diff --git a/examples/editVoxels.js b/examples/editVoxels.js
index 96bb09e6d6..c1f0c8dc49 100644
--- a/examples/editVoxels.js
+++ b/examples/editVoxels.js
@@ -7,9 +7,11 @@
 //
 //  Captures mouse clicks and edits voxels accordingly.
 //
-//  click = create a new voxel on this face, same color as old 
-//  Alt + click = delete this voxel 
+//  click = create a new voxel on this face, same color as old (default color picker state)
+//  right click or control + click = delete this voxel 
 //  shift + click = recolor this voxel
+//  1 - 8 = pick new color from palette
+//  9 = create a new voxel in front of the camera 
 //
 //  Click and drag to create more new voxels in the same direction
 //
@@ -18,15 +20,41 @@ function vLength(v) {
     return Math.sqrt(v.x * v.x + v.y * v.y + v.z * v.z);
 }
 
+function vMinus(a, b) { 
+    var rval = { x: a.x - b.x, y: a.y - b.y, z: a.z - b.z };
+    return rval;
+}
+
+var NEW_VOXEL_SIZE = 1.0;
+var NEW_VOXEL_DISTANCE_FROM_CAMERA = 3.0;
+var ORBIT_RATE_ALTITUDE = 200.0;
+var ORBIT_RATE_AZIMUTH = 90.0;
+var PIXELS_PER_EXTRUDE_VOXEL = 16;
+
+var oldMode = Camera.getMode();
+
 var key_alt = false;
 var key_shift = false;
 var isAdding = false; 
-
+var isExtruding = false; 
+var isOrbiting = false;
+var orbitAzimuth = 0.0;
+var orbitAltitude = 0.0;
+var orbitCenter = { x: 0, y: 0, z: 0 };
+var orbitPosition = { x: 0, y: 0, z: 0 };
+var orbitRadius = 0.0;
+var extrudeDirection = { x: 0, y: 0, z: 0 };
+var extrudeScale = 0.0;
 var lastVoxelPosition = { x: 0, y: 0, z: 0 };
 var lastVoxelColor = { red: 0, green: 0, blue: 0 };
 var lastVoxelScale = 0;
 var dragStart = { x: 0, y: 0 };
 
+var mouseX = 0;
+var mouseY = 0; 
+
+
+
 //  Create a table of the different colors you can choose
 var colors = new Array();
 colors[0] = { red: 237, green: 175, blue: 0 };
@@ -37,31 +65,70 @@ colors[4] = { red: 193, green: 99,  blue: 122 };
 colors[5] = { red: 255, green: 54,  blue: 69 };
 colors[6] = { red: 124, green: 36,  blue: 36 };
 colors[7] = { red: 63,  green: 35,  blue: 19 };
-var numColors = 6;
-var whichColor = 0;
+var numColors = 8;
+var whichColor = -1;            //  Starting color is 'Copy' mode
 
 //  Create sounds for adding, deleting, recoloring voxels 
-var addSound = new Sound("https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/sounds/Electronic/ElectronicBurst1.raw");
-var deleteSound = new Sound("https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/sounds/Bubbles/bubbles1.raw");
-var changeColorSound = new Sound("https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/sounds/Electronic/ElectronicBurst6.raw");
+var addSound = new Sound("https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/sounds/Voxels/voxel+create.raw");
+var deleteSound = new Sound("https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/sounds/Voxels/voxel+delete.raw");
+var changeColorSound = new Sound("https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/sounds/Voxels/voxel+edit.raw");
+var clickSound = new Sound("https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/highfidelity-public/sounds/Switches+and+sliders/toggle+switch+-+medium.raw");
 var audioOptions = new AudioInjectionOptions();

+audioOptions.volume = 0.5;
+
+function setAudioPosition() {
+    var camera = Camera.getPosition();
+    var forwardVector = Quat.getFront(MyAvatar.orientation);
+    audioOptions.position = Vec3.sum(camera, forwardVector);
+}
+
+function getNewVoxelPosition() { 
+    var camera = Camera.getPosition();
+    var forwardVector = Quat.getFront(MyAvatar.orientation);
+    var newPosition = Vec3.sum(camera, Vec3.multiply(forwardVector, NEW_VOXEL_DISTANCE_FROM_CAMERA));
+    return newPosition;
+}
+
+function fixEulerAngles(eulers) {
+    var rVal = { x: 0, y: 0, z: eulers.z };
+    if (eulers.x >= 90.0) {
+        rVal.x = 180.0 - eulers.x;
+        rVal.y = eulers.y - 180.0;
+    } else if (eulers.x <= -90.0) {
+        rVal.x = 180.0 - eulers.x;
+        rVal.y = eulers.y - 180.0;
+    }
+    return rVal;
+}
 
 function mousePressEvent(event) {
+    mouseX = event.x;
+    mouseY = event.y;
     var pickRay = Camera.computePickRay(event.x, event.y);
     var intersection = Voxels.findRayIntersection(pickRay);
-    audioOptions.volume = 1.0;
-    audioOptions.position = { x: intersection.voxel.x, y: intersection.voxel.y, z: intersection.voxel.z };
-
+    audioOptions.position = Vec3.sum(pickRay.origin, pickRay.direction);
     if (intersection.intersects) {
-         if (key_alt) {
+        if (event.isAlt) {
+            // start orbit camera! 
+            var cameraPosition = Camera.getPosition();
+            oldMode = Camera.getMode();
+            Camera.setMode("independent");
+            isOrbiting = true;
+            Camera.keepLookingAt(intersection.intersection);
+            // get position for initial azimuth, elevation
+            orbitCenter = intersection.intersection; 
+            var orbitVector = Vec3.subtract(cameraPosition, orbitCenter);
+            orbitRadius = vLength(orbitVector); 
+            orbitAzimuth = Math.atan2(orbitVector.z, orbitVector.x);
+            orbitAltitude = Math.asin(orbitVector.y / Vec3.length(orbitVector));
+
+        } else if (event.isRightButton || event.isControl) {
             //  Delete voxel
             Voxels.eraseVoxel(intersection.voxel.x, intersection.voxel.y, intersection.voxel.z, intersection.voxel.s);
             Audio.playSound(deleteSound, audioOptions);
 
-        } else if (key_shift) {
+        } else if (event.isShifted) {
             //  Recolor Voxel
-            whichColor++;
-            if (whichColor == numColors) whichColor = 0; 
             Voxels.setVoxel(intersection.voxel.x, 
                             intersection.voxel.y, 
                             intersection.voxel.z, 
@@ -70,7 +137,9 @@ function mousePressEvent(event) {
             Audio.playSound(changeColorSound, audioOptions);
         } else {
             //  Add voxel on face
-            var newVoxel = {    
+            if (whichColor == -1) {
+                //  Copy mode - use clicked voxel color
+                var newVoxel = {    
                     x: intersection.voxel.x,
                     y: intersection.voxel.y,
                     z: intersection.voxel.z,
@@ -78,6 +147,16 @@ function mousePressEvent(event) {
                     red: intersection.voxel.red,
                     green: intersection.voxel.green,
                     blue: intersection.voxel.blue };
+            } else {
+                var newVoxel = {    
+                    x: intersection.voxel.x,
+                    y: intersection.voxel.y,
+                    z: intersection.voxel.z,    
+                    s: intersection.voxel.s,
+                    red: colors[whichColor].red,
+                    green: colors[whichColor].green,
+                    blue: colors[whichColor].blue };
+            }
                     
             if (intersection.face == "MIN_X_FACE") {
                 newVoxel.x -= newVoxel.s;
@@ -108,55 +187,113 @@ function mousePressEvent(event) {
 function keyPressEvent(event) {
     key_alt = event.isAlt;
     key_shift = event.isShifted;
+    var nVal = parseInt(event.text);
+    if (event.text == "0") {
+        print("Color = Copy");
+        whichColor = -1;
+        Audio.playSound(clickSound, audioOptions);
+    } else if ((nVal > 0) && (nVal <= numColors)) {
+        whichColor = nVal - 1;
+        print("Color = " + (whichColor + 1));
+        Audio.playSound(clickSound, audioOptions);
+    } else if (event.text == "9") {
+        // Create a brand new 1 meter voxel in front of your avatar 
+        var color = whichColor; 
+        if (color == -1) color = 0;
+        var newPosition = getNewVoxelPosition();
+        var newVoxel = {    
+                    x: newPosition.x,
+                    y: newPosition.y ,
+                    z: newPosition.z,    
+                    s: NEW_VOXEL_SIZE,
+                    red: colors[color].red,
+                    green: colors[color].green,
+                    blue: colors[color].blue };
+        Voxels.setVoxel(newVoxel.x, newVoxel.y, newVoxel.z, newVoxel.s, newVoxel.red, newVoxel.green, newVoxel.blue);
+        setAudioPosition();
+        Audio.playSound(addSound, audioOptions);
+    } else if (event.text == " ") {
+        //  Reset my orientation!
+        var orientation = { x:0, y:0, z:0, w:1 };
+        Camera.setOrientation(orientation);
+        MyAvatar.orientation = orientation;
+    }
 }
+
 function keyReleaseEvent(event) {
     key_alt = false;
     key_shift = false; 
 }
 function mouseMoveEvent(event) {
+    if (isOrbiting) {
+        var cameraOrientation = Camera.getOrientation();
+        var origEulers = Quat.safeEulerAngles(cameraOrientation);
+        var newEulers = fixEulerAngles(Quat.safeEulerAngles(cameraOrientation));
+        var dx = event.x - mouseX; 
+        var dy = event.y - mouseY;
+        orbitAzimuth += dx / ORBIT_RATE_AZIMUTH;
+        orbitAltitude += dy / ORBIT_RATE_ALTITUDE;
+         var orbitVector = { x:(Math.cos(orbitAltitude) * Math.cos(orbitAzimuth)) * orbitRadius, 
+                            y:Math.sin(orbitAltitude) * orbitRadius,
+                            z:(Math.cos(orbitAltitude) * Math.sin(orbitAzimuth)) * orbitRadius }; 
+        orbitPosition = Vec3.sum(orbitCenter, orbitVector);
+        Camera.setPosition(orbitPosition);
+        mouseX = event.x; 
+        mouseY = event.y;
+    }
     if (isAdding) {
-        var pickRay = Camera.computePickRay(event.x, event.y);
-        var lastVoxelDistance = { x: pickRay.origin.x - lastVoxelPosition.x, 
+        //  Watch the drag direction to tell which way to 'extrude' this voxel
+        if (!isExtruding) {
+            var pickRay = Camera.computePickRay(event.x, event.y);
+            var lastVoxelDistance = { x: pickRay.origin.x - lastVoxelPosition.x, 
                                     y: pickRay.origin.y - lastVoxelPosition.y, 
                                     z: pickRay.origin.z - lastVoxelPosition.z };
-        var distance = vLength(lastVoxelDistance);
-        var mouseSpot = { x: pickRay.direction.x * distance, y: pickRay.direction.y * distance, z: pickRay.direction.z * distance };
-        mouseSpot.x += pickRay.origin.x;
-        mouseSpot.y += pickRay.origin.y;
-        mouseSpot.z += pickRay.origin.z;
-        var dx = mouseSpot.x - lastVoxelPosition.x;
-        var dy = mouseSpot.y - lastVoxelPosition.y;
-        var dz = mouseSpot.z - lastVoxelPosition.z;
-        if (dx > lastVoxelScale) {
-            lastVoxelPosition.x += lastVoxelScale;
-            Voxels.setVoxel(lastVoxelPosition.x, lastVoxelPosition.y, lastVoxelPosition.z, 
-                            lastVoxelScale, lastVoxelColor.red, lastVoxelColor.green, lastVoxelColor.blue);
-        } else if (dx < -lastVoxelScale) {
-            lastVoxelPosition.x -= lastVoxelScale;
-            Voxels.setVoxel(lastVoxelPosition.x, lastVoxelPosition.y, lastVoxelPosition.z, 
-                            lastVoxelScale, lastVoxelColor.red, lastVoxelColor.green, lastVoxelColor.blue);
-        } else if (dy > lastVoxelScale) {
-            lastVoxelPosition.y += lastVoxelScale;
-            Voxels.setVoxel(lastVoxelPosition.x, lastVoxelPosition.y, lastVoxelPosition.z, 
-                            lastVoxelScale, lastVoxelColor.red, lastVoxelColor.green, lastVoxelColor.blue);
-        } else if (dy < -lastVoxelScale) {
-            lastVoxelPosition.y -= lastVoxelScale;
-            Voxels.setVoxel(lastVoxelPosition.x, lastVoxelPosition.y, lastVoxelPosition.z, 
-                            lastVoxelScale, lastVoxelColor.red, lastVoxelColor.green, lastVoxelColor.blue);
-        } else if (dz > lastVoxelScale) {
-            lastVoxelPosition.z += lastVoxelScale;
-            Voxels.setVoxel(lastVoxelPosition.x, lastVoxelPosition.y, lastVoxelPosition.z, 
-                            lastVoxelScale, lastVoxelColor.red, lastVoxelColor.green, lastVoxelColor.blue);
-        } else if (dz < -lastVoxelScale) {
-            lastVoxelPosition.z -= lastVoxelScale;
-            Voxels.setVoxel(lastVoxelPosition.x, lastVoxelPosition.y, lastVoxelPosition.z, 
-                            lastVoxelScale, lastVoxelColor.red, lastVoxelColor.green, lastVoxelColor.blue);
+            var distance = vLength(lastVoxelDistance);
+            var mouseSpot = { x: pickRay.direction.x * distance, y: pickRay.direction.y * distance, z: pickRay.direction.z * distance };
+            mouseSpot.x += pickRay.origin.x;
+            mouseSpot.y += pickRay.origin.y;
+            mouseSpot.z += pickRay.origin.z;
+            var dx = mouseSpot.x - lastVoxelPosition.x;
+            var dy = mouseSpot.y - lastVoxelPosition.y;
+            var dz = mouseSpot.z - lastVoxelPosition.z;
+            extrudeScale = lastVoxelScale;
+            extrudeDirection = { x: 0, y: 0, z: 0 };
+            isExtruding = true;
+            if (dx > lastVoxelScale) extrudeDirection.x = extrudeScale;
+            else if (dx < -lastVoxelScale) extrudeDirection.x = -extrudeScale;
+            else if (dy > lastVoxelScale) extrudeDirection.y = extrudeScale;
+            else if (dy < -lastVoxelScale) extrudeDirection.y = -extrudeScale;
+            else if (dz > lastVoxelScale) extrudeDirection.z = extrudeScale;
+            else if (dz < -lastVoxelScale) extrudeDirection.z = -extrudeScale;
+            else isExtruding = false; 
+        } else {
+            //  We have got an extrusion direction, now look for mouse move beyond threshold to add new voxel
+            var dx = event.x - mouseX; 
+            var dy = event.y - mouseY;
+            if (Math.sqrt(dx*dx + dy*dy) > PIXELS_PER_EXTRUDE_VOXEL)  {
+                lastVoxelPosition = Vec3.sum(lastVoxelPosition, extrudeDirection);
+                Voxels.setVoxel(lastVoxelPosition.x, lastVoxelPosition.y, lastVoxelPosition.z, 
+                            extrudeScale, lastVoxelColor.red, lastVoxelColor.green, lastVoxelColor.blue);
+                mouseX = event.x;
+                mouseY = event.y;
+            }
         }
     }
 }
 
 function mouseReleaseEvent(event) {
+    if (isOrbiting) {
+        var cameraOrientation = Camera.getOrientation();
+        var eulers = Quat.safeEulerAngles(cameraOrientation);
+        MyAvatar.position = Camera.getPosition();
+        MyAvatar.orientation = cameraOrientation;
+        Camera.stopLooking();
+        Camera.setMode(oldMode);
+        Camera.setOrientation(cameraOrientation);
+    }
     isAdding = false;
+    isOrbiting = false; 
+    isExtruding = false; 
 }
 
 Controller.mousePressEvent.connect(mousePressEvent);
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 29d838e10b..fd4c52d9f2 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -2146,15 +2146,6 @@ void Application::updateThreads(float deltaTime) {
     }
 }
 
-void Application::updateParticles(float deltaTime) {
-    bool showWarnings = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings);
-    PerformanceWarning warn(showWarnings, "Application::updateParticles()");
-
-    if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::ParticleCloud)) {
-        _cloud.simulate(deltaTime);
-    }
-}
-
 void Application::updateMetavoxels(float deltaTime) {
     bool showWarnings = Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings);
     PerformanceWarning warn(showWarnings, "Application::updateMetavoxels()");
@@ -2276,7 +2267,6 @@ void Application::update(float deltaTime) {
     updateMyAvatar(deltaTime); // Sample hardware, update view frustum if needed, and send avatar data to mixer/nodes
     updateThreads(deltaTime); // If running non-threaded, then give the threads some time to process...
     _avatarManager.updateOtherAvatars(deltaTime); //loop through all the other avatars and simulate them...
-    updateParticles(deltaTime); // Simulate particle cloud movements
     updateMetavoxels(deltaTime); // update metavoxels
     updateCamera(deltaTime); // handle various camera tweaks like off axis projection
     updateDialogs(deltaTime); // update various stats dialogs if present
@@ -2711,10 +2701,6 @@ void Application::displaySide(Camera& whichCamera, bool selfAvatarOnly) {
         // disable specular lighting for ground and voxels
         glMaterialfv(GL_FRONT, GL_SPECULAR, NO_SPECULAR_COLOR);
 
-        //  Draw Cloud Particles
-        if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::ParticleCloud)) {
-            _cloud.render();
-        }
         //  Draw voxels
         if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::Voxels)) {
             PerformanceWarning warn(Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::PipelineWarnings),
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index ff6e08758b..c5aafc4e9d 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 
 #include "BandwidthMeter.h"
 #include "Camera.h"
-#include "Cloud.h"
 #include "DatagramProcessor.h"
 #include "Environment.h"
 #include "GLCanvas.h"
@@ -284,7 +283,6 @@ private:
     void updateSixense(float deltaTime);
     void updateSerialDevices(float deltaTime);
     void updateThreads(float deltaTime);
-    void updateParticles(float deltaTime);
     void updateMetavoxels(float deltaTime);
     void updateCamera(float deltaTime);
     void updateDialogs(float deltaTime);
@@ -351,8 +349,6 @@ private:
 
     Stars _stars;
 
-    Cloud _cloud;
-
     VoxelSystem _voxels;
     VoxelTree _clipboard; // if I copy/paste
     VoxelImporter* _voxelImporter;
diff --git a/interface/src/Audio.cpp b/interface/src/Audio.cpp
index 6eee4453d4..0cf67be2bf 100644
--- a/interface/src/Audio.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Audio.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ static const short JITTER_BUFFER_SAMPLES = JITTER_BUFFER_LENGTH_MSECS * NUM_AUDI
 
 static const float AUDIO_CALLBACK_MSECS = (float) NETWORK_BUFFER_LENGTH_SAMPLES_PER_CHANNEL / (float)SAMPLE_RATE * 1000.0;
 
+static const int NUMBER_OF_NOISE_SAMPLE_FRAMES = 300;
+
 // Mute icon configration
 static const int ICON_SIZE = 24;
 static const int ICON_LEFT = 0;
@@ -65,7 +67,8 @@ Audio::Audio(Oscilloscope* scope, int16_t initialJitterBufferSamples, QObject* p
     _measuredJitter(0),
     _jitterBufferSamples(initialJitterBufferSamples),
     _lastInputLoudness(0),
-    _averageInputLoudness(0),
+    _noiseGateMeasuredFloor(0),
+    _noiseGateSampleCounter(0),
     _noiseGateOpen(false),
     _noiseGateEnabled(true),
     _noiseGateFramesToClose(0),
@@ -82,6 +85,8 @@ Audio::Audio(Oscilloscope* scope, int16_t initialJitterBufferSamples, QObject* p
 {
     // clear the array of locally injected samples
     memset(_localProceduralSamples, 0, NETWORK_BUFFER_LENGTH_BYTES_PER_CHANNEL);
+    // Create the noise sample array
+    _noiseSampleFrames = new float[NUMBER_OF_NOISE_SAMPLE_FRAMES];
 }
 
 void Audio::init(QGLWidget *parent) {
@@ -351,26 +356,66 @@ void Audio::handleAudioInput() {
                              NETWORK_BUFFER_LENGTH_SAMPLES_PER_CHANNEL,
                              _inputFormat, _desiredInputFormat);
 
+            //
+            //  Impose Noise Gate
+            //
+            //  The Noise Gate is used to reject constant background noise by measuring the noise
+            //  floor observed at the microphone and then opening the 'gate' to allow microphone
+            //  signals to be transmitted when the microphone samples average level exceeds a multiple
+            //  of the noise floor.
+            //
+            //  NOISE_GATE_HEIGHT:  How loud you have to speak relative to noise background to open the gate.
+            //                      Make this value lower for more sensitivity and less rejection of noise.
+            //  NOISE_GATE_WIDTH:   The number of samples in an audio frame for which the height must be exceeded
+            //                      to open the gate.
+            //  NOISE_GATE_CLOSE_FRAME_DELAY:  Once the noise is below the gate height for the frame, how many frames
+            //                      will we wait before closing the gate.
+            //  NOISE_GATE_FRAMES_TO_AVERAGE:  How many audio frames should we average together to compute noise floor.
+            //                      More means better rejection but also can reject continuous things like singing.
+            // NUMBER_OF_NOISE_SAMPLE_FRAMES:  How often should we re-evaluate the noise floor?
+            
+
             float loudness = 0;
             float thisSample = 0;
             int samplesOverNoiseGate = 0;
             
-            const float NOISE_GATE_HEIGHT = 3.f;
+            const float NOISE_GATE_HEIGHT = 7.f;
             const int NOISE_GATE_WIDTH = 5;
-            const int NOISE_GATE_CLOSE_FRAME_DELAY = 30;
+            const int NOISE_GATE_CLOSE_FRAME_DELAY = 5;
+            const int NOISE_GATE_FRAMES_TO_AVERAGE = 5;
             
             for (int i = 0; i < NETWORK_BUFFER_LENGTH_SAMPLES_PER_CHANNEL; i++) {
                 thisSample = fabsf(monoAudioSamples[i]);
                 loudness += thisSample;
                 //  Noise Reduction:  Count peaks above the average loudness
-                if (thisSample > (_averageInputLoudness * NOISE_GATE_HEIGHT)) {
+                if (thisSample > (_noiseGateMeasuredFloor * NOISE_GATE_HEIGHT)) {
                     samplesOverNoiseGate++;
                 }
             }
             _lastInputLoudness = loudness / NETWORK_BUFFER_LENGTH_SAMPLES_PER_CHANNEL;
-            const float LOUDNESS_AVERAGING_FRAMES = 1000.f;   //  This will be about 10 seconds
-            _averageInputLoudness = (1.f - 1.f / LOUDNESS_AVERAGING_FRAMES) * _averageInputLoudness + (1.f / LOUDNESS_AVERAGING_FRAMES) * _lastInputLoudness;
             
+            float averageOfAllSampleFrames = 0.f;
+            _noiseSampleFrames[_noiseGateSampleCounter++] = _lastInputLoudness;
+            if (_noiseGateSampleCounter == NUMBER_OF_NOISE_SAMPLE_FRAMES) {
+                float smallestSample = FLT_MAX;
+                for (int i = 0; i <= NUMBER_OF_NOISE_SAMPLE_FRAMES - NOISE_GATE_FRAMES_TO_AVERAGE; i+= NOISE_GATE_FRAMES_TO_AVERAGE) {
+                    float thisAverage = 0.0f;
+                    for (int j = i; j < i + NOISE_GATE_FRAMES_TO_AVERAGE; j++) {
+                        thisAverage += _noiseSampleFrames[j];
+                        averageOfAllSampleFrames += _noiseSampleFrames[j];
+                    }
+                    thisAverage /= NOISE_GATE_FRAMES_TO_AVERAGE;
+                    
+                    if (thisAverage < smallestSample) {
+                        smallestSample = thisAverage;
+                    }
+                }
+                averageOfAllSampleFrames /= NUMBER_OF_NOISE_SAMPLE_FRAMES;
+                _noiseGateMeasuredFloor = smallestSample;
+                _noiseGateSampleCounter = 0;
+                //qDebug("smallest sample = %.1f, avg of all = %.1f",  _noiseGateMeasuredFloor, averageOfAllSampleFrames);
+            }
+
             if (_noiseGateEnabled) {
                 if (samplesOverNoiseGate > NOISE_GATE_WIDTH) {
                     _noiseGateOpen = true;
@@ -487,7 +532,7 @@ void Audio::addReceivedAudioToBuffer(const QByteArray& audioByteArray) {
     if (!_ringBuffer.isStarved() && _audioOutput->bytesFree() == _audioOutput->bufferSize()) {
         // we don't have any audio data left in the output buffer
         // we just starved
-        qDebug() << "Audio output just starved.";
+        //qDebug() << "Audio output just starved.";
         _ringBuffer.setIsStarved(true);
         _numFramesDisplayStarve = 10;
     }
@@ -505,7 +550,7 @@ void Audio::addReceivedAudioToBuffer(const QByteArray& audioByteArray) {
         if (!_ringBuffer.isNotStarvedOrHasMinimumSamples(NETWORK_BUFFER_LENGTH_SAMPLES_STEREO
                                                          + (_jitterBufferSamples * 2))) {
             // starved and we don't have enough to start, keep waiting
-            qDebug() << "Buffer is starved and doesn't have enough samples to start. Held back.";
+            //qDebug() << "Buffer is starved and doesn't have enough samples to start. Held back.";
         } else {
             //  We are either already playing back, or we have enough audio to start playing back.
             _ringBuffer.setIsStarved(false);
diff --git a/interface/src/Audio.h b/interface/src/Audio.h
index 88e2731006..34a3daad30 100644
--- a/interface/src/Audio.h
+++ b/interface/src/Audio.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ public:
     
     void render(int screenWidth, int screenHeight);
     
-    float getLastInputLoudness() const { return glm::max(_lastInputLoudness - _averageInputLoudness, 0.f); }
+    float getLastInputLoudness() const { return glm::max(_lastInputLoudness - _noiseGateMeasuredFloor, 0.f); }
     
     void setNoiseGateEnabled(bool noiseGateEnabled) { _noiseGateEnabled = noiseGateEnabled; }
     
@@ -109,7 +109,9 @@ private:
     float _measuredJitter;
     int16_t _jitterBufferSamples;
     float _lastInputLoudness;
-    float _averageInputLoudness;
+    float _noiseGateMeasuredFloor;
+    float* _noiseSampleFrames;
+    int _noiseGateSampleCounter;
     bool _noiseGateOpen;
     bool _noiseGateEnabled;
     int _noiseGateFramesToClose;
diff --git a/interface/src/Cloud.cpp b/interface/src/Cloud.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index a89ee04810..0000000000
--- a/interface/src/Cloud.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,85 +0,0 @@
-//
-//  Cloud.cpp
-//  interface
-//
-//  Created by Philip Rosedale on 11/17/12.
-//  Copyright (c) 2012 High Fidelity, Inc. All rights reserved.
-//
-
-#include <iostream>
-#include <InterfaceConfig.h>
-#include "Cloud.h"
-#include "Util.h"
-#include "Field.h"
-
-const int NUM_PARTICLES = 100000;
-const float FIELD_COUPLE = 0.001f;
-const bool RENDER_FIELD = false;
-
-Cloud::Cloud() {
-    glm::vec3 box = glm::vec3(PARTICLE_WORLD_SIZE);
-    _bounds = box;
-    _count = NUM_PARTICLES;
-    _particles = new Particle[_count];
-    _field = new Field(PARTICLE_WORLD_SIZE, FIELD_COUPLE);
-    
-    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < _count; i++) {
-        _particles[i].position = randVector() * box;
-        const float INIT_VEL_SCALE = 0.03f;
-        _particles[i].velocity = randVector() * ((float)PARTICLE_WORLD_SIZE * INIT_VEL_SCALE);
-        _particles[i].color = randVector();
-     }
-}
-
-void Cloud::render() {
-    if (RENDER_FIELD) {
-        _field->render();
-    }
-    
-    glPointSize(3.0f);
-    glDisable(GL_TEXTURE_2D);
-    glEnable(GL_POINT_SMOOTH);
-    
-    glEnableClientState(GL_VERTEX_ARRAY);
-    glEnableClientState(GL_COLOR_ARRAY);
-    glVertexPointer(3, GL_FLOAT, 3 * sizeof(glm::vec3), &_particles[0].position);
-    glColorPointer(3, GL_FLOAT, 3 * sizeof(glm::vec3), &_particles[0].color);
-    glDrawArrays(GL_POINTS, 0, NUM_PARTICLES);
-    glDisableClientState(GL_VERTEX_ARRAY);
-    glDisableClientState(GL_COLOR_ARRAY);
-     
-}
-
-void Cloud::simulate (float deltaTime) {
-    unsigned int i;
-    _field->simulate(deltaTime);
-    for (i = 0; i < _count; ++i) {
-        
-        // Update position 
-        _particles[i].position += _particles[i].velocity * deltaTime;
-
-        // Decay Velocity (Drag)
-        const float CONSTANT_DAMPING = 0.15f;
-        _particles[i].velocity *= (1.f - CONSTANT_DAMPING * deltaTime);
-                
-        // Interact with Field
-        _field->interact(deltaTime, _particles[i].position, _particles[i].velocity);
-                      
-        //  Update color to velocity 
-        _particles[i].color = (glm::normalize(_particles[i].velocity) * 0.5f) + 0.5f;
-        
-        // Bounce at bounds
-        if ((_particles[i].position.x > _bounds.x) || (_particles[i].position.x < 0.f)) {
-            _particles[i].position.x = glm::clamp(_particles[i].position.x, 0.f, _bounds.x);
-            _particles[i].velocity.x *= -1.f;
-        }
-        if ((_particles[i].position.y > _bounds.y) || (_particles[i].position.y < 0.f)) {
-            _particles[i].position.y = glm::clamp(_particles[i].position.y, 0.f, _bounds.y);
-            _particles[i].velocity.y *= -1.f;
-        }
-        if ((_particles[i].position.z > _bounds.z) || (_particles[i].position.z < 0.f)) {
-            _particles[i].position.z = glm::clamp(_particles[i].position.z, 0.f, _bounds.z);
-            _particles[i].velocity.z *= -1.f;
-        }
-    }
- }
diff --git a/interface/src/Cloud.h b/interface/src/Cloud.h
deleted file mode 100644
index fcf414b62e..0000000000
--- a/interface/src/Cloud.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-//
-//  Cloud.h
-//  interface
-//
-//  Created by Philip Rosedale on 11/17/12.
-//  Copyright (c) 2012 High Fidelity, Inc. All rights reserved.
-//
-
-#ifndef __interface__Cloud__
-#define __interface__Cloud__
-
-#include "Field.h"
-
-#define PARTICLE_WORLD_SIZE 256.0
-
-class Cloud {
-public:
-    Cloud();
-    void simulate(float deltaTime);
-    void render();
-    
-private:
-    struct Particle {
-        glm::vec3 position, velocity, color;
-       }* _particles;
-    
-    unsigned int _count;
-    glm::vec3 _bounds;
-    Field* _field;
-};
-
-#endif
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.cpp b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
index 89277c794c..63717fdbb5 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.cpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ Menu::Menu() :
     #endif
 
     addDisabledActionAndSeparator(editMenu, "Physics");
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(editMenu, MenuOption::Gravity, Qt::SHIFT | Qt::Key_G, true);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(editMenu, MenuOption::Gravity, Qt::SHIFT | Qt::Key_G, false);
 
     
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(editMenu, MenuOption::ClickToFly);
@@ -239,9 +239,9 @@ Menu::Menu() :
                                            SLOT(setFullscreen(bool)));
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::FirstPerson, Qt::Key_P, true,
                                             appInstance,SLOT(cameraMenuChanged()));
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::Mirror, Qt::SHIFT | Qt::Key_H);
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::FullscreenMirror, Qt::Key_H,false,
-                                            appInstance,SLOT(cameraMenuChanged()));
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::Mirror, Qt::SHIFT | Qt::Key_H, true);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::FullscreenMirror, Qt::Key_H, false,
+                                            appInstance, SLOT(cameraMenuChanged()));
                                             
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::Enable3DTVMode, 0,
                                            false,
@@ -267,14 +267,8 @@ Menu::Menu() :
                                   appInstance->getAvatar(),
                                   SLOT(resetSize()));
 
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu,
-                                           MenuOption::OffAxisProjection,
-                                           0,
-                                           true);
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu,
-                                           MenuOption::TurnWithHead,
-                                           0,
-                                           true);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::OffAxisProjection, 0, false);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::TurnWithHead, 0, false);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::MoveWithLean, 0, false);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(viewMenu, MenuOption::HeadMouse, 0, false);
 
@@ -299,7 +293,6 @@ Menu::Menu() :
                                   appInstance->getGlowEffect(),
                                   SLOT(cycleRenderMode()));
 
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(renderOptionsMenu, MenuOption::ParticleCloud, 0, false);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(renderOptionsMenu, MenuOption::Shadows, 0, false);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(renderOptionsMenu, MenuOption::Metavoxels, 0, false);
 
@@ -340,14 +333,14 @@ Menu::Menu() :
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarOptionsMenu, MenuOption::Avatars, 0, true);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarOptionsMenu, MenuOption::CollisionProxies);
 
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarOptionsMenu, MenuOption::LookAtVectors, 0, true);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarOptionsMenu, MenuOption::LookAtVectors, 0, false);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarOptionsMenu,
                                            MenuOption::FaceshiftTCP,
                                            0,
                                            false,
                                            appInstance->getFaceshift(),
                                            SLOT(setTCPEnabled(bool)));
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarOptionsMenu, MenuOption::ChatCircling, 0, true);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(avatarOptionsMenu, MenuOption::ChatCircling, 0, false);
 
     QMenu* handOptionsMenu = developerMenu->addMenu("Hand Options");
 
@@ -357,7 +350,7 @@ Menu::Menu() :
                                            true,
                                            appInstance->getSixenseManager(),
                                            SLOT(setFilter(bool)));
-    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(handOptionsMenu, MenuOption::DisplayLeapHands, 0, true);
+    addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(handOptionsMenu, MenuOption::DisplayHands, 0, true);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(handOptionsMenu, MenuOption::DisplayHandTargets, 0, false);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(handOptionsMenu, MenuOption::VoxelDrumming, 0, false);
     addCheckableActionToQMenuAndActionHash(handOptionsMenu, MenuOption::PlaySlaps, 0, false);
diff --git a/interface/src/Menu.h b/interface/src/Menu.h
index fd37856b26..130ce19475 100644
--- a/interface/src/Menu.h
+++ b/interface/src/Menu.h
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ namespace MenuOption {
     const QString DisableDeltaSending = "Disable Delta Sending";
     const QString DisableLowRes = "Disable Lower Resolution While Moving";
     const QString DisplayFrustum = "Display Frustum";
-    const QString DisplayLeapHands = "Display Leap Hands";
+    const QString DisplayHands = "Display Hands";
     const QString DisplayHandTargets = "Display Hand Targets";
     const QString FilterSixense = "Smooth Sixense Movement";
     const QString DontRenderVoxels = "Don't call _voxels.render()";
@@ -237,7 +237,6 @@ namespace MenuOption {
     const QString KillLocalVoxels = "Kill Local Voxels";
     const QString GoHome = "Go Home";
     const QString Gravity = "Use Gravity";
-    const QString ParticleCloud = "Particle Cloud";
     const QString LodTools = "LOD Tools";
     const QString Log = "Log";
     const QString Login = "Login";
diff --git a/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp b/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
index 8edb455a75..1239e38818 100644
--- a/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/avatar/Hand.cpp
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ void Hand::render(bool isMine) {
         }
     }
     
-    if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::DisplayLeapHands)) {
+    if (Menu::getInstance()->isOptionChecked(MenuOption::DisplayHands)) {
         renderLeapHands(isMine);
     }
 
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.cpp b/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.cpp
index 2d6a5b2316..1ed3ae6915 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.cpp
+++ b/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ glm::vec3 Vec3::multiplyQbyV(const glm::quat& q, const glm::vec3& v) {
 glm::vec3 Vec3::sum(const glm::vec3& v1, const glm::vec3& v2) {
     return v1 + v2;
 }
-
+glm::vec3 Vec3::subtract(const glm::vec3& v1, const glm::vec3& v2) {
+        return v1 - v2;
+}
 float Vec3::length(const glm::vec3& v) {
     return glm::length(v);
 }
diff --git a/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.h b/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.h
index bf883f3e5a..20ad3f7eaa 100644
--- a/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.h
+++ b/libraries/script-engine/src/Vec3.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ public slots:
     glm::vec3 multiply(const glm::vec3& v1, float f);
     glm::vec3 multiplyQbyV(const glm::quat& q, const glm::vec3& v);
     glm::vec3 sum(const glm::vec3& v1, const glm::vec3& v2);
+    glm::vec3 subtract(const glm::vec3& v1, const glm::vec3& v2);
     float length(const glm::vec3& v);
 };