diff --git a/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_folder.go b/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_folder.go
index f303ca4..8aae0d5 100644
--- a/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_folder.go
+++ b/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_folder.go
@@ -97,12 +97,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetMusicDirectory(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 // getAlbumListTwo() function
 func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumList(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	listType := params.Get("type")
-	if listType == "" {
-		return spec.NewError(10, "please provide a `type` parameter")
-	}
 	q := c.DB.DB
-	switch listType {
+	switch v, _ := params.Get("type"); v {
 	case "alphabeticalByArtist":
 		q = q.Joins(`
 			JOIN albums parent_albums
@@ -129,7 +125,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumList(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 			user.ID)
 		q = q.Order("plays.time DESC")
 	default:
-		return spec.NewError(10, "unknown value `%s` for parameter 'type'", listType)
+		return spec.NewError(10, "unknown value `%s` for parameter 'type'", v)
 	}
 	var folders []*db.Album
 	// TODO: think about removing this extra join to count number
@@ -139,8 +135,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumList(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		Joins("LEFT JOIN tracks ON tracks.album_id=albums.id").
 		Group("albums.id").
 		Where("albums.tag_artist_id IS NOT NULL").
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("offset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("size", 10)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("offset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("size", 10)).
 		Preload("Parent").
 		Find(&folders)
 	sub := spec.NewResponse()
@@ -155,8 +151,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumList(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 
 func (c *Controller) ServeSearchTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	query := params.Get("query")
-	if query == "" {
+	query, err := params.Get("query")
+	if err != nil {
 		return spec.NewError(10, "please provide a `query` parameter")
 	}
 	query = fmt.Sprintf("%%%s%%", strings.TrimSuffix(query, "*"))
@@ -169,8 +165,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeSearchTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 			AND (	right_path LIKE ? OR
 					right_path_u_dec LIKE ?	)`,
 			query, query).
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("artistOffset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("artistCount", 20)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("artistOffset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("artistCount", 20)).
 		Find(&artists)
 	for _, a := range artists {
 		results.Artists = append(results.Artists,
@@ -184,8 +180,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeSearchTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 			AND (	right_path LIKE ? OR
 					right_path_u_dec LIKE ?	)`,
 			query, query).
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("albumOffset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("albumCount", 20)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("albumOffset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("albumCount", 20)).
 		Find(&albums)
 	for _, a := range albums {
 		results.Albums = append(results.Albums, spec.NewTCAlbumByFolder(a))
@@ -196,8 +192,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeSearchTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		Preload("Album").
 		Where("filename LIKE ? OR filename_u_dec LIKE ?",
 			query, query).
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("songOffset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("songCount", 20)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("songOffset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("songCount", 20)).
 		Find(&tracks)
 	for _, t := range tracks {
 		results.Tracks = append(results.Tracks,
diff --git a/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_tags.go b/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_tags.go
index 49538ea..d7fe0f5 100644
--- a/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_tags.go
+++ b/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_by_tags.go
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbum(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 // getAlbumList() function
 func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumListTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	listType := params.Get("type")
-	if listType == "" {
+	listType, err := params.Get("type")
+	if err != nil {
 		return spec.NewError(10, "please provide a `type` parameter")
 	}
 	q := c.DB.DB
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumListTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	case "byYear":
 		q = q.Where(
 			"tag_year BETWEEN ? AND ?",
-			params.GetIntOr("fromYear", 1800),
-			params.GetIntOr("toYear", 2200))
+			params.GetOrInt("fromYear", 1800),
+			params.GetOrInt("toYear", 2200))
 		q = q.Order("tag_year")
 	case "byGenre":
 		q = q.Joins("JOIN genres ON albums.tag_genre_id=genres.id AND genres.name=?",
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumListTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		Joins("LEFT JOIN tracks ON tracks.album_id=albums.id").
 		Group("albums.id").
 		Where("albums.tag_artist_id IS NOT NULL").
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("offset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("size", 10)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("offset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("size", 10)).
 		Preload("TagArtist").
 		Find(&albums)
 	sub := spec.NewResponse()
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetAlbumListTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 
 func (c *Controller) ServeSearchThree(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	query := params.Get("query")
-	if query == "" {
+	query, err := params.Get("query")
+	if err != nil {
 		return spec.NewError(10, "please provide a `query` parameter")
 	}
 	query = fmt.Sprintf("%%%s%%",
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeSearchThree(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	c.DB.
 		Where("name LIKE ? OR name_u_dec LIKE ?",
 			query, query).
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("artistOffset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("artistCount", 20)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("artistOffset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("artistCount", 20)).
 		Find(&artists)
 	for _, a := range artists {
 		results.Artists = append(results.Artists,
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeSearchThree(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		Preload("TagArtist").
 		Where("tag_title LIKE ? OR tag_title_u_dec LIKE ?",
 			query, query).
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("albumOffset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("albumCount", 20)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("albumOffset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("albumCount", 20)).
 		Find(&albums)
 	for _, a := range albums {
 		results.Albums = append(results.Albums,
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeSearchThree(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		Preload("Album").
 		Where("tag_title LIKE ? OR tag_title_u_dec LIKE ?",
 			query, query).
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("songOffset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("songCount", 20)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("songOffset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("songCount", 20)).
 		Find(&tracks)
 	for _, t := range tracks {
 		results.Tracks = append(results.Tracks,
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeSearchThree(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 
 func (c *Controller) ServeGetArtistInfoTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	id, err := params.GetInt("id")
+	id, err := params.GetIDDefault()
 	if err != nil {
 		return spec.NewError(10, "please provide an `id` parameter")
 	}
@@ -246,8 +246,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetArtistInfoTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 			sub.ArtistInfoTwo.LargeImageURL = image.Text
 		}
 	}
-	count := params.GetIntOr("count", 20)
-	includeNotPresent := params.Get("includeNotPresent") == "true"
+	count := params.GetOrInt("count", 20)
+	inclNotPresent := params.GetOrBool("includeNotPresent", false)
 	for i, similarInfo := range info.Similar.Artists {
 		if i == count {
 			break
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetArtistInfoTwo(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 			Group("artists.id").
 			Find(artist).
 			Error
-		if gorm.IsRecordNotFoundError(err) && !includeNotPresent {
+		if gorm.IsRecordNotFoundError(err) && !inclNotPresent {
 			continue
 		}
 		similar := &spec.SimilarArtist{ID: -1}
@@ -295,8 +295,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetGenres(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 
 func (c *Controller) ServeGetSongsByGenre(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	genre := params.Get("genre")
-	if genre == "" {
+	genre, err := params.Get("genre")
+	if err != nil {
 		return spec.NewError(10, "please provide an `genre` parameter")
 	}
 	// TODO: add musicFolderId parameter
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetSongsByGenre(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		Joins("JOIN albums ON tracks.album_id=albums.id").
 		Joins("JOIN genres ON tracks.tag_genre_id=genres.id AND genres.name=?", genre).
 		Preload("Album").
-		Offset(params.GetIntOr("offset", 0)).
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("count", 10)).
+		Offset(params.GetOrInt("offset", 0)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("count", 10)).
 		Find(&tracks)
 	sub := spec.NewResponse()
 	sub.TracksByGenre = &spec.TracksByGenre{
diff --git a/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_common.go b/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_common.go
index c2482e1..a5a62e2 100644
--- a/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_common.go
+++ b/server/ctrlsubsonic/handlers_common.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"sort"
-	"strconv"
 	"time"
 	"unicode"
 
@@ -59,8 +58,8 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeScrobble(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		Track: track,
 		// clients will provide time in miliseconds, so use that or
 		// instead convert UnixNano to miliseconds
-		StampMili:  params.GetIntOr("time", int(time.Now().UnixNano()/1e6)),
-		Submission: params.GetOr("submission", "true") != "false",
+		StampMili:  params.GetOrInt("time", int(time.Now().UnixNano()/1e6)),
+		Submission: params.GetOrBool("submission", true),
 	}
 	err = lastfm.Scrobble(
 		c.DB.GetSetting("lastfm_api_key"),
@@ -179,10 +178,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetPlaylist(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 func (c *Controller) ServeUpdatePlaylist(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	user := r.Context().Value(CtxUser).(*db.User)
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	var playlistID int
-	if p := params.GetFirstList("id", "playlistId"); p != nil {
-		playlistID, _ = strconv.Atoi(p[0])
-	}
+	playlistID := params.GetFirstOrInt( /* default */ 0, "id", "playlistId")
 	// playlistID may be 0 from above. in that case we get a new playlist
 	// as intended
 	var playlist db.Playlist
@@ -191,22 +187,22 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeUpdatePlaylist(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		FirstOrCreate(&playlist)
 	// ** begin update meta info
 	playlist.UserID = user.ID
-	if val := params.Get("name"); val != "" {
+	if val, err := params.Get("name"); err != nil {
 		playlist.Name = val
 	}
-	if val := params.Get("comment"); val != "" {
+	if val, err := params.Get("comment"); err != nil {
 		playlist.Comment = val
 	}
 	trackIDs := playlist.GetItems()
 	// ** begin delete items
-	if p := params.GetFirstListInt("songIndexToRemove"); p != nil {
+	if p, err := params.GetIntList("songIndexToRemove"); err == nil {
 		sort.Sort(sort.Reverse(sort.IntSlice(p)))
 		for _, i := range p {
 			trackIDs = append(trackIDs[:i], trackIDs[i+1:]...)
 		}
 	}
 	// ** begin add items
-	if p := params.GetFirstListInt("songId", "songIdToAdd"); p != nil {
+	if p, err := params.GetFirstIntList("songId", "songIdToAdd"); err == nil {
 		trackIDs = append(trackIDs, p...)
 	}
 	//
@@ -218,7 +214,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeUpdatePlaylist(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 func (c *Controller) ServeDeletePlaylist(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
 	c.DB.
-		Where("id=?", params.GetIntOr("id", 0)).
+		Where("id=?", params.GetOrInt("id", 0)).
 		Delete(&db.Playlist{})
 	return spec.NewResponse()
 }
@@ -255,16 +251,16 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetPlayQueue(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 
 func (c *Controller) ServeSavePlayQueue(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-	tracks := params.GetFirstListInt("id")
-	if tracks == nil {
+	tracks, err := params.GetIntList("id")
+	if err != nil {
 		return spec.NewError(10, "please provide some `id` parameters")
 	}
 	user := r.Context().Value(CtxUser).(*db.User)
 	queue := &db.PlayQueue{UserID: user.ID}
 	c.DB.Where(queue).First(queue)
-	queue.Current = params.GetIntOr("current", 0)
-	queue.Position = params.GetIntOr("position", 0)
-	queue.ChangedBy = params.Get("c")
+	queue.Current = params.GetOrInt("current", 0)
+	queue.Position = params.GetOrInt("position", 0)
+	queue.ChangedBy = params.GetOr("c", "") // must exist, middleware checks
 	queue.SetItems(tracks)
 	c.DB.Save(queue)
 	return spec.NewResponse()
@@ -295,7 +291,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetRandomSongs(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	var tracks []*db.Track
 	q := c.DB.DB.
 		Joins("JOIN albums ON tracks.album_id=albums.id").
-		Limit(params.GetIntOr("size", 10)).
+		Limit(params.GetOrInt("size", 10)).
 		Preload("Album").
 		Order(gorm.Expr("random()"))
 	if year, err := params.GetInt("fromYear"); err == nil {
@@ -304,7 +300,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeGetRandomSongs(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	if year, err := params.GetInt("toYear"); err == nil {
 		q = q.Where("albums.tag_year <= ?", year)
 	}
-	if genre := params.Get("genre"); genre != "" {
+	if genre, err := params.Get("genre"); err == nil {
 		q = q.Joins(
 			"JOIN genres ON tracks.tag_genre_id=genres.id AND genres.name=?",
 			genre,
@@ -324,7 +320,10 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeJukebox(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 	params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
 	getTracks := func() []*db.Track {
 		var tracks []*db.Track
-		ids := params.GetFirstListInt("id")
+		ids, err := params.GetIDList("id")
+		if err != nil {
+			return tracks
+		}
 		for _, id := range ids {
 			track := &db.Track{}
 			c.DB.Preload("Album").First(track, id)
@@ -351,7 +350,7 @@ func (c *Controller) ServeJukebox(r *http.Request) *spec.Response {
 		}
 		return ret
 	}
-	switch act := params.Get("action"); act {
+	switch act, _ := params.Get("action"); act {
 	case "set":
 		c.Jukebox.SetTracks(getTracks())
 	case "add":
diff --git a/server/ctrlsubsonic/middleware.go b/server/ctrlsubsonic/middleware.go
index c301a5a..3d4daf4 100644
--- a/server/ctrlsubsonic/middleware.go
+++ b/server/ctrlsubsonic/middleware.go
@@ -41,13 +41,11 @@ func (c *Controller) WithRequiredParams(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
 	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
 		for _, req := range requiredParameters {
-			param := params.Get(req)
-			if param != "" {
-				continue
+			if _, err := params.Get(req); err != nil {
+				_ = writeResp(w, r, spec.NewError(10,
+					"please provide a `%s` parameter", req))
+				return
 			}
-			_ = writeResp(w, r, spec.NewError(10,
-				"please provide a `%s` parameter", req))
-			return
 		}
 		next.ServeHTTP(w, r)
 	})
@@ -56,10 +54,11 @@ func (c *Controller) WithRequiredParams(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
 func (c *Controller) WithUser(next http.Handler) http.Handler {
 	return http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		params := r.Context().Value(CtxParams).(params.Params)
-		username := params.Get("u")
-		password := params.Get("p")
-		token := params.Get("t")
-		salt := params.Get("s")
+		// ignoring errors here, a middleware has already ensured they exist
+		username, _ := params.Get("u")
+		password, _ := params.Get("p")
+		token, _ := params.Get("t")
+		salt, _ := params.Get("s")
 		//
 		passwordAuth := token == "" && salt == ""
 		tokenAuth := password == ""