diff --git a/flax/Submaster.py b/flax/Submaster.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/flax/Submaster.py
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+from __future__ import division
+from TLUtility import dict_scale, dict_max
+
+import sys
+sys.path.append('../light8')
+
+import Patch
+
+class Submaster:
+    "Contain a dictionary of levels, but you didn't need to know that"
+    def __init__(self, name, leveldict=None, temporary=0):
+        self.name = name
+        self.temporary = temporary
+        if leveldict:
+            self.levels = leveldict
+        else:
+            self.levels = {}
+            self.reload()
+    def reload(self):
+        if self.temporary:
+            return
+        try:
+            self.levels.clear()
+            subfile = file("subs/%s" % self.name)
+            for line in subfile.readlines():
+                if not line.strip(): # if line is only whitespace
+                    continue # "did i say newspace?"
+
+                try:
+                    name, val = line.split(':')
+                    name = name.strip()
+                    self.levels[name] = float(val)
+                except ValueError:
+                    print "(%s) Error with this line: %s" % (self.name, 
+                        line[:-1])
+        except IOError:
+            print "Can't read file for sub: %s" % self.name
+    def save(self):
+        if self.temporary:
+            return
+
+        subfile = file("subs/%s" % self.name, 'w')
+        names = self.levels.keys()
+        names.sort()
+        for name in names:
+            val = self.levels[name]
+            subfile.write("%s : %s\n" % (name, val))
+    def set_level(self, channelname, level, save=1):
+        self.levels[Patch.resolve_name(channelname)] = level
+        if save:
+            self.save()
+    def set_all_levels(self, leveldict):
+        self.levels.clear()
+        for k, v in leveldict.items():
+            self.set_level(k, v, save=0)
+        self.save()
+    def get_levels(self):
+        return self.levels
+    def __mul__(self, scalar):
+        return Submaster("%s*%s" % (self.name, scalar), 
+            dict_scale(self.levels, scalar), temporary=1)
+    __rmul__ = __mul__
+    def max(self, *othersubs):
+        return sub_maxes(self, *othersubs)
+    def __repr__(self):
+        levels = ' '.join(["%s:%.2f" % item for item in self.levels.items()])
+        return "<'%s': [%s]>" % (self.name, levels)
+    def get_dmx_list(self):
+        leveldict = self.get_levels() # gets levels of sub contents
+
+        levels = [0] * 68
+        for k, v in leveldict.items():
+            dmxchan = Patch.get_dmx_channel(k) - 1
+            levels[dmxchan] = max(v, levels[dmxchan])
+
+        return levels
+    def normalize_patch_names(self):
+        """Use only the primary patch names."""
+        # possibly busted -- don't use unless you know what you're doing
+        self.set_all_levels(self.levels.copy())
+    def get_normalized_copy(self):
+        """Get a copy of this sumbaster that only uses the primary patch 
+        names.  The levels will be the same."""
+        newsub = Submaster("%s (normalized)" % self.name, temporary=1)
+        newsub.set_all_levels(self.levels)
+        return newsub
+    def crossfade(self, othersub, amount):
+        """Returns a new sub that is a crossfade between this sub and
+        another submaster.  
+        
+        NOTE: You should only crossfade between normalized submasters."""
+        otherlevels = othersub.get_levels()
+        keys_set = {}
+        for k in self.levels.keys() + otherlevels.keys():
+            keys_set[k] = 1
+        all_keys = keys_set.keys()
+
+        xfaded_sub = Submaster("xfade", temporary=1)
+        for k in all_keys:
+            xfaded_sub.set_level(k, 
+                                 linear_fade(self.levels.get(k, 0),
+                                             otherlevels.get(k, 0),
+                                             amount))
+
+        return xfaded_sub
+                                            
+def linear_fade(start, end, amount):
+    """Fades between two floats by an amount.  amount is a float between
+    0 and 1.  If amount is 0, it will return the start value.  If it is 1,
+    the end value will be returned."""
+    level = start + (amount * (end - start))
+    return level
+
+def sub_maxes(*subs):
+    return Submaster("max(%r)" % (subs,),
+        dict_max(*[sub.levels for sub in subs]), temporary=1)
+
+class Submasters:
+    "Collection o' Submaster objects"
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.submasters = {}
+
+        import os
+        files = os.listdir('subs')
+
+        for filename in files:
+            # we don't want these files
+            if filename.startswith('.') or filename.endswith('~') or \
+               filename.startswith('CVS'):
+                continue
+            self.submasters[filename] = Submaster(filename)
+    def get_all_subs(self):
+        "All Submaster objects"
+        l = self.submasters.items()
+        l.sort()
+        l = [x[1] for x in l]
+        songs = []
+        notsongs = []
+        for s in l:
+            if s.name.startswith('song'):
+                songs.append(s)
+            else:
+                notsongs.append(s)
+        combined = notsongs + songs
+        return combined
+    def get_sub_by_name(self, name):
+        "Makes a new sub if there isn't one."
+        return self.submasters.get(name, Submaster(name))
+    __getitem__ = get_sub_by_name
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    Patch.reload_data()
+    s = Submasters()
+    print s.get_all_subs()
+    if 0: # turn this on to normalize all subs
+        for sub in s.get_all_subs():
+            print "before", sub
+            sub.normalize_patch_names()
+            sub.save()
+            print "after", sub