             player = try? AKAudioPlayer(file: audioFile)
             player?.looping = true
             
-            // insert effects here
-            
             mixer.connect(player)
             
+            // setup the initial input/output connections
             auManager?.input = player
             auManager?.output = mixer
             

        
    }
    
    private func getEffectsButtonFromIdentifier(_ id: Int ) -> UIButton? {
        guard view != nil else { return nil }
        
        for sv in view.subviews {

    private func initDropDowns() {
        for i in 0 ..< 3 {
            
            if let button = getEffectsButton(i) {
                effectButtons[i] = button
            }
            
