diff --git a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_calc_HRTF.c b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_calc_HRTF.c
index f2ea70f8a012a8fd947f2174f199f673b793d939..b20836c95f3b23d6e0253d8146813e88a5eb1261 100644
--- a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_calc_HRTF.c
+++ b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_calc_HRTF.c
@@ -470,9 +470,26 @@ static void *bin_ambi_calc_HRTF_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 	char buf[400];
 	int i, j, fftok;
 	int n_ls, fftsize;
-	t_symbol	*s_hrir;
-	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_re;
-	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_im;
+	t_symbol	*s_hrir = gensym("L_HRIR");
+	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_re = gensym("HRTF_re");
+	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_im = gensym("HRTF_im");
+        t_atom sane_defaults[6];
+
+        if(!argc)
+        {
+                post("bin_ambi_calc_HRTF: warning: no arguments provided: "
+                     "setting to [bin_ambi_calc_HRTF L_HRIR HRTF_re HRTF_im "
+                     "HRIR_win 1 512]");
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults, s_hrir);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+1, s_hrtf_re);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+2, s_hrtf_im);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+3, gensym("HRIR_win"));
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+4, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+5, 512.);
+                argc = 6;
+                argv = sane_defaults;
+        }
+
 
 	if((argc >= 6) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,0) &&
diff --git a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode.c b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode.c
index ee1abd6162ed0240b5db8c2cfff2b00e0d2b21a4..44188e08bddd64ad427305ba14d1d4440be7ee0a 100644
--- a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode.c
+++ b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode.c
@@ -1086,11 +1086,28 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 	t_symbol	*s_hrir=gensym("L_HRIR");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_re=gensym("HRTF_re");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_im=gensym("HRTF_im");
-  t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+        t_atom sane_defaults[8];
+
+        if(!argc)
+        {
+                post("bin_ambi_reduced_decode: warning: no arguments provided: "
+                     "setting to [bin_ambi_reduced_decode 1 2 1]");
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults, 0.);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+1, s_hrir);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+2, s_hrtf_re);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+3, s_hrtf_im);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+4, s_fade_out_hrir);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+5, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+6, 2.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+7, 512.);
+                argc = 8;
+                argv = sane_defaults;
+        }
 
 	if((argc >= 8) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
-    IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
+		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,2) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,3) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,4) &&
@@ -1100,10 +1117,10 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 	{
 		prefix	= (int)atom_getintarg(0, argc, argv);
 
-		s_hrir								= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(1, argc, argv);
-		s_hrtf_re							= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(2, argc, argv);
-		s_hrtf_im							= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(3, argc, argv);
-		s_fade_out_hrir	      = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(4, argc, argv);
+		s_hrir = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(1, argc, argv);
+		s_hrtf_re = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(2, argc, argv);
+		s_hrtf_im = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(3, argc, argv);
+		s_fade_out_hrir = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(4, argc, argv);
 
 		n_order	= (int)atom_getintarg(5, argc, argv);
 		n_dim		= (int)atom_getintarg(6, argc, argv);
@@ -1113,7 +1130,7 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 	}
 	else if((argc >= 8) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
-    IS_A_FLOAT(argv,1) &&
+		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,1) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,2) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,3) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,4) &&
@@ -1123,13 +1140,13 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 	{
 		prefix	= (int)atom_getintarg(0, argc, argv);
 
-		s_hrir								= gensym("L_HRIR");
-		s_hrtf_re							= gensym("HRTF_re");
-		s_hrtf_im							= gensym("HRTF_im");
-		s_fade_out_hrir	      = gensym("HRIR_win");
+		s_hrir = gensym("L_HRIR");
+		s_hrtf_re = gensym("HRTF_re");
+		s_hrtf_im = gensym("HRTF_im");
+		s_fade_out_hrir	= gensym("HRIR_win");
 
 		n_order	= (int)atom_getintarg(5, argc, argv);
-		n_dim		= (int)atom_getintarg(6, argc, argv);
+		n_dim	= (int)atom_getintarg(6, argc, argv);
 		fftsize	= (int)atom_getintarg(7, argc, argv);
 
 		ok = 1;
@@ -1168,20 +1185,20 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 
 		if(!fftok)
 		{
-      fftsize = 512;
+			fftsize = 512;
 			post("bin_ambi_reduced_decode-WARNING: fftsize not equal to 2 ^ n !!!");
 			post("                                 fftsize set to %d", fftsize);
 		}
 
-		x->x_n_dim			= n_dim;
-		x->x_n_ambi			= n_ambi;
-		x->x_n_order		= n_order;
-		x->x_fftsize		= fftsize;
+		x->x_n_dim = n_dim;
+		x->x_n_ambi = n_ambi;
+		x->x_n_order = n_order;
+		x->x_fftsize = fftsize;
 
-		x->x_hrir_filename	= (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
-		x->x_s_hrir					= (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
-		x->x_s_hrtf_re			= (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
-		x->x_s_hrtf_im			= (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
+		x->x_hrir_filename = (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
+		x->x_s_hrir = (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
+		x->x_s_hrtf_re = (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
+		x->x_s_hrtf_im = (t_symbol **)getbytes(x->x_n_ambi * sizeof(t_symbol *));
 		
 		for(i=0; i<n_ambi; i++)
 		{
diff --git a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode2.c b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode2.c
index cfb50eb2e8c973153c8e9152483c4ed822d91887..f5e1e89b533ef7526ae7779bd242e5b35ac00a80 100644
--- a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode2.c
+++ b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode2.c
@@ -1142,7 +1142,25 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode2_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv)
 	t_symbol	*s_hrir=gensym("L_HRIR");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_re=gensym("HRTF_re");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_im=gensym("HRTF_im");
-  t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_atom sane_defaults[9];
+
+        if(!argc)
+        {
+                post("bin_ambi_reduced_decode2: warning: no arguments "
+                     "provided: setting to [bin_ambi_reduced_decode2 1 2 1]");
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults, 0.);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+1, s_hrir);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+2, s_hrtf_re);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+3, s_hrtf_im);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+4, s_fade_out_hrir);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+5, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+6, 2.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+7, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+8, 512.);
+                argc = 9;
+                argv = sane_defaults;
+        }
 
 	if((argc >= 9) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
diff --git a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft.c b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft.c
index 04b4e0c5e01c7a20aa8f3094195ff153e2108974..dfb094736fb1bb7178e0d1519afc05ce045b049b 100644
--- a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft.c
+++ b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft.c
@@ -1273,11 +1273,33 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv
 	t_symbol	*s_hrir=gensym("L_HRIR");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_re=gensym("HRTF_re");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrtf_im=gensym("HRTF_im");
-  t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_atom sane_defaults[11];
+
+        if(!argc)
+        {
+                post("bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft: warning: no arguments "
+                     "provided: setting to "
+                     "[bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft 1 L_HRIR HRTF_re HRTF_im "
+                     "HRIR_win 1 2 1 1 0 512]");
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults, 0.);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+1, s_hrir);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+2, s_hrtf_re);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+3, s_hrtf_im);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+4, s_fade_out_hrir);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+5, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+6, 2.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+7, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+8, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+9, 0.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+10, 512.);
+                argc = 11;
+                argv = sane_defaults;
+        }
 
 	if((argc >= 11) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
-    IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
+		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,2) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,3) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,4) &&
@@ -1290,13 +1312,13 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv
 	{
 		prefix	= (int)atom_getintarg(0, argc, argv);
 
-		s_hrir								= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(1, argc, argv);
-		s_hrtf_re							= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(2, argc, argv);
-		s_hrtf_im							= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(3, argc, argv);
-		s_fade_out_hrir	      = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(4, argc, argv);
+		s_hrir	= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(1, argc, argv);
+		s_hrtf_re = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(2, argc, argv);
+		s_hrtf_im = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(3, argc, argv);
+		s_fade_out_hrir = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(4, argc, argv);
 
 		n_order		= (int)atom_getintarg(5, argc, argv);
-		n_dim			= (int)atom_getintarg(6, argc, argv);
+		n_dim		= (int)atom_getintarg(6, argc, argv);
 		n_ind_ls	= (int)atom_getintarg(7, argc, argv);
 		n_mrg_mir_ls	= (int)atom_getintarg(8, argc, argv);
 		n_ph_ls		= (int)atom_getintarg(9, argc, argv);
@@ -1306,7 +1328,7 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv
 	}
 	else if((argc >= 11) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
-    IS_A_FLOAT(argv,1) &&
+		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,1) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,2) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,3) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,4) &&
@@ -1319,9 +1341,9 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv
 	{
 		prefix	= (int)atom_getintarg(0, argc, argv);
 
-		s_hrir								= gensym("L_HRIR");
-		s_hrtf_re							= gensym("HRTF_re");
-		s_hrtf_im							= gensym("HRTF_im");
+		s_hrir	= gensym("L_HRIR");
+		s_hrtf_re = gensym("HRTF_re");
+		s_hrtf_im = gensym("HRTF_im");
 		s_fade_out_hrir	      = gensym("HRIR_win");
 
 		n_order	= (int)atom_getintarg(5, argc, argv);
diff --git a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft2.c b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft2.c
index 9d0e11db8d61e619461ad08d1d03f304a1e37b76..9f72be8e337a07bd90e881325e3c2ada2f9b831c 100644
--- a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft2.c
+++ b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft2.c
@@ -1161,7 +1161,28 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft2_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *arg
   t_symbol  *s_hrtf_re=gensym("HRTF_re");
   t_symbol  *s_hrtf_im=gensym("HRTF_im");
   t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+  t_atom sane_defaults[10];
   
+  if(!argc)
+  {
+    post("bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft2: warning: no arguments "
+         "provided: setting to "
+         "[bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fft2 1 L_HRIR HRTF_re HRTF_im "
+         "HRIR_win 1 2 1 0 512]");
+    SETFLOAT(sane_defaults, 0.);
+    SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+1, s_hrir);
+    SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+2, s_hrtf_re);
+    SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+3, s_hrtf_im);
+    SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+4, s_fade_out_hrir);
+    SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+5, 1.);
+    SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+6, 2.);
+    SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+7, 1.);
+    SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+8, 0.);
+    SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+9, 512.);
+    argc = 10;
+    argv = sane_defaults;
+  }
+
   if((argc >= 10) &&
     IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
     IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
diff --git a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir.c b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir.c
index 19783da07420b2bd850a9fe8eca785905d9ad786..fe95b120eff2657394ed21d7a6e193feefa685cc 100644
--- a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir.c
+++ b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir.c
@@ -1174,11 +1174,32 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv
 	int n_order=0, n_dim=0, n_ind_ls=0, n_mrg_mir_ls=0, n_ph_ls=0, n_ambi=0, firsize=0, prefix=0;
 	t_symbol	*s_hrir=gensym("L_HRIR");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrir_red=gensym("HRIR_red");
-  t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_atom sane_defaults[10];
+
+        if(!argc)
+        {
+                post("bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir: warning: no arguments "
+                     "provided: setting to "
+                     "[bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir 1 L_HRIR HRTF_red "
+                     "HRIR_win 1 2 1 1 0 512]");
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults, 0.);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+1, s_hrir);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+2, s_hrir_red);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+3, s_fade_out_hrir);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+4, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+5, 2.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+6, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+7, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+8, 0.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+9, 512.);
+                argc = 10;
+                argv = sane_defaults;
+        }
 
 	if((argc >= 10) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
-    IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
+		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,2) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,3) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,4) &&
@@ -1190,12 +1211,12 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *argv
 	{
 		prefix	= (int)atom_getintarg(0, argc, argv);
 
-		s_hrir								= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(1, argc, argv);
-		s_hrir_red						= (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(2, argc, argv);
-		s_fade_out_hrir	      = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(3, argc, argv);
+		s_hrir = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(1, argc, argv);
+		s_hrir_red = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(2, argc, argv);
+		s_fade_out_hrir = (t_symbol *)atom_getsymbolarg(3, argc, argv);
 
 		n_order		= (int)atom_getintarg(4, argc, argv);
-		n_dim			= (int)atom_getintarg(5, argc, argv);
+		n_dim		= (int)atom_getintarg(5, argc, argv);
 		n_ind_ls	= (int)atom_getintarg(6, argc, argv);
 		n_mrg_mir_ls	= (int)atom_getintarg(7, argc, argv);
 		n_ph_ls		= (int)atom_getintarg(8, argc, argv);
diff --git a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir2.c b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir2.c
index b491a31df8bf86ec3fcf642967fa6079a5e21194..88295c72690766032b582ba056caf6f7d045f201 100644
--- a/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir2.c
+++ b/externals/iem/iem_bin_ambi/src/bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir2.c
@@ -1057,11 +1057,31 @@ static void *bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir2_new(t_symbol *s, int argc, t_atom *arg
 	int n_order=0, n_dim=0, n_real_ls=0, n_pht_ls=0, n_ambi=0, firsize=0, prefix=0;
 	t_symbol	*s_hrir=gensym("L_HRIR");
 	t_symbol	*s_hrir_red=gensym("HRIR_red");
-  t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_symbol  *s_fade_out_hrir=gensym("HRIR_win");
+	t_atom sane_defaults[9];
+
+        if(!argc)
+        {
+                post("bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir2: warning: no arguments "
+                     "provided: setting to "
+                     "[bin_ambi_reduced_decode_fir2 1 L_HRIR HRIR_red "
+                     "HRIR_win 1 2 1 0 32]");
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults, 0.);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+1, s_hrir);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+2, s_hrir_red);
+                SETSYMBOL(sane_defaults+3, s_fade_out_hrir);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+4, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+5, 2.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+6, 1.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+7, 0.);
+                SETFLOAT(sane_defaults+8, 32.);
+                argc = 9;
+                argv = sane_defaults;
+        }
 
 	if((argc >= 9) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,0) &&
-    IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
+		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,1) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,2) &&
 		IS_A_SYMBOL(argv,3) &&
 		IS_A_FLOAT(argv,4) &&