diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4d52c10..f2e2609 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ set(SOURCES
     src/database/SongRepository.cpp
     src/database/UserRepository.cpp
     src/database/YearRepository.cpp
+    src/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.cpp
     src/Main.cpp
     src/manager/AlbumManager.cpp
     src/manager/ArtistManager.cpp
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ set(HEADERS
     include/dto/LoginResultDto.hpp
     include/dto/SongDto.hpp
     include/dto/YearDto.hpp
+    include/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.h
     include/manager/AlbumManager.h
     include/manager/ArtistManager.h
     include/manager/CoverArtManager.h
diff --git a/include/controller/LoginController.hpp b/include/controller/LoginController.hpp
index 0d51079..78bcbbf 100644
--- a/include/controller/LoginController.hpp
+++ b/include/controller/LoginController.hpp
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@
 #include "oatpp/web/server/api/ApiController.hpp"
 
 #include "dto/LoginResultDto.hpp"
+#include "dto/conversion/DtoConversions.h"
 #include "manager/TokenManager.h"
 #include "manager/UserManager.h"
 #include "model/Models.h"
 
 namespace controller {
-class LoginController : public oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController
-{
+class LoginController : public oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController {
 public:
     LoginController(std::string p, OATPP_COMPONENT(std::shared_ptr<ObjectMapper>, objectMapper))
         : oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController(objectMapper), exe_path(p)
@@ -32,29 +32,21 @@ public:
         OATPP_LOGI("icarus", "logging in");
 
         manager::UserManager usrMgr(m_bConf);
-        auto user = manager::UserManager::userDtoConv(usr);
+        auto user = dto::conversion::DtoConversions::toUser(usr);
 
-        if (!usrMgr.doesUserExist(user)) {
+        if (!usrMgr.doesUserExist(user) || !usrMgr.validatePassword(user)) {
+            auto logRes = dto::LoginResultDto::createShared();
+            logRes->message = "invalid credentials";
             std::cout << "user does not exist" << std::endl;
-            return createResponse(Status::CODE_401, "invalid credentials");
+            return createDtoResponse(Status::CODE_401, logRes);
         }
 
         std::cout << "user exists" << std::endl;
 
-        if (!usrMgr.validatePassword(user)) {
-            std::cout << "password is not valid" << std::endl;
-            return createResponse(Status::CODE_401, "invalid credentials");
-        }
-
         manager::TokenManager tok;
         auto token = tok.retrieveToken(m_bConf);
 
-        auto logRes = dto::LoginResultDto::createShared();
-        logRes->id = 0; // TODO: change this later on to something meaningful or remove it
-        logRes->username = usr->username->c_str();
-        logRes->token = token.accessToken.c_str();
-        logRes->token_type = token.tokenType.c_str();
-        logRes->expiration = token.expiration;
+        auto logRes = dto::conversion::DtoConversions::toLoginResultDto(user, token);
         logRes->message = "Successful";
 
         return createDtoResponse(Status::CODE_200, logRes);
diff --git a/include/controller/RegisterController.hpp b/include/controller/RegisterController.hpp
index 6724501..b1b3fc7 100644
--- a/include/controller/RegisterController.hpp
+++ b/include/controller/RegisterController.hpp
@@ -9,27 +9,28 @@
 #include "oatpp/web/server/api/ApiController.hpp"
 
 #include "dto/LoginResultDto.hpp"
+#include "dto/conversion/DtoConversions.h"
 #include "manager/UserManager.h"
 #include "model/Models.h"
 
-namespace controller
-{
-    class RegisterController : public oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController
-    {
+namespace controller {
+    class RegisterController : public oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController {
     public:
         RegisterController(const model::BinaryPath& bConf, 
-                            OATPP_COMPONENT(std::shared_ptr<ObjectMapper>, objectMapper)) :
+            OATPP_COMPONENT(std::shared_ptr<ObjectMapper>, objectMapper)) :
             oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController(objectMapper), m_bConf(bConf) { }
 
         #include OATPP_CODEGEN_BEGIN(ApiController)
 
-        ENDPOINT("POST", "api/v1/register", registerUser, BODY_DTO(dto::UserDto::ObjectWrapper, usr)) {
+        ENDPOINT("POST", "api/v1/register", registerUser, 
+            BODY_DTO(dto::UserDto::ObjectWrapper, usr)) {
             manager::UserManager usrMgr(m_bConf);
-            auto user = usrMgr.userDtoConv(usr);
+            auto user = dto::conversion::DtoConversions::toUser(usr);
 
-            usrMgr.registerUser(user);
+            auto res = usrMgr.registerUser(user);
+            auto registerResult = dto::conversion::DtoConversions::toRegisterResultDto(res);
 
-            return createResponse(Status::CODE_200, "Reg");
+            return createDtoResponse(Status::CODE_200, registerResult);
         }
         #include OATPP_CODEGEN_END(ApiController)
     private:
diff --git a/include/controller/SongController.hpp b/include/controller/SongController.hpp
index 07baa28..1aab05d 100644
--- a/include/controller/SongController.hpp
+++ b/include/controller/SongController.hpp
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@
 namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
 namespace controller {
-class SongController : public oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController
-{
+class SongController : public oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController {
 public:
     SongController(std::string p, OATPP_COMPONENT(std::shared_ptr<ObjectMapper>, objectMapper))
         : oatpp::web::server::api::ApiController(objectMapper), m_exe_path(p)
diff --git a/include/dto/LoginResultDto.hpp b/include/dto/LoginResultDto.hpp
index 43f22d6..1f0548e 100644
--- a/include/dto/LoginResultDto.hpp
+++ b/include/dto/LoginResultDto.hpp
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 #include "oatpp/core/data/mapping/type/Object.hpp"
 #include "oatpp/core/macro/codegen.hpp"
 
-namespace dto
-{
+#include "model/Models.h"
+
+namespace dto {
     #include OATPP_CODEGEN_BEGIN(DTO)
 
-    class LoginResultDto : public oatpp::data::mapping::type::Object
-    {
+    class LoginResultDto : public oatpp::data::mapping::type::Object {
         DTO_INIT(LoginResultDto, Object)
 
         DTO_FIELD(Int32, id);
@@ -20,8 +20,15 @@ namespace dto
         DTO_FIELD(String, message);
     };
 
-    class UserDto : public oatpp::data::mapping::type::Object
-    {
+    class RegisterResultDto : public oatpp::data::mapping::type::Object {
+        DTO_INIT(RegisterResultDto, Object)
+
+        DTO_FIELD(String, username);
+        DTO_FIELD(Boolean, registered);
+        DTO_FIELD(String, message);
+    };
+
+    class UserDto : public oatpp::data::mapping::type::Object {
         DTO_INIT(UserDto, Object)
 
         DTO_FIELD(Int32, userId);
@@ -34,6 +41,7 @@ namespace dto
     };
 
     #include OATPP_CODEGEN_END(DTO)
+
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/dto/SongDto.hpp b/include/dto/SongDto.hpp
index 12b90c8..fccdda8 100644
--- a/include/dto/SongDto.hpp
+++ b/include/dto/SongDto.hpp
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 #include "oatpp/core/data/mapping/type/Object.hpp"
 #include "oatpp/core/macro/codegen.hpp"
 
+#include "model/Models.h"
+
 namespace dto
 {
     #include OATPP_CODEGEN_BEGIN(DTO)
@@ -24,6 +26,8 @@ namespace dto
     };
 
     #include OATPP_CODEGEN_END(DTO)
+
+
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.h b/include/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8b1b9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.h
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#ifndef DTOCONVERSIONS_H_
+#define DTOCONVERSIONS_H_
+
+#include "dto/LoginResultDto.hpp"
+#include "dto/SongDto.hpp"
+#include "model/Models.h"
+
+namespace dto { namespace conversion {
+    class DtoConversions {
+    public:
+        static dto::LoginResultDto::ObjectWrapper toLoginResultDto(const model::User&, const model::Token&);
+
+        static dto::RegisterResultDto::ObjectWrapper toRegisterResultDto(
+            const model::RegisterResult&);
+
+        static model::Song toSong(dto::SongDto::ObjectWrapper&);
+
+        static model::User toUser(dto::UserDto::ObjectWrapper&);
+    };
+}}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/include/manager/TokenManager.h b/include/manager/TokenManager.h
index 686b233..d027ad2 100644
--- a/include/manager/TokenManager.h
+++ b/include/manager/TokenManager.h
@@ -14,12 +14,11 @@
 #include "type/Scopes.h"
 
 namespace manager {
-class TokenManager
-{
+class TokenManager {
 public:
     TokenManager();
 
-    model::LoginResult retrieveToken(const model::BinaryPath&);
+    model::Token retrieveToken(const model::BinaryPath&);
 
     bool isTokenValid(std::string&, type::Scope);
     bool testAuth(const model::BinaryPath&);
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ private:
     std::vector<std::string> extractScopes(const jwt::decoded_jwt&&);
     std::pair<bool, std::vector<std::string>> fetchAuthHeader(const std::string&);
 
-    bool tokenSupportsScope(const std::vector<std::string>, const std::string&&);
+    bool tokenSupportsScope(const std::vector<std::string>&, const std::string&&);
 };
 }
 
diff --git a/include/manager/UserManager.h b/include/manager/UserManager.h
index e33a538..0734cef 100644
--- a/include/manager/UserManager.h
+++ b/include/manager/UserManager.h
@@ -7,18 +7,16 @@
 #include "model/Models.h"
 
 namespace manager {
-class UserManager
-{
+class UserManager {
 public:
     UserManager(const model::BinaryPath&);
 
+    model::RegisterResult registerUser(model::User&);
+
     bool doesUserExist(const model::User&);
     bool validatePassword(const model::User&);
 
     void printUser(const model::User&);
-    void registerUser(model::User&);
-
-    static model::User userDtoConv(dto::UserDto::ObjectWrapper&);
 private:
     model::BinaryPath m_bConf;
 };
diff --git a/include/model/Models.h b/include/model/Models.h
index 13f3789..0e80dfb 100644
--- a/include/model/Models.h
+++ b/include/model/Models.h
@@ -5,8 +5,7 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace model {
-struct Song
-{
+struct Song {
     Song() = default;
     Song(const int id) : id(id) { }
 
@@ -28,8 +27,7 @@ struct Song
     int yearId;
 };
 
-struct Artist
-{
+struct Artist {
     Artist() = default;
     Artist(const Song& song)
     {
@@ -42,8 +40,7 @@ struct Artist
     std::string artist;
 };
 
-struct Album
-{
+struct Album {
     Album() = default;
     Album(const Song& song)
     {
@@ -59,8 +56,7 @@ struct Album
     std::vector<Song> songs;
 };
 
-struct Genre
-{
+struct Genre {
     Genre() = default;
     Genre(const Song& song)
     {
@@ -74,8 +70,7 @@ struct Genre
 
 };
 
-struct Year
-{
+struct Year {
     Year() = default;
     Year(const Song& song)
     {
@@ -88,8 +83,7 @@ struct Year
     int year;
 };
 
-struct Cover
-{
+struct Cover {
     Cover() = default;
     Cover(const Song& song)
     {
@@ -105,8 +99,22 @@ struct Cover
     std::vector<unsigned char> data;
 };
 
-struct LoginResult
-{
+class Token {
+public:
+    Token() = default;
+    Token(const std::string& accessToken) :
+        accessToken(accessToken) { }
+    Token(const std::string& accessToken, const std::string& tokenType, 
+        const int expiration) :
+        accessToken(accessToken), tokenType(tokenType), 
+        expiration(expiration) { }
+
+    std::string accessToken;
+    int expiration;
+    std::string tokenType;
+};
+
+struct LoginResult {
     int userId;
     std::string username;
     std::string accessToken;
@@ -115,8 +123,14 @@ struct LoginResult
     int expiration;
 };
 
-struct User
-{
+class RegisterResult {
+public:
+    std::string username;
+    bool registered;
+    std::string message;
+};
+
+struct User {
     int id;
     std::string firstname;
     std::string lastname;
@@ -126,16 +140,14 @@ struct User
     std::string password;
 };
 
-struct PassSec
-{
+struct PassSec {
     int id;
     std::string hashPassword;
     std::string salt;
     int userId;
 };
 
-struct AuthCredentials
-{
+struct AuthCredentials {
     std::string domain;
     std::string apiIdentifier;
     std::string clientId;
@@ -144,16 +156,14 @@ struct AuthCredentials
     std::string endpoint;
 };
 
-struct DatabaseConnection
-{
+struct DatabaseConnection {
     std::string server;
     std::string username;
     std::string password;
     std::string database;
 };
 
-struct BinaryPath
-{
+struct BinaryPath {
     BinaryPath() = default;
     BinaryPath(const char *p) : path(std::move(p)) { }
     BinaryPath(std::string& p) : path(p) { }
diff --git a/src/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.cpp b/src/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..084e2c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dto/conversion/DtoConversions.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+#include "dto/conversion/DtoConversions.h"
+
+namespace dto { namespace conversion { 
+    dto::LoginResultDto::ObjectWrapper DtoConversions::toLoginResultDto(const model::User& user, 
+        const model::Token& token) {
+        auto logRes = dto::LoginResultDto::createShared();
+        logRes->username = user.username.c_str();
+        logRes->token = token.accessToken.c_str();
+        logRes->token_type = token.tokenType.c_str();
+        logRes->expiration = token.expiration;
+
+        return logRes;
+    }
+
+
+    dto::RegisterResultDto::ObjectWrapper DtoConversions::toRegisterResultDto(
+        const model::RegisterResult& regRes) {
+        auto result = dto::RegisterResultDto::createShared();
+        result->message = regRes.message.c_str();
+        result->registered = regRes.registered;
+        result->username = regRes.username.c_str();
+
+        return result;
+    }
+
+
+    model::Song DtoConversions::toSong(dto::SongDto::ObjectWrapper& songDto) {
+        model::Song song;
+        song.id = (songDto->id.getPtr() == nullptr) ? 0 : songDto->id->getValue();
+        song.title = (songDto->title == nullptr) ? "" : songDto->title->c_str();
+        song.album = (songDto->album == nullptr) ? "" : songDto->album->c_str();
+        song.artist = (songDto->artist == nullptr) ? "" : songDto->artist->c_str();
+        song.genre = (songDto->genre == nullptr) ? "" : songDto->genre->c_str();
+        song.year = (songDto->year.getPtr() == nullptr) ? 0 : songDto->year->getValue();
+        song.track = (songDto->track.getPtr() == nullptr) ? 0 : songDto->track->getValue();
+        song.disc = (songDto->disc.getPtr() == nullptr) ? 0 : songDto->disc->getValue();
+
+        return song;
+    }
+
+
+    model::User DtoConversions::toUser(dto::UserDto::ObjectWrapper& userDto) {
+        model::User user;
+        user.id = (userDto->userId.getPtr() == nullptr) ? 0 : userDto->userId->getValue();
+        user.firstname = (userDto->firstname == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->firstname->c_str();
+        user.lastname = (userDto->lastname == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->lastname->c_str();
+        user.phone = (userDto->phone == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->phone->c_str();
+        user.email = (userDto->email == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->email->c_str();
+        user.username = (userDto->username == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->username->c_str();
+        user.password = (userDto->password == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->password->c_str();
+
+        return user;
+    }
+}}
diff --git a/src/manager/SongManager.cpp b/src/manager/SongManager.cpp
index a4a9601..8ddbbea 100644
--- a/src/manager/SongManager.cpp
+++ b/src/manager/SongManager.cpp
@@ -308,8 +308,8 @@ void manager::SongManager::saveMisc(model::Song& song)
     auto musicRootPath = pathConfigContent["root_music_path"].get<std::string>();
 
     auto cov = covMgr.saveCover(song);
+    const auto songPath = createSongPath(song);
 
-    auto songPath = createSongPath(song);
     if (fs::exists(songPath)) {
         std::cout << "deleting old song with the same metadata" << std::endl;
         fs::remove(songPath);
diff --git a/src/manager/TokenManager.cpp b/src/manager/TokenManager.cpp
index ab9cf9a..72edbf0 100644
--- a/src/manager/TokenManager.cpp
+++ b/src/manager/TokenManager.cpp
@@ -19,28 +19,21 @@ TokenManager::TokenManager()
 }
 
 
-model::LoginResult TokenManager::retrieveToken(const model::BinaryPath& bConf)
+model::Token TokenManager::retrieveToken(const model::BinaryPath& bConf)
 {
     auto cred = parseAuthCredentials(bConf);
-
     auto reqObj = createTokenBody(cred);
 
     std::string uri{cred.uri};
     uri.append("/");
     uri.append(cred.endpoint);
 
-    auto r = cpr::Post(cpr::Url{uri},
-        cpr::Body{reqObj.dump()},
-        cpr::Header{{"Content-Type", "application/json"},
-        {"Connection", "keep-alive"}});
-
-
+    auto r = sendRequest(uri, reqObj);
     auto postRes = nlohmann::json::parse(r.text);
 
-    model::LoginResult lr;
-    lr.accessToken = postRes["access_token"].get<std::string>();
-    lr.tokenType = postRes["token_type"].get<std::string>();
-    lr.expiration = postRes["expires_in"].get<int>();
+    model::Token lr(std::move(postRes["access_token"].get<std::string>()),
+        std::move(postRes["token_type"].get<std::string>()), 
+        postRes["expires_in"].get<int>());
 
     return lr;
 }
@@ -129,6 +122,7 @@ nlohmann::json TokenManager::createTokenBody(const model::AuthCredentials& auth)
 }
 
 
+[[depreacted("use the other function with the same name")]]
 model::AuthCredentials TokenManager::parseAuthCredentials(std::string_view path)
 {
     auto exe_path = DirectoryManager::configPath(path);
@@ -165,7 +159,7 @@ std::vector<std::string> TokenManager::extractScopes(const jwt::decoded_jwt&& de
 {
     std::vector<std::string> scopes;
 
-    for (auto d : decoded.get_payload_claims()) {
+    for (auto& d : decoded.get_payload_claims()) {
         if (d.first.compare("scope") == 0) {
             std::cout << "found scope" << std::endl;
             std::string allScopes(d.second.to_json().get<std::string>());
@@ -188,7 +182,7 @@ std::pair<bool, std::vector<std::string>> TokenManager::fetchAuthHeader(const st
 
     bool foundBearer = false;
     if (std::any_of(authHeader.begin(), authHeader.end(), 
-           [](std::string word) { 
+           [&](std::string_view word) { 
                return (word.compare("Bearer") == 0);
            })) {
         std::cout << "Bearer found" << std::endl;
@@ -199,11 +193,11 @@ std::pair<bool, std::vector<std::string>> TokenManager::fetchAuthHeader(const st
 }
 
 
-bool TokenManager::tokenSupportsScope(const std::vector<std::string> scopes, 
+bool TokenManager::tokenSupportsScope(const std::vector<std::string>& scopes, 
     const std::string&& scope)
 {
     return std::any_of(scopes.begin(), scopes.end(), 
-        [&](std::string foundScope) {
+        [&](std::string_view foundScope) {
             return (foundScope.compare(scope) == 0);
         });
 }
diff --git a/src/manager/UserManager.cpp b/src/manager/UserManager.cpp
index 650f01c..e5f8d8a 100644
--- a/src/manager/UserManager.cpp
+++ b/src/manager/UserManager.cpp
@@ -9,45 +9,10 @@
 namespace manager {
 UserManager::UserManager(const model::BinaryPath& bConf) : m_bConf(bConf) { }
 
-bool UserManager::doesUserExist(const model::User& user)
-{
-    database::UserRepository userRepo(m_bConf);
 
-    return userRepo.doesUserRecordExist(user, type::UserFilter::username);
-}
-
-bool UserManager::validatePassword(const model::User& user)
-{
-    database::UserRepository userRepo(m_bConf);
-    model::User usr;
-    usr.username = user.username;
-    usr = userRepo.retrieveUserRecord(usr, type::UserFilter::username);
-
-    model::PassSec userSec;
-    userSec.userId = usr.id;
-    userSec = userRepo.retrieverUserSaltRecord(userSec, type::SaltFilter::userId);
-    userSec.hashPassword = usr.password;
-
-    utility::PasswordEncryption passEnc;
-
-    return passEnc.isPasswordValid(user, userSec);
-}
-
-
-void UserManager::printUser(const model::User& user)
-{
-    std::cout << "\nuser info" << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "id: " << user.id << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "firstname: " << user.firstname << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "lastname: " << user.lastname << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "phone: " << user.phone << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "email: " << user.email << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "username: " << user.username << std::endl;
-    std::cout << "password: " << user.password<< std::endl;
-}
-
-void UserManager::registerUser(model::User& user)
-{
+model::RegisterResult UserManager::registerUser(model::User& user) {
+    model::RegisterResult result;
+    result.username = user.username;
     printUser(user);
 
     utility::PasswordEncryption passEnc;
@@ -66,22 +31,46 @@ void UserManager::registerUser(model::User& user)
     hashed.userId = usr.id;
 
     usrRepo.saveUserSalt(hashed);
+    result.registered = true;
+    result.message = "successfully registered";
     printUser(usr);
+
+    return result;
 }
 
 
-model::User UserManager::userDtoConv(dto::UserDto::ObjectWrapper& userDto)
-{
-    model::User user;
+bool UserManager::doesUserExist(const model::User& user) {
+    database::UserRepository userRepo(m_bConf);
 
-    user.id = (userDto->userId.getPtr() == nullptr) ? 0 : userDto->userId->getValue();
-    user.firstname = (userDto->firstname == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->firstname->c_str();
-    user.lastname = (userDto->lastname == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->lastname->c_str();
-    user.phone = (userDto->phone == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->phone->c_str();
-    user.email = (userDto->email == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->email->c_str();
-    user.username = (userDto->username == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->username->c_str();
-    user.password = (userDto->password == nullptr) ? "" : userDto->password->c_str();
+    return userRepo.doesUserRecordExist(user, type::UserFilter::username);
+}
 
-    return user;
+bool UserManager::validatePassword(const model::User& user) {
+    database::UserRepository userRepo(m_bConf);
+    model::User usr;
+    usr.username = user.username;
+    usr = userRepo.retrieveUserRecord(usr, type::UserFilter::username);
+
+    model::PassSec userSec;
+    userSec.userId = usr.id;
+    userSec = userRepo.retrieverUserSaltRecord(userSec, type::SaltFilter::userId);
+    userSec.hashPassword = usr.password;
+
+    utility::PasswordEncryption passEnc;
+
+    return passEnc.isPasswordValid(user, userSec);
 }
+
+
+void UserManager::printUser(const model::User& user) {
+    std::cout << "\nuser info" << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "id: " << user.id << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "firstname: " << user.firstname << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "lastname: " << user.lastname << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "phone: " << user.phone << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "email: " << user.email << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "username: " << user.username << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "password: " << user.password<< std::endl;
+}
+
 }