrameSamples;
+    _sampleCapacity = numFrameSamples * _frameCapacity;
+    _bufferLength = numFrameSamples * (_frameCapacity + 1);
+
+    if (numFrameSamples) {
+        _buffer = new Sample[_bufferLength];
+        memset(_buffer, 0, _bufferLength * SampleSize);
+    } else {
+        _buffer = nullptr;
+    }
+
+    reset();
+}
+
+template<>
+int AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::readSamples(Sample* destination, int maxSamples) {
+    return readData((char*)destination, maxSamples * SampleSize) / SampleSize;
+}
+
+template<>
+int AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::appendSamples(Sample* destination, int maxSamples, bool append) {
+    if (append) {
+        return appendData((char*)destination, maxSamples * SampleSize) / SampleSize;
+    } else {
+        return readData((char*)destination, maxSamples * SampleSize) / SampleSize;
+    }
+}
+
+template<>
+int AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::writeSamples(const Sample* source, int maxSamples) {
+    return writeData((char*)source, maxSamples * SampleSize) / SampleSize;
+}
+
+template<>
+int AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::readData(char *data, int maxSize) {
+    // only copy up to the number of samples we have available
+    int maxSamples = maxSize / SampleSize;
+    int numReadSamples = std::min(maxSamples, samplesAvailable());
+
+    if (_nextOutput + numReadSamples > _buffer + _bufferLength) {
+        // we're going to need to do two reads to get this data, it wraps around the edge
+        int numSamplesToEnd = (_buffer + _bufferLength) - _nextOutput;
+
+        // read to the end of the buffer
+        memcpy(data, _nextOutput, numSamplesToEnd * SampleSize);
+
+        // read the rest from the beginning of the buffer
+        memcpy(data + (numSamplesToEnd * SampleSize), _buffer, (numReadSamples - numSamplesToEnd) * SampleSize);
+    } else {
+        memcpy(data, _nextOutput, numReadSamples * SampleSize);
+    }
+
+    shiftReadPosition(numReadSamples);
+
+    return numReadSamples * SampleSize;
+}
+
+template<>
+int AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::appendData(char *data, int maxSize) {
+    // only copy up to the number of samples we have available
+    int maxSamples = maxSize / SampleSize;
+    int numReadSamples = std::min(maxSamples, samplesAvailable());
+
+    Sample* dest = reinterpret_cast<Sample*>(data);
+    Sample* output = _nextOutput;
+    if (_nextOutput + numReadSamples > _buffer + _bufferLength) {
+        // we're going to need to do two reads to get this data, it wraps around the edge
+        int numSamplesToEnd = (_buffer + _bufferLength) - _nextOutput;
+
+        // read to the end of the buffer
+        for (int i = 0; i < numSamplesToEnd; i++) {
+            *dest++ = *output++;
+        }
+
+        // read the rest from the beginning of the buffer
+        output = _buffer;
+        for (int i = 0; i < (numReadSamples - numSamplesToEnd); i++) {
+            *dest++ = *output++;
+        }
+    } else {
+        for (int i = 0; i < numReadSamples; i++) {
+            *dest++ = *output++;
+        }
+    }
+
+    shiftReadPosition(numReadSamples);
+
+    return numReadSamples * SampleSize;
+}
+
+template<>
+int AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::writeData(const char* data, int maxSize) {
+    // only copy up to the number of samples we have capacity for
+    int maxSamples = maxSize / SampleSize;
+    int numWriteSamples = std::min(maxSamples, _sampleCapacity);
+    int samplesRoomFor = _sampleCapacity - samplesAvailable();
+
+    if (numWriteSamples > samplesRoomFor) {
+        // there's not enough room for this write. erase old data to make room for this new data
+        int samplesToDelete = numWriteSamples - samplesRoomFor;
+        _nextOutput = shiftedPositionAccomodatingWrap(_nextOutput, samplesToDelete);
+        _overflowCount++;
+
+        qCDebug(audio) << qPrintable(RING_BUFFER_OVERFLOW_DEBUG);
+    }
+
+    if (_endOfLastWrite + numWriteSamples > _buffer + _bufferLength) {
+        // we're going to need to do two writes to set this data, it wraps around the edge
+        int numSamplesToEnd = (_buffer + _bufferLength) - _endOfLastWrite;
+
+        // write to the end of the buffer
+        memcpy(_endOfLastWrite, data, numSamplesToEnd * SampleSize);
+
+        // write the rest to the beginning of the buffer
+        memcpy(_buffer, data + (numSamplesToEnd * SampleSize), (numWriteSamples - numSamplesToEnd) * SampleSize);
+    } else {
+        memcpy(_endOfLastWrite, data, numWriteSamples * SampleSize);
+    }
+
+    _endOfLastWrite = shiftedPositionAccomodatingWrap(_endOfLastWrite, numWriteSamples);
+
+    return numWriteSamples * SampleSize;
+}
+
+template<>
+int AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::samplesAvailable() const {
+    if (!_endOfLastWrite) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    int sampleDifference = _endOfLastWrite - _nextOutput;
+    if (sampleDifference < 0) {
+        sampleDifference += _bufferLength;
+    }
+    return sampleDifference;
+}
+
+template<>
+float* AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>::shiftedPositionAccomodatingWrap(Sample* position, int numSamplesShift) const {
+    // NOTE: It is possible to shift out-of-bounds if (|numSamplesShift| > 2 * _bufferLength), but this should not occur
+    if (numSamplesShift > 0 && position + numSamplesShift >= _buffer + _bufferLength) {
+        // this shift will wrap the position around to the beginning of the ring
+        return position + numSamplesShift - _bufferLength;
+    } else if (numSamplesShift < 0 && position + numSamplesShift < _buffer) {
+        // this shift will go around to the end of the ring
+        return position + numSamplesShift + _bufferLength;
+    } else {
+        return position + numSamplesShift;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.h b/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.h
index b1f65b8a8d..92c6dcc336 100644
--- a/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.h
+++ b/libraries/audio/src/AudioRingBuffer.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const int DEFAULT_RING_BUFFER_FRAME_CAPACITY = 10;
 template <class T>
 class AudioRingBufferTemplate {
     using Sample = T;
-    static size_t SampleSize = sizeof(Sample);
+    static const int SampleSize = sizeof(Sample);
 
 public:
     AudioRingBufferTemplate(int numFrameSamples, int numFramesCapacity = DEFAULT_RING_BUFFER_FRAME_CAPACITY);
@@ -49,6 +49,14 @@ public:
     /// Returns number of read samples
     int readSamples(Sample* destination, int maxSamples);
 
+    /// Append up to maxSamples into destination (will only read up to samplesAvailable())
+    /// If append == false, behaves as readSamples
+    /// Returns number of appended samples
+    int appendSamples(Sample* destination, int maxSamples, bool append = true);
+
+    /// Skip up to maxSamples (will only skip up to samplesAvailable())
+    void skipSamples(int maxSamples) { shiftReadPosition(std::min(maxSamples, samplesAvailable())); }
+
     /// Write up to maxSamples from source (will only write up to sample capacity)
     /// Returns number of written samples
     int writeSamples(const Sample* source, int maxSamples);
@@ -62,6 +70,10 @@ public:
     /// Returns number of read bytes
     int readData(char* destination, int maxSize);
 
+    /// Append up to maxSize into destination
+    /// Returns number of read bytes
+    int appendData(char* destination, int maxSize);
+
     /// Write up to maxSize from source
     /// Returns number of written bytes
     int writeData(const char* source, int maxSize);
@@ -148,19 +160,19 @@ using AudioRingBuffer = AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>;
 using AudioRingMixBuffer = AudioRingBufferTemplate<float>;
 
 // inline the iterator:
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::ConstIterator() :
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::ConstIterator() :
     _bufferLength(0),
     _bufferFirst(NULL),
     _bufferLast(NULL),
     _at(NULL) {}
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::ConstIterator(Sample* bufferFirst, int capacity, Sample* at) :
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::ConstIterator(Sample* bufferFirst, int capacity, Sample* at) :
     _bufferLength(capacity),
     _bufferFirst(bufferFirst),
     _bufferLast(bufferFirst + capacity - 1),
     _at(at) {}
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator=(const ConstIterator& rhs) {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator=(const ConstIterator& rhs) {
     _bufferLength = rhs._bufferLength;
     _bufferFirst = rhs._bufferFirst;
     _bufferLast = rhs._bufferLast;
@@ -168,41 +180,41 @@ inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator& AudioRingBufferTemplate<
     return *this;
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator++() {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator++() {
     _at = (_at == _bufferLast) ? _bufferFirst : _at + 1;
     return *this;
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator++(int) {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator++(int) {
     ConstIterator tmp(*this);
     ++(*this);
     return tmp;
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator--() {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator--() {
     _at = (_at == _bufferFirst) ? _bufferLast : _at - 1;
     return *this;
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator--(int) {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator--(int) {
     ConstIterator tmp(*this);
     --(*this);
     return tmp;
 }
 
-inline const int16_t& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator[] (int i) {
+template<> inline const int16_t& AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator[] (int i) {
     return *atShiftedBy(i);
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator+(int i) {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator+(int i) {
     return ConstIterator(_bufferFirst, _bufferLength, atShiftedBy(i));
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator-(int i) {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::operator-(int i) {
     return ConstIterator(_bufferFirst, _bufferLength, atShiftedBy(-i));
 }
 
-inline int16_t* AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::atShiftedBy(int i) {
+template<> inline int16_t* AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::atShiftedBy(int i) {
     i = (_at - _bufferFirst + i) % _bufferLength;
     if (i < 0) {
         i += _bufferLength;
@@ -210,7 +222,7 @@ inline int16_t* AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::atShiftedBy(int
     return _bufferFirst + i;
 }
 
-inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamples(Sample* dest, int numSamples) {
+template<> inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamples(Sample* dest, int numSamples) {
     auto samplesToEnd = _bufferLast - _at + 1;
 
     if (samplesToEnd >= numSamples) {
@@ -225,7 +237,7 @@ inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamples(Sample*
     }
 }
 
-inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithFade(Sample* dest, int numSamples, float fade) {
+template<> inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithFade(Sample* dest, int numSamples, float fade) {
     Sample* at = _at;
     for (int i = 0; i < numSamples; i++) {
         *dest = (float)*at * fade;
@@ -234,7 +246,7 @@ inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithFade
     }
 }
 
-inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithUpmix(Sample* dest, int numSamples, int numExtraChannels) {
+template<> inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithUpmix(Sample* dest, int numSamples, int numExtraChannels) {
     Sample* at = _at;
     for (int i = 0; i < numSamples/2; i++) {
 
@@ -253,7 +265,7 @@ inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithUpmi
     }
 }
 
-inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithDownmix(Sample* dest, int numSamples) {
+template<> inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithDownmix(Sample* dest, int numSamples) {
     Sample* at = _at;
     for (int i = 0; i < numSamples/2; i++) {
 
@@ -268,11 +280,11 @@ inline void AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator::readSamplesWithDown
     }
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::nextOutput() const {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::nextOutput() const {
     return ConstIterator(_buffer, _bufferLength, _nextOutput);
 }
 
-inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::lastFrameWritten() const {
+template<> inline AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::ConstIterator AudioRingBufferTemplate<int16_t>::lastFrameWritten() const {
     return ConstIterator(_buffer, _bufferLength, _endOfLastWrite) - _numFrameSamples;
 }