diff --git a/autoPyLoT.py b/autoPyLoT.py
index 10bc4489..f3ec8fd5 100755
--- a/autoPyLoT.py
+++ b/autoPyLoT.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ __version__ = _getVersionString()
 
 
 def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, eventid=None, savepath=None, station='all',
-              iplot=0):
+              iplot=0, ncores=0):
     """
     Determine phase onsets automatically utilizing the automatic picking
     algorithms by Kueperkoch et al. 2010/2012.
@@ -48,6 +48,16 @@ def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, even
     .. rubric:: Example
 
     """
+
+    if ncores == 1:
+        sp_info = 'autoPyLoT is running serial on 1 cores.'
+    else:
+        if ncores == 0:
+            ncores_readable = 'all available'
+        else:
+            ncores_readable = ncores
+        sp_info = 'autoPyLoT is running in parallel on {} cores.'.format(ncores_readable)
+
     splash = '''************************************\n
                 *********autoPyLoT starting*********\n
                 The Python picking and Location Tool\n
@@ -57,9 +67,13 @@ def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, even
                 L. Kueperkoch (BESTEC GmbH, Landau i. d. Pfalz)\n
                 S. Wehling-Benatelli (Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum)\n
                 M. Paffrath (Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum)\n
-                ***********************************'''.format(version=_getVersionString())
+                
+                {sp}
+                ***********************************'''.format(version=_getVersionString(),
+                                                              sp=sp_info)
     print(splash)
 
+
     parameter = real_None(parameter)
     inputfile = real_None(inputfile)
     eventid = real_None(eventid)
@@ -84,7 +98,7 @@ def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, even
     if not parameter:
         if inputfile:
             parameter = PylotParameter(inputfile)
-            iplot = parameter['iplot']
+            #iplot = parameter['iplot']
         else:
             infile = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), '.pylot', 'pylot.in')
             print('Using default input file {}'.format(infile))
@@ -216,7 +230,7 @@ def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, even
             wfdat = remove_underscores(wfdat)
             metadata = read_metadata(parameter.get('invdir'))
             print("Restitute data ...")
-            corr_dat = restitute_data(wfdat.copy(), *metadata)
+            corr_dat = restitute_data(wfdat.copy(), *metadata, ncores=ncores)
             if not corr_dat and locflag:
                 locflag = 2
             print('Working on event %s. Stations: %s' % (event, station))
@@ -226,9 +240,9 @@ def autoPyLoT(input_dict=None, parameter=None, inputfile=None, fnames=None, even
             if input_dict:
                 if 'fig_dict' in input_dict:
                     fig_dict = input_dict['fig_dict']
-                    picks = autopickevent(wfdat, parameter, iplot=iplot, fig_dict=fig_dict)
+                    picks = autopickevent(wfdat, parameter, iplot=iplot, fig_dict=fig_dict, ncores=ncores)
             else:
-                picks = autopickevent(wfdat, parameter, iplot=iplot)
+                picks = autopickevent(wfdat, parameter, iplot=iplot, ncores=ncores)
             ##########################################################
             # locating
             if locflag > 0:
@@ -442,6 +456,9 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser.add_argument('-s', '-S', '--spath', type=str,
                         action='store',
                         help='''optional, save path for autoPyLoT output''')
+    parser.add_argument('-c', '-C', '--ncores', type=int,
+                        action='store', default=0,
+                        help='''optional, number of CPU cores used for parallel processing (default: all available)''')
     # parser.add_argument('-v', '-V', '--version', action='version',
     #                    version='autoPyLoT ' + __version__,
     #                    help='show version information and exit')
@@ -449,4 +466,5 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     cla = parser.parse_args()
 
     picks = autoPyLoT(inputfile=str(cla.inputfile), fnames=str(cla.fnames),
-                      eventid=str(cla.eventid), savepath=str(cla.spath))
+                      eventid=str(cla.eventid), savepath=str(cla.spath),
+                      ncores=cla.ncores)
diff --git a/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py b/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py
index 32d1e9a1..2f396dee 100644
--- a/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py
+++ b/pylot/core/pick/autopick.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from pylot.core.pick.utils import checksignallength, checkZ4S, earllatepicker, \
 from pylot.core.util.utils import getPatternLine, gen_Pool
 
 
-def autopickevent(data, param, iplot=0, fig_dict=None):
+def autopickevent(data, param, iplot=0, fig_dict=None, ncores=0):
     stations = []
     all_onsets = {}
     input_tuples = []
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def autopickevent(data, param, iplot=0, fig_dict=None):
         print('iPlot Flag active: NO MULTIPROCESSING possible.')
         return all_onsets
 
-    pool = gen_Pool()
+    pool = gen_Pool(ncores)
     result = pool.map(call_autopickstation, input_tuples)
     pool.close()
 
diff --git a/pylot/core/util/dataprocessing.py b/pylot/core/util/dataprocessing.py
index 3f6caf3a..1d13e952 100644
--- a/pylot/core/util/dataprocessing.py
+++ b/pylot/core/util/dataprocessing.py
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ def restitute_trace(input_tuple):
     return tr, remove_trace
 
 
-def restitute_data(data, invtype, inobj, unit='VEL', force=False):
+def restitute_data(data, invtype, inobj, unit='VEL', force=False, ncores=0):
     """
     takes a data stream and a path_to_inventory and returns the corrected
     waveform data stream
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ def restitute_data(data, invtype, inobj, unit='VEL', force=False):
         input_tuples.append((tr, invtype, inobj, unit, force))
         data.remove(tr)
 
-    pool = gen_Pool()
+    pool = gen_Pool(ncores)
     result = pool.map(restitute_trace, input_tuples)
     pool.close()
 
diff --git a/pylot/core/util/utils.py b/pylot/core/util/utils.py
index 381e9271..c21f3e7a 100644
--- a/pylot/core/util/utils.py
+++ b/pylot/core/util/utils.py
@@ -33,10 +33,14 @@ def getindexbounds(f, eta):
     return mi, l, u
 
 
-def gen_Pool(ncores='max'):
+def gen_Pool(ncores=0):
+    '''
+    :param ncores: number of CPU cores for multiprocessing.Pool, if ncores == 0 use all available
+    :return: multiprocessing.Pool object
+    '''
     import multiprocessing
 
-    if ncores == 'max':
+    if ncores == 0:
         ncores = multiprocessing.cpu_count()
 
     pool = multiprocessing.Pool(ncores)
diff --git a/pylot/core/util/widgets.py b/pylot/core/util/widgets.py
index 2115bd08..0a8e5805 100644
--- a/pylot/core/util/widgets.py
+++ b/pylot/core/util/widgets.py
@@ -2869,7 +2869,6 @@ class AutoPickDlg(QDialog):
             maxcores = multiprocessing.cpu_count()
             self.sb_ncores.setMinimum(1)
             self.sb_ncores.setMaximum(maxcores)
-            self.sb_ncores.setEnabled(False)  # not yet implemented in autoPyLoT
             self.layout_ncores.addWidget(self.label_ncores)
             self.layout_ncores.addWidget(self.sb_ncores)
             self.layout_ncores.setStretch(0, 1)
@@ -2903,7 +2902,7 @@ class AutoPickDlg(QDialog):
 
     def accept(self):
         self.exportParameter()
-        self.job_widget.start(self.pp_export)
+        self.job_widget.start(self.pp_export, self.sb_ncores.value())
         QDialog.accept(self)
 
 
@@ -2931,7 +2930,7 @@ class Submit2Grid(QWidget):
         default_command = 'qsub -l low -cwd -q TARGET_MACHINE -pe mpi-fu NCORES'
         self.textedit.setText(default_command)
 
-    def start(self, pp_export):
+    def start(self, pp_export, ncores=None):
         self.genShellScript(pp_export)
         self.execute_script()
 
@@ -2966,12 +2965,14 @@ class SubmitLocal(QWidget):
     def start(self):
         print('subprocess Popen')
 
-    def start(self, pp_export):
-        self.execute_command(pp_export)
+    def start(self, pp_export, ncores):
+        self.execute_command(pp_export, ncores)
 
-    def execute_command(self, pp_export):
+    def execute_command(self, pp_export, ncores):
         command = self.script_fn
         command.append(pp_export)
+        command.append('--ncores')
+        command.append(str(ncores))
         cmd_str = str()
         for item in command:
             cmd_str += item + ' '