diff --git a/src/bin/main.rs b/src/bin/main.rs
index f41ba18..a6b8d89 100644
--- a/src/bin/main.rs
+++ b/src/bin/main.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 use anyhow::{anyhow, Result};
-use midi_keys::{log::load_raw_log, parser::parse_message};
+use midi_keys::{log::load_raw_log, midi::daemon::Category, parser::parse_message};
 //use enigo::{Direction, Enigo, Key, Keyboard, Settings};
 use midir::{MidiInput, MidiInputPort};
 
@@ -13,14 +13,24 @@ fn main() {
     //enigo.text("echo \"hello world\"").unwrap();
     //enigo.key(Key::Return, Direction::Press).unwrap();
 
-    midi_keys::midi::daemon::run_daemon();
-    midi_keys::ui::run();
+    let (send, receive) = crossbeam::channel::unbounded();
+    let all = Category::All;
 
+    std::thread::spawn(move || {
+        midi_keys::midi::daemon::run_daemon(vec![(all, send)]);
+    });
+
+    std::thread::spawn(move || loop {
+        match receive.recv() {
+            Ok(m) => println!("got: {m:?}"),
+            Err(err) => println!("err: {err:?}"),
+        }
+    });
+
+    midi_keys::ui::run();
 }
 
 pub fn run() -> Result<()> {
-    midi_keys::midi::daemon::run_daemon();
-
     let midi_in = MidiInput::new("keyboard")?;
 
     let midi_device = match find_first_midi_device(&midi_in) {
diff --git a/src/midi/daemon.rs b/src/midi/daemon.rs
index fe070f0..a703b2c 100644
--- a/src/midi/daemon.rs
+++ b/src/midi/daemon.rs
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@
-use std::{
-    collections::HashMap,
-    sync::mpsc::{self, Receiver, Sender},
-};
+use std::{collections::HashMap, time::Duration};
 
+use crossbeam::{
+    channel::{Receiver, Sender},
+    select,
+};
 use midir::{MidiInput, MidiInputConnection, MidiInputPort};
 
 use crate::parser::parse_message;
 
 use super::Message;
 
-enum Category {
+pub enum Category {
+    All,
     Drums,
     WindSynth,
     Piano,
@@ -35,31 +37,54 @@ enum Category {
 type ConnectionId = String;
 type Timestamp = u64;
 type TimestampedMessage = (Timestamp, Message);
+type CTM = (ConnectionId, Timestamp, Message);
 
-pub fn run_daemon() {
+type MidiSend = crossbeam::channel::Sender<CTM>;
+type MidiRecv = crossbeam::channel::Receiver<CTM>;
+
+pub fn run_daemon(routes: Vec<(Category, MidiSend)>) {
     let mut state = State::new();
+    let messages = state.message_queue();
+
+    let ticker = crossbeam::channel::tick(Duration::from_millis(250));
 
     loop {
-        state.refresh_ports();
-        std::thread::sleep_ms(250);
+        select! {
+            recv(ticker) -> m => match m {
+                Ok(ts) => {
+                    println!("refreshing ports at {ts:?}");
+                    state.refresh_ports();
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    println!("borken {e:?}");
+                }
+            },
+            recv(messages) -> m => match m {
+                Ok(ctm) => {
+                    for (_cat, q) in routes.iter() {
+                        q.send(ctm.clone());
+                    }
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    println!("borken2 {e:?}");
+                }
+            },
+        }
     }
 }
 
 pub struct State {
     midi: MidiInput,
     ports: Vec<MidiInputPort>,
-    connections: HashMap<
-        String,
-        MidiInputConnection<(ConnectionId, Sender<(ConnectionId, TimestampedMessage)>)>,
-    >,
+    connections: HashMap<String, MidiInputConnection<(ConnectionId, Sender<CTM>)>>,
 
-    message_receive: Receiver<(ConnectionId, TimestampedMessage)>,
-    message_send: Sender<(ConnectionId, TimestampedMessage)>,
+    message_receive: Receiver<CTM>,
+    message_send: Sender<CTM>,
 }
 
 impl State {
     pub fn new() -> State {
-        let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel();
+        let (tx, rx) = crossbeam::channel::unbounded();
 
         State {
             midi: MidiInput::new("midi-keys daemon").expect("could not connect to system MIDI"),
@@ -70,24 +95,21 @@ impl State {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn refresh_ports(&mut self) {
-        let start = std::time::Instant::now();
+    pub fn message_queue(&self) -> Receiver<CTM> {
+        self.message_receive.clone()
+    }
 
+    pub fn refresh_ports(&mut self) {
         let ports = self.midi.ports();
         for port in ports.iter() {
             self.refresh_port(port);
         }
         self.ports = ports;
-
-        let duration = std::time::Instant::now().duration_since(start).as_micros();
-        println!("refreshing ports took {} microseconds", duration);
     }
 
     pub fn refresh_port(&mut self, port: &MidiInputPort) {
-        let start = std::time::Instant::now();
         let connected = self.connections.contains_key(&port.id());
 
-        println!("checking conn took {} microseconds", std::time::Instant::now().duration_since(start).as_micros());
         let name = match self.midi.port_name(port) {
             Ok(s) => s,
             Err(_) => {
@@ -99,16 +121,12 @@ impl State {
             }
         };
 
-        println!("getting name took {} microseconds", std::time::Instant::now().duration_since(start).as_micros());
-
         if connected {
             return;
         }
 
         let midi = MidiInput::new("midi-keys").expect("could not connect to system MIDI");
-        println!("midi input init took {} microseconds", std::time::Instant::now().duration_since(start).as_micros());
         let send_queue = self.message_send.clone();
-        println!("cloning queue took {} microseconds", std::time::Instant::now().duration_since(start).as_micros());
 
         if let Ok(conn) = midi.connect(
             &port,
@@ -120,19 +138,12 @@ impl State {
         ) {
             self.connections.insert(port.id(), conn);
         }
-        println!("midi conn took {} microseconds", std::time::Instant::now().duration_since(start).as_micros());
     }
 }
 
-fn handle_message(
-    ts: Timestamp,
-    bytes: &[u8],
-    conn_id: &ConnectionId,
-    tx: &Sender<(ConnectionId, TimestampedMessage)>,
-) {
+fn handle_message(ts: Timestamp, bytes: &[u8], conn_id: &ConnectionId, tx: &Sender<CTM>) {
     if let Ok((_rem, msg)) = parse_message(bytes) {
-        let _ = tx.send((conn_id.clone(), (ts, msg)));
+        let _ = tx.send((conn_id.clone(), ts, msg));
     }
 }
 // TODO: chain of handlers? -> handle event as keypress, send to UI
-