diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/audio_mixer_user.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/audio_mixer_user.h
index eded75fc6..c060edd48 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/audio_mixer_user.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/audio_mixer_user.h
@@ -34,6 +34,14 @@
 #include "nel/sound/mixing_track.h"
 #include "nel/sound/sound.h"
 #include "nel/sound/music_channel_fader.h"
+#include "nel/sound/group_controller_root.h"
+
+// Current version is 2, Ryzom Live uses 1
+// Provided to allow compatibility with old binary files
+#define NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT 1
+#define NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_GROUP_CONTROLLER "effects"
+#define NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_MUSIC_GROUP_CONTROLLER "music"
+#define NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_STREAM_GROUP_CONTROLLER "dialog"
 
 namespace NLLIGO {
 	class CLigoConfig;
@@ -51,26 +59,6 @@ namespace NLSOUND {
 	class CMusicSoundManager;
 	class IReverbEffect;
 
-/// Hasher functor for hashed container with pointer key.
-template <class Pointer>
-struct THashPtr : public std::unary_function<const Pointer &, size_t>
-{
-	static const size_t bucket_size = 4;
-	static const size_t min_buckets = 8;
-	size_t operator () (const Pointer &ptr) const
-	{
-		//CHashSet<uint>::hasher	h;
-		// transtype the pointer into int then hash it
-		//return h.operator()(uint(uintptr_t(ptr)));
-		return (size_t)(uintptr_t)ptr;
-	}
-	inline bool operator() (const Pointer &ptr1, const Pointer &ptr2) const
-	{
-		// delegate the work to someone else as well?
-		return (uintptr_t)ptr1 < (uintptr_t)ptr2;
-	}
-};
-
 /**
  * Implementation of UAudioMixer
  *
@@ -197,6 +185,9 @@ public:
 	/// Get a TSoundId from a name (returns NULL if not found)
 	virtual TSoundId			getSoundId( const NLMISC::TStringId &name );
 
+	/// Gets the group controller for the given group tree path with separator '/', if it doesn't exist yet it will be created.
+	/// Examples: "music", "effects", "dialog", "music/background", "music/loading", "music/player", etcetera
+	virtual UGroupController *getGroupController(const std::string &path);
 
 	/** Add a logical sound source (returns NULL if name not found).
 	 * If spawn is true, the source will auto-delete after playing. If so, the return USource* pointer
@@ -431,9 +422,6 @@ private:
 	// utility function for automatic sample bank loading.
 	bool tryToLoadSampleBank(const std::string &sampleName);
 
-public:
-	typedef CHashSet<CSourceCommon*, THashPtr<CSourceCommon*> >					TSourceContainer;
-private:
 	typedef CHashSet<IMixerUpdate*, THashPtr<IMixerUpdate*> >						TMixerUpdateContainer;
 	typedef CHashMap<IBuffer*, std::vector<class CSound*>, THashPtr<IBuffer*> >	TBufferToSourceContainer;
 //	typedef std::multimap<NLMISC::TTime, IMixerEvent*>									TTimedEventContainer;
@@ -566,6 +554,9 @@ private:
 	// Instance of the background music manager
 	CMusicSoundManager			*_BackgroundMusicManager;
 
+	/// Group controller
+	CGroupControllerRoot		_GroupController;
+
 public:
 	struct TSampleBankHeader
 	{
diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/containers.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/containers.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bd4fe7fb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/containers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/**
+ * \file containers.h
+ * \brief CContainers
+ * \date 2012-04-10 13:57GMT
+ * \author Unknown (Unknown)
+ * CContainers
+ */
+
+/* 
+ * Copyright (C) 2012  by authors
+ * 
+ * This file is part of RYZOM CORE.
+ * RYZOM CORE is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ * 
+ * RYZOM CORE is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
+ * WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Affero General Public License for more details.
+ * 
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public
+ * License along with RYZOM CORE.  If not, see
+ * <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#ifndef NLSOUND_CONTAINERS_H
+#define NLSOUND_CONTAINERS_H
+#include <nel/misc/types_nl.h>
+
+// STL includes
+
+// NeL includes
+
+// Project includes
+
+namespace NLSOUND {
+	class CSourceCommon;
+
+/// Hasher functor for hashed container with pointer key.
+template <class Pointer>
+struct THashPtr : public std::unary_function<const Pointer &, size_t>
+{
+	static const size_t bucket_size = 4;
+	static const size_t min_buckets = 8;
+	size_t operator () (const Pointer &ptr) const
+	{
+		//CHashSet<uint>::hasher	h;
+		// transtype the pointer into int then hash it
+		//return h.operator()(uint(uintptr_t(ptr)));
+		return (size_t)(uintptr_t)ptr;
+	}
+	inline bool operator() (const Pointer &ptr1, const Pointer &ptr2) const
+	{
+		// delegate the work to someone else as well?
+		return (uintptr_t)ptr1 < (uintptr_t)ptr2;
+	}
+};
+
+typedef CHashSet<CSourceCommon*, THashPtr<CSourceCommon*> > TSourceContainer;
+
+} /* namespace NLSOUND */
+
+#endif /* #ifndef NLSOUND_CONTAINERS_H */
+
+/* end of file */
diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h
index 4c443a52d..d93fb8683 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller.h
@@ -35,13 +35,12 @@
 
 // NeL includes
 #include <nel/misc/common.h>
-#include <nel/sound/audio_mixer_user.h>
 #include <nel/sound/u_group_controller.h>
+#include <nel/sound/containers.h>
 
 // Project includes
 
 namespace NLSOUND {
-	class CSourceCommon;
 	class CGroupControllerRoot;
 
 /**
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ private:
 	float m_FinalGain;
 
 	int m_NbSourcesInclChild;
-	CAudioMixerUser::TSourceContainer m_Sources;
+	TSourceContainer m_Sources;
 
 public:
 	CGroupController(CGroupController *parent);
@@ -83,8 +82,12 @@ public:
 	void addSource(CSourceCommon *source);
 	void removeSource(CSourceCommon *source);
 
-private:
+	virtual std::string getPath();
+
+protected:
 	virtual ~CGroupController(); // subnodes can only be deleted by the root
+
+private:
 	inline float calculateTotalGain() { return m_DevGain * m_UserGain; }
 	virtual void calculateFinalGain();
 	virtual void increaseSources();
diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller_root.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller_root.h
index 82c3af849..5d47ff50a 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller_root.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/group_controller_root.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ public:
 	CGroupController *getGroupController(const std::string &path);
 
 protected:
+	virtual std::string getPath();
 	virtual void calculateFinalGain();
 	virtual void increaseSources();
 	virtual void decreaseSources();
diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/sound.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/sound.h
index ef0e62f72..7d7542fc9 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/sound.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/sound.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public:
 	/// Return the max distance (if detailed())
 	virtual float		getMaxDistance() const				{ return _MaxDist; }
 
-	inline CGroupController *getGroupController() const { return NULL; } // TODO, RETURN THE GROUP CONTROLLER
+	inline CGroupController *getGroupController() const { return _GroupController; }
 
 	/// Set looping
 	void				setLooping( bool looping ) { _Looping = looping; }
@@ -145,6 +145,9 @@ protected:
 	/// An optional user var controler.
 	NLMISC::TStringId	_UserVarControler;
 
+	/// The group controller, always exists, owned by the audio mixer
+	CGroupController	*_GroupController;
+
 };
 
 
diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_audio_mixer.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_audio_mixer.h
index b6016d079..c4702c3f8 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_audio_mixer.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_audio_mixer.h
@@ -286,6 +286,10 @@ public:
 	/// Get a TSoundId from a name (returns NULL if not found)
 	virtual TSoundId	getSoundId( const NLMISC::TStringId &name ) = 0;
 
+	/// Gets the group controller for the given group tree path with separator '/', if it doesn't exist yet it will be created.
+	/// Examples: "music", "effects", "dialog", "music/background", "music/loading", "music/player", etcetera
+	virtual UGroupController *getGroupController(const std::string &path) = 0;
+
 	/** Add a logical sound source (returns NULL if name not found).
 	 * If spawn is true, the source will auto-delete after playing. If so, the return USource* pointer
 	 * is valid only before the time when calling play() plus the duration of the sound. You can
diff --git a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h
index 0e8eeed47..a74e9da73 100644
--- a/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h
+++ b/code/nel/include/nel/sound/u_group_controller.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class UGroupController
 	virtual float getUserGain() = 0;
 
 protected:
-	virtual ~UGroupController();
+	virtual ~UGroupController() { }
 
 }; /* class UGroupController */
 
diff --git a/code/nel/src/sound/audio_mixer_user.cpp b/code/nel/src/sound/audio_mixer_user.cpp
index 5ee4907c5..e03b1ae00 100644
--- a/code/nel/src/sound/audio_mixer_user.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/src/sound/audio_mixer_user.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 #include "nel/sound/sample_bank.h"
 #include "nel/sound/sound_bank.h"
 #include "nel/sound/group_controller.h"
+#include "nel/sound/containers.h"
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace NLMISC;
@@ -1827,6 +1828,10 @@ bool CAudioMixerUser::tryToLoadSampleBank(const std::string &sampleName)
 	}
 }
 
+UGroupController *CAudioMixerUser::getGroupController(const std::string &path)
+{
+	return static_cast<UGroupController *>(_GroupController.getGroupController(path));
+}
 
 // ******************************************************************
 
diff --git a/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller.cpp b/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller.cpp
index 405be5d4e..86f46301e 100644
--- a/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,22 @@ void CGroupController::removeSource(CSourceCommon *source)
 	m_Sources.erase(source);
 }
 
+std::string CGroupController::getPath() // overridden by root
+{
+	for (std::map<std::string, CGroupController *>::iterator it(m_Parent->m_Children.begin()), end(m_Parent->m_Children.end()); it != end; ++it)
+	{
+		if (it->second == this)
+		{
+			const std::string &name = it->first;
+			std::string returnPath = m_Parent->getPath() + "/" + name;
+			if (returnPath[0] == '/')
+				returnPath = returnPath.substr(1);
+			return returnPath;
+		}
+	}
+	
+}
+
 void CGroupController::calculateFinalGain() // overridden by root
 {
 	m_FinalGain = calculateTotalGain() * m_Parent->getFinalGain();
@@ -83,7 +99,7 @@ void CGroupController::updateSourceGain()
 	if (m_NbSourcesInclChild)
 	{
 		calculateFinalGain();
-		for (CAudioMixerUser::TSourceContainer::iterator it(m_Sources.begin()), end(m_Sources.end()); it != end; ++it)
+		for (TSourceContainer::iterator it(m_Sources.begin()), end(m_Sources.end()); it != end; ++it)
 			(*it)->updateFinalGain();
 		for (std::map<std::string, CGroupController *>::iterator it(m_Children.begin()), end(m_Children.end()); it != end; ++it)
 			(*it).second->updateSourceGain();
diff --git a/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller_root.cpp b/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller_root.cpp
index c5305e061..f49a40fff 100644
--- a/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller_root.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/src/sound/group_controller_root.cpp
@@ -51,12 +51,17 @@ CGroupControllerRoot::~CGroupControllerRoot()
 	
 }
 
+std::string CGroupControllerRoot::getPath()
+{
+	return "";
+}
+
 void CGroupControllerRoot::calculateFinalGain()
 {
 	m_FinalGain = calculateTotalGain();
 }
 
-void CGroupController::increaseSources()
+void CGroupControllerRoot::increaseSources()
 {
 	++m_NbSourcesInclChild;
 
@@ -65,7 +70,7 @@ void CGroupController::increaseSources()
 		updateSourceGain();
 }
 
-void CGroupController::decreaseSources()
+void CGroupControllerRoot::decreaseSources()
 {
 	--m_NbSourcesInclChild;
 }
diff --git a/code/nel/src/sound/music_sound.cpp b/code/nel/src/sound/music_sound.cpp
index 2b192c3c6..f95edfb26 100644
--- a/code/nel/src/sound/music_sound.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/src/sound/music_sound.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@
 #include "nel/misc/path.h"
 #include "nel/georges/u_form_elm.h"
 
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+#	include "nel/sound/audio_mixer_user.h"
+#endif
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace NLMISC;
@@ -72,6 +75,10 @@ void		CMusicSound::importForm(const std::string& filename, NLGEORGES::UFormElm&
 	root.getValueByName(_MinimumPlayTime, ".SoundType.MinimumPlayTime");
 	root.getValueByName(_TimeBeforeCanReplay, ".SoundType.TimeBeforeCanReplay");
 
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+	_GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_MUSIC_GROUP_CONTROLLER));
+#endif
+
 }
 
 // ***************************************************************************
@@ -97,6 +104,11 @@ void		CMusicSound::serial(NLMISC::IStream &s)
 	CStringMapper::serialString(s, _FileName);
 	s.serial(_FadeInLength, _FadeOutLength);
 	s.serial(_MinimumPlayTime, _TimeBeforeCanReplay);
+	
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+	if (s.isReading()) _GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_MUSIC_GROUP_CONTROLLER));
+#endif
+	
 }
 
 // ***************************************************************************
diff --git a/code/nel/src/sound/sound.cpp b/code/nel/src/sound/sound.cpp
index eed318cca..a943fa543 100644
--- a/code/nel/src/sound/sound.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/src/sound/sound.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 #include "nel/sound/music_sound.h"
 #include "nel/sound/stream_sound.h"
 
+#include "nel/sound/group_controller.h"
+
 using namespace std;
 using namespace NLMISC;
 
@@ -134,6 +136,23 @@ void	CSound::serial(NLMISC::IStream &s)
 		std::string name = CStringMapper::unmap(_Name);
 		s.serial(name);
 	}
+	
+	nlassert(CAudioMixerUser::instance()); // not sure
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+	if (s.isReading()) _GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_GROUP_CONTROLLER));
+#else
+	if (s.isReading())
+	{
+		std::string groupControllerPath;
+		s.serial(groupControllerPath);
+		_GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(groupControllerPath));
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		std::string groupControllerPath = _GroupController->getPath();
+		s.serial(groupControllerPath);
+	}
+#endif
 }
 
 
@@ -225,6 +244,15 @@ void				CSound::importForm(const std::string& filename, NLGEORGES::UFormElm& roo
 	default:
 		_Priority = MidPri;
 	}
+
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+	_GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_GROUP_CONTROLLER));
+#else
+	std::string groupControllerPath;
+	root.getValueByName(groupControllerPath, ".GroupControllerPath");
+	_GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(groupControllerPath));
+#endif
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/code/nel/src/sound/stream_sound.cpp b/code/nel/src/sound/stream_sound.cpp
index 347fae987..7addbbe0a 100644
--- a/code/nel/src/sound/stream_sound.cpp
+++ b/code/nel/src/sound/stream_sound.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@
 #include "stdsound.h"
 #include "nel/sound/stream_sound.h"
 
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+#	include "nel/sound/audio_mixer_user.h"
+#endif
+
 namespace NLSOUND {
 
 CStreamSound::CStreamSound()
@@ -51,6 +55,11 @@ void CStreamSound::importForm(const std::string &filename, NLGEORGES::UFormElm &
 
 	// Alpha
 	root.getValueByName(m_Alpha, ".SoundType.Alpha");
+
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+	_GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_STREAM_GROUP_CONTROLLER));
+#endif
+
 }
 
 void CStreamSound::serial(NLMISC::IStream &s)
@@ -59,6 +68,11 @@ void CStreamSound::serial(NLMISC::IStream &s)
 
 	s.serial(_MinDist);
 	s.serial(m_Alpha);
+
+#if NLSOUND_SHEET_VERSION_BUILT < 2
+	if (s.isReading()) _GroupController = static_cast<CGroupController *>(CAudioMixerUser::instance()->getGroupController(NLSOUND_SHEET_V1_DEFAULT_SOUND_STREAM_GROUP_CONTROLLER));
+#endif
+
 }
 
 } /* namespace NLSOUND */