v5.2: stability and polish — deep-audit bug fixes + install-flow fixes

Verified findings from a multi-dimension code audit, plus the two install-flow bugs:
- Fix Opus encoder use-after-free on a codec/rate change while streaming (guard swap vs encode).
- Fix "both" single-file recording dropping audio + drifting (drain both directions in lockstep).
- Fix broken clip counter, UPnP teardown on exit, auto-update-restart foreground grant, and a
  malformed-Opus-format packet orphaning a playout session forever.
- Post-install relaunch now respects start-minimised; uninstall is path-aware so it won't clear a
  different copy's run-at-startup.
- Perf/hygiene: cache AppConfig off UI hot paths, fold per-peer EQ+gain into one pass, deterministic
  disposal (tray menu, timers, COM shortcut, Process handles, process meter), ring-buffer overflow
  guard, receiver session-lock fix, remote-control allow-list moved onto the UI thread.
- Remove dead code (two IsAsioBackend, SessionPlayout.Reset, IsSameEndpoint, RemSoundUpdater
  IDisposable); several stale-doc fixes.

Deferred (not in this release): drift-estimator tweak, peer-discovery pruning, uninstall retry-loop,
encryption nonce. Wire format unchanged (interops v3.3-v5.1). Version -> 5.2.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

RELEASE_NOTES.md

@@ -1,38 +1,36 @@
-# RemSound v5.1
+# RemSound v5.2
 
-Install RemSound as a proper Windows app — or keep running it portable, whichever you prefer.
+A stability and polish release. No new features — this one is bug fixes and internal tidy-ups from a deep code review, so it should just feel a bit more solid.
 
-## Install RemSound on this PC
+## Fixes you might notice
 
-A new **Options → Install RemSound on this PC** turns the copy you're running into a properly installed Windows app:
+- **Changing the codec or send rate while streaming** could, in rare cases, crash RemSound with no warning. Fixed.
+- **Recording "both sent and received" into a single file** could lose small amounts of audio and drift out of sync over a long session. It now stays sample-accurate for the whole recording.
+- **After installing**, RemSound now honours your "start minimised" setting on the first relaunch (and still comes to the front when you're not starting minimised).
+- **Uninstalling** one copy no longer switches off a different copy's "run at startup".
+- Starting a split "received only" recording with **no peers connected** now tells you clearly, instead of quietly making an empty folder.
+- The **clipping indicator** in the diagnostics works again.
 
-- It sets RemSound up on the **Start menu** (with the program, the manual and an uninstall shortcut), adds a **desktop shortcut**, and lists it in Windows' **Installed apps**.
+## Under the hood
-- It installs into your own user area, so it **never asks for administrator rights** and only affects your account.
-- A tick-box dialog lets you choose what to set up — desktop and Start-menu shortcuts, run at startup — and bring your **profiles and settings, recordings and logs** across from the copy you're running.
-- When it's done it reopens from the installed location; everything carries on exactly as before, and RemSound still updates itself in place as usual.
 
-Once it's installed, that same menu item becomes **Uninstall RemSound from this PC** (with matching entries in the Start menu and Windows' Installed apps). Uninstalling asks first, with two tick-boxes — **remove profiles, config and logs**, and **remove recordings** — both off by default, so your own files are kept unless you say otherwise.
+- The automatic-update restart now brings the window to the front, the same way the installer does.
-
+- The router port opened by UPnP is properly removed when you close RemSound.
-You never *have* to install: running RemSound straight from the unzipped folder works exactly as it always has.
+- Lighter on memory and disk — fewer background file reads while you work, and tidier release of resources when the window closes or switches profiles.
-
-## Smaller download
-
-The built-in cue sounds have been slimmed down, so RemSound is a smaller download and takes up less space.
 
 ## Compatibility
 
-The over-the-network format is unchanged, so **v5.1 talks to v3.3 through v5.0** with no trouble — you don't have to update both ends at once. (Everyone still needs **v3.3 or newer**, where end-to-end encryption came in.)
+Nothing about the over-the-network format changed, so **v5.2 talks to v3.3 through v5.1** with no trouble — you don't have to update both ends at once. (Everyone still needs **v3.3 or newer**, where end-to-end encryption came in.)
 
 ## Install
 
-1. Download `RemSound-v5.1.zip` from this release.
+1. Download `RemSound-v5.2.zip` from this release.
 2. Close RemSound.
 3. Extract the zip **over your existing RemSound folder**, overwriting program files when prompted. The zip is program files only — it won't touch your settings, profiles, logs or recordings.
-4. Run `RemSound.exe`. (If you'd like it set up as a proper Windows app, use **Options → Install RemSound on this PC**.)
+4. Run `RemSound.exe`.
 
 ## Upgrading
 
-**From v3.6 or newer:** Help → Check for updates installs v5.1 with the in-app updater — and if it can't finish, it puts your old version back exactly as it was.
+**From v3.6 or newer:** Help → Check for updates installs v5.2 with the in-app updater — and if it can't finish, it puts your old version back exactly as it was.
 
 **From v1.9–v3.5:** Check for updates works, but uses your current version's older updater for this one hop. If auto-update has been failing on your machine, install by hand using the steps above.
 

src/RemSound.App/AboutDialog.cs

@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ internal sealed class AboutDialog : Form
     /// updates" path.</summary>
     private const string ReleaseNotes =
         """
+        RemSound v5.2
+
+        A stability and polish release — bug fixes and tidy-ups from a deep code review. No new features; it should just feel a bit more solid.
+
+        Fixed: changing the codec or send rate while streaming could, in rare cases, crash RemSound. Fixed: recording both your sent and received audio into a single file could lose a little audio and drift out of sync over a long recording — it now stays accurate the whole way through. Fixed: after installing, RemSound now stays minimised if that's your setting (and still comes to the front otherwise), and uninstalling one copy no longer switches off another copy's run-at-startup.
+
+        Also: the clipping indicator works again, the router port opened for incoming connections is tidied up when you close, and the app is a little lighter on memory and disk. Nothing about how you connect changed, so it still talks to older versions.
+
         RemSound v5.1
 
         Install RemSound as a proper Windows app.

src/RemSound.App/AppInstaller.cs

@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ internal static class AppInstaller
             return;
         }
 
+        // Degenerate case: the portable copy was extracted straight into the install location (no marker
+        // yet, so IsInstalledCopy is false). Copying the folder onto itself would throw an IOException
+        // (self-copy) and abort with a scary message. Detect it and skip the copy — we're already in
+        // place, so registration (marker + shortcuts) is all that's needed.
+        var sameLocation = string.Equals(source, target, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
         var updating = InstallExistsAtTarget;
         var options = ShowInstallOptionsDialog(owner, target, updating);
         if (options is null) return; // cancelled
@@ -116,10 +121,14 @@ internal static class AppInstaller
                         $"recordings={options.CopyRecordings}, logs={options.CopyLogs})");
 
             // The file copy is the part that must succeed — a failure here (disk full, permissions)
-            // aborts with the copy untouched. Directory.CreateDirectory + copy.
+            // aborts with the copy untouched. Skipped entirely when we're already running from the
+            // target (self-copy would throw); registration below still runs.
             Directory.CreateDirectory(target);
-            CopyProgramFiles(source, target);
+            if (!sameLocation)
-            CopyUserData(source, target, options);
+            {
+                CopyProgramFiles(source, target);
+                CopyUserData(source, target, options);
+            }
 
             // Drop the marker that tells the installed copy it IS installed (so the Options menu shows
             // Uninstall). Part of the must-succeed path: without it the install wouldn't recognise
@@ -258,7 +267,9 @@ internal static class AppInstaller
     {
         try { SetDesktopShortcut(false, "", ""); } catch { }
         try { SetStartMenuFolder(false, "", ""); } catch { }
-        try { StartupAutoStart.TryDisable(); } catch { }
+        // Only clear login-autostart if it points at THIS installed copy — never wipe a different
+        // copy's (e.g. a portable copy's) autostart entry that shares the "RemSound" value name.
+        try { StartupAutoStart.TryDisableIfPointsInto(AppContext.BaseDirectory); } catch { }
         try { UnregisterInstalledApp(); } catch { }
     }
 
@@ -383,10 +394,12 @@ internal static class AppInstaller
         var shellType = Type.GetTypeFromProgID("WScript.Shell");
         if (shellType is null) return;
         dynamic? shell = null;
+        object? linkObj = null;
         try
         {
             shell = Activator.CreateInstance(shellType);
             dynamic link = shell!.CreateShortcut(linkPath);
+            linkObj = link; // keep a handle so we can release this SECOND COM object too, not just shell
             link.TargetPath = targetPath;
             link.Arguments = arguments;
             link.WorkingDirectory = workingDir;
@@ -396,6 +409,12 @@ internal static class AppInstaller
         }
         finally
         {
+            // Release both COM objects deterministically (the IWshShortcut from CreateShortcut AND the
+            // WScript.Shell), rather than leaving the shortcut object to the GC finalizer.
+            if (linkObj is not null)
+            {
+                try { System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(linkObj); } catch { }
+            }
             if (shell is not null)
             {
                 try { System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.FinalReleaseComObject(shell); } catch { }
@@ -459,7 +478,7 @@ internal static class AppInstaller
         psi.ArgumentList.Add("--await-pid");
         psi.ArgumentList.Add(Environment.ProcessId.ToString());
 
-        var child = Process.Start(psi);
+        using var child = Process.Start(psi);
         // Grant the just-launched child the right to take the foreground. Given now, while we still
         // hold it, it survives our imminent exit and lets the child's SetForegroundWindow succeed.
         if (child is not null)
@@ -524,7 +543,7 @@ internal static class AppInstaller
     {
         var path = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), namePrefix + Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N") + ".cmd");
         File.WriteAllText(path, script, new UTF8Encoding(false));
-        Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo
+        using var proc = Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo
         {
             FileName = "cmd.exe",
             Arguments = $"/c \"{path}\"",

src/RemSound.App/AudioRecorder.cs

@@ -372,6 +372,24 @@ internal sealed class AudioRecorder : IDisposable
         return 0;
     }
 
+    /// <summary>How many frames <see cref="DrainOneDirection"/> would produce for one direction right
+    /// now, WITHOUT consuming anything — the lane-merge min (or the single active lane), capped at
+    /// <paramref name="maxFrames"/>. Used by the Both path to drain the sent and received directions by
+    /// the SAME amount so neither ring is over-consumed and the two stay sample-aligned. Read heads are
+    /// owned by this (writer) thread so a plain read is fine; the caller passes Volatile.Read snapshots
+    /// of the write heads, which the audio threads advance.</summary>
+    private static int DirectionAvailFrames(long wasapiWrite, long wasapiRead, long asioWrite, long asioRead, int maxFrames)
+    {
+        var w = (int)((wasapiWrite - wasapiRead) / MixChannels);
+        var a = (int)((asioWrite - asioRead) / MixChannels);
+        int avail;
+        if (w > 0 && a > 0) avail = Math.Min(w, a);
+        else if (w > 0) avail = w;
+        else if (a > 0) avail = a;
+        else avail = 0;
+        return Math.Min(avail, maxFrames);
+    }
+
     private void Process()
     {
         int framesThisCall;
@@ -410,18 +428,37 @@ internal sealed class AudioRecorder : IDisposable
                 // received scratch we'll grow as needed.
                 EnsureScratchSize(DrainChunkMaxFrames * MixChannels);
                 EnsureSecondaryScratchSize(DrainChunkMaxFrames * MixChannels);
-                var sentFrames = DrainOneDirection(
-                    sentWasapiRing, ref sentWasapiWriteHead, ref sentWasapiReadHead,
-                    sentAsioRing, ref sentAsioWriteHead, ref sentAsioReadHead,
-                    mixScratch, mixScratchAux, DrainChunkMaxFrames);
                 EnsureRecvDirectionScratchSize(DrainChunkMaxFrames * MixChannels);
-                var recvFrames = DrainOneDirection(
+
-                    receivedWasapiRing, ref receivedWasapiWriteHead, ref receivedWasapiReadHead,
+                // Peek how much each direction can supply WITHOUT consuming, so when both carry audio we
-                    receivedAsioRing, ref receivedAsioWriteHead, ref receivedAsioReadHead,
+                // drain them by the SAME amount and keep them sample-aligned. Draining each independently
-                    recvDirectionScratch, mixScratchAux, DrainChunkMaxFrames);
+                // (the old code) advanced the faster direction's ring head past frames we then never
-                if (sentFrames > 0 && recvFrames > 0)
+                // wrote — a silent, continuous loss + progressive drift on any real two-way session,
+                // which is exactly what Both mode exists to capture. Now the surplus genuinely stays in
+                // its ring for the next pass.
+                var sentAvail = DirectionAvailFrames(
+                    Volatile.Read(ref sentWasapiWriteHead), sentWasapiReadHead,
+                    Volatile.Read(ref sentAsioWriteHead), sentAsioReadHead, DrainChunkMaxFrames);
+                var recvAvail = DirectionAvailFrames(
+                    Volatile.Read(ref receivedWasapiWriteHead), receivedWasapiReadHead,
+                    Volatile.Read(ref receivedAsioWriteHead), receivedAsioReadHead, DrainChunkMaxFrames);
+
+                if (sentAvail > 0 && recvAvail > 0)
                 {
-                    framesThisCall = Math.Min(sentFrames, recvFrames);
+                    // Both directions have data — take the same count from each. Because write heads only
+                    // advance (producers add) and this is the sole consumer, each drain returns exactly
+                    // `take`, so the two stay aligned and nothing is over-consumed.
+                    var take = Math.Min(sentAvail, recvAvail);
+                    var got1 = DrainOneDirection(
+                        sentWasapiRing, ref sentWasapiWriteHead, ref sentWasapiReadHead,
+                        sentAsioRing, ref sentAsioWriteHead, ref sentAsioReadHead,
+                        mixScratch, mixScratchAux, take);
+                    var got2 = DrainOneDirection(
+                        receivedWasapiRing, ref receivedWasapiWriteHead, ref receivedWasapiReadHead,
+                        receivedAsioRing, ref receivedAsioWriteHead, ref receivedAsioReadHead,
+                        recvDirectionScratch, mixScratchAux, take);
+                    framesThisCall = Math.Min(got1, got2); // defensive; both equal `take` in practice
+                    if (framesThisCall <= 0) return;
                     var dst = mixScratch.AsSpan(0, framesThisCall * MixChannels);
                     var aux = recvDirectionScratch.AsSpan(0, framesThisCall * MixChannels);
                     for (var i = 0; i < dst.Length; i++)
@@ -431,20 +468,26 @@ internal sealed class AudioRecorder : IDisposable
                         else if (s < -1f) s = -1f + MathF.Tanh(-1f - s);
                         dst[i] = s;
                     }
-                    // Any leftover frames in the direction that produced MORE this tick stay
-                    // in their rings for the next iteration — they're not lost, just deferred.
-                    // We can't write them now without un-syncing the two directions.
                 }
-                else if (sentFrames > 0)
+                else if (sentAvail > 0)
                 {
-                    framesThisCall = sentFrames;
+                    // Only the sent direction has audio right now — record it solo (no over-consume,
-                    // mixScratch already contains the sent direction's audio — emit as-is.
+                    // nothing to align against). mixScratch already holds it.
+                    framesThisCall = DrainOneDirection(
+                        sentWasapiRing, ref sentWasapiWriteHead, ref sentWasapiReadHead,
+                        sentAsioRing, ref sentAsioWriteHead, ref sentAsioReadHead,
+                        mixScratch, mixScratchAux, DrainChunkMaxFrames);
+                    if (framesThisCall <= 0) return;
                 }
-                else if (recvFrames > 0)
+                else if (recvAvail > 0)
                 {
-                    framesThisCall = recvFrames;
+                    framesThisCall = DrainOneDirection(
-                    // The recv-direction audio lives in recvDirectionScratch; copy into
+                        receivedWasapiRing, ref receivedWasapiWriteHead, ref receivedWasapiReadHead,
-                    // mixScratch so EmitMixBuffer (which reads from mixScratch) sees it.
+                        receivedAsioRing, ref receivedAsioWriteHead, ref receivedAsioReadHead,
+                        recvDirectionScratch, mixScratchAux, DrainChunkMaxFrames);
+                    if (framesThisCall <= 0) return;
+                    // The recv-direction audio lives in recvDirectionScratch; copy into mixScratch so
+                    // EmitMixBuffer (which reads from mixScratch) sees it.
                     var len = framesThisCall * MixChannels;
                     recvDirectionScratch.AsSpan(0, len).CopyTo(mixScratch.AsSpan(0, len));
                 }

src/RemSound.App/CheckSoundService.cs

@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ internal static class CheckSoundService
 {
     private static CuePlayer? checkSound;
     private static CuePlayer? uncheckSound;
+    // Cached at Reload() so Play() (which fires on the UI thread for every genuine checkbox toggle)
+    // doesn't re-read + re-deserialize the whole config file from disk just to fetch one bool. Reload()
+    // is already the hook that runs whenever cue settings change, so these stay current.
+    private static bool enableCheckboxOn;
+    private static bool enableCheckboxOff;
 
     /// <summary>When true, <see cref="Play"/> is a no-op. MainForm sets this around bulk programmatic
     /// control updates (profile load, "uncheck all", device-list refresh). The per-call Focused gate
@@ -29,6 +34,8 @@ internal static class CheckSoundService
     public static void Reload()
     {
         var cfg = AppConfig.Load();
+        enableCheckboxOn = cfg.EnableCheckboxOnCue;
+        enableCheckboxOff = cfg.EnableCheckboxOffCue;
         checkSound = LoadCue(MainForm.CueId.CheckboxOn, "check.wav", cfg);
         uncheckSound = LoadCue(MainForm.CueId.CheckboxOff, "uncheck.wav", cfg);
     }
@@ -36,9 +43,8 @@ internal static class CheckSoundService
     public static void Play(bool isChecked)
     {
         if (Suppressed) return;
-        var cfg = AppConfig.Load();
+        if (isChecked) { if (enableCheckboxOn) checkSound?.Play(); }
-        if (isChecked) { if (cfg.EnableCheckboxOnCue) checkSound?.Play(); }
+        else { if (enableCheckboxOff) uncheckSound?.Play(); }
-        else { if (cfg.EnableCheckboxOffCue) uncheckSound?.Play(); }
     }
 
     private static CuePlayer? LoadCue(string cueId, string defaultFile, AppConfig cfg)

src/RemSound.App/CueSounds.cs

@@ -51,7 +51,13 @@ internal static class CueSounds
             }
         }
         catch { return Array.Empty<string>(); }
-        return matches.OrderBy(m => m.Order).Select(m => m.Name).ToList();
+        var ordered = matches.OrderBy(m => m.Order).ToList();
+        // If numbered variants exist, drop the bare unnumbered file: it labels as "Sound 1" (below), the
+        // same as "<cue> 1.wav", so the two would show as indistinguishable "Sound 1" rows a screen-reader
+        // user can't tell apart. The bare name is a legacy single-file fallback; numbered is what ships.
+        if (ordered.Exists(m => m.Order >= 1) && ordered.Exists(m => m.Order == 0))
+            ordered.RemoveAll(m => m.Order == 0);
+        return ordered.Select(m => m.Name).ToList();
     }
 
     /// <summary>The "Sound N" label for a variant filename, for the Preferences listbox.

src/RemSound.App/MainForm.cs

@@ -1331,11 +1331,16 @@ public sealed class MainForm : Form
 
         FormClosing += (_, _) =>
         {
-            statusTimer.Stop();
+            // Stop AND dispose each timer. A WinForms Timer is a Component, not a Control, so base
-            deviceRefreshTimer.Stop();
+            // Form.Dispose never reaches it; Stop() only kills the WM_TIMER, leaving the timer's
-            continuousTuneTimer.Stop();
+            // message-only window handle to be freed at GC finalization. MainForm is rebuilt on every
-            updateCheckTimer.Stop();
+            // profile switch, so disposing here releases those handles deterministically each time.
-            asioDriverChangeDebounce.Stop();
+            statusTimer.Stop(); statusTimer.Dispose();
+            deviceRefreshTimer.Stop(); deviceRefreshTimer.Dispose();
+            continuousTuneTimer.Stop(); continuousTuneTimer.Dispose();
+            updateCheckTimer.Stop(); updateCheckTimer.Dispose();
+            asioDriverChangeDebounce.Stop(); asioDriverChangeDebounce.Dispose();
+            try { processSelfMeter.Dispose(); } catch { }
             try { deviceChangeNotifier?.Dispose(); } catch { }
             try { powerResumeHandler?.Dispose(); } catch { }
             try { routerPortMapper?.Dispose(); } catch { }
@@ -1409,20 +1414,22 @@ public sealed class MainForm : Form
             // wired up before we hide the window.
             var coldStart = isFirstLaunch;
             isFirstLaunch = false;
-            // A post-install relaunch (--foreground) overrides any start-minimised preference — the
+            var minimizeThisInstance = startNextInstanceMinimized || (coldStart && AppConfig.Load().StartMinimised);
-            // user just ran an interactive install and expects to see the installed copy come up.
-            var minimizeThisInstance = !forceForegroundOnStart
-                                       && (startNextInstanceMinimized || (coldStart && AppConfig.Load().StartMinimised));
             startNextInstanceMinimized = false;
+            // Consume the one-shot post-install foreground flag now, whichever branch we take below, so
+            // it can't leak into a later profile-switch relaunch. "Start minimised" WINS over it: a user
+            // who chose to boot into the tray wants the just-installed copy in the tray too — we only
+            // pull the window to the front when we're NOT minimising (else it can open behind others).
+            var forcePostInstallForeground = forceForegroundOnStart;
+            forceForegroundOnStart = false;
             if (minimizeThisInstance)
             {
                 // playCue:false — starting up in the tray (StartMinimised / --minimized) isn't the
                 // user choosing to minimise, so it must not sound the "minimise" cue.
                 BeginInvoke(() => trayController.Minimize(playCue: false));
             }
-            else if (forceForegroundOnStart)
+            else if (forcePostInstallForeground)
             {
-                forceForegroundOnStart = false;
                 logFile.Event("installer: post-install relaunch — bringing the window to the foreground");
                 // Deferred so it runs after Shown settles, then yanks the window to the front so the
                 // just-installed copy isn't left hiding behind other windows. Try again a moment later:
@@ -3470,7 +3477,11 @@ public sealed class MainForm : Form
         loadingPanEqControls = true;
         try
         {
-            var s = GetOrCreateShaping(selectedShapingKey);
+            // Read-only for display: use the existing shaping if any, else a throwaway default. Do NOT
+            // GetOrCreateShaping here — merely selecting/scrolling a peer would then insert a no-op entry
+            // into the saved profile for every peer the user only glanced at. The actual edit handlers
+            // (pan/volume/mode/band) call GetOrCreateShaping, so an entry is created only on a real change.
+            var s = GetShaping(selectedShapingKey) ?? new PeerShaping();
             volumeSlider.Value = Math.Clamp((int)Math.Round(s.Volume * 100f), 0, 100);
             UpdateVolumeAccessibleName();
             panSlider.Value = Math.Clamp((int)Math.Round(s.Pan * 50f) + 50, 0, 100);
@@ -8246,15 +8257,18 @@ public sealed class MainForm : Form
     /// Custom paths are per-profile (changed from machine-wide in v3.0.3 development) so
     /// each profile can carry its own cue palette. The settings cache mirrors the active
     /// profile's CustomCuePaths dictionary and is the runtime source of truth.</summary>
-    private void TryLoadCueSound(string cueId, string defaultFileName, out CuePlayer? player)
+    private void TryLoadCueSound(string cueId, string defaultFileName, out CuePlayer? player, AppConfig? cfg = null)
     {
         player = null;
         try
         {
+            // Load the config once per call (or reuse the caller's — ReloadAllCueSounds passes one shared
+            // instance for all 14 cues instead of each cue re-reading + re-parsing the file from disk).
+            cfg ??= AppConfig.Load();
             string? path = null;
             var customPath = settings.LoadCustomCuePath(cueId);
             if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(customPath)
-                && AppConfig.Load().MachineCueCustomPaths.TryGetValue(cueId, out var machinePath))
+                && cfg.MachineCueCustomPaths.TryGetValue(cueId, out var machinePath))
             {
                 // Machine-wide cues (send/receive/hide/show) keep their custom override in AppConfig.
                 customPath = machinePath;
@@ -8268,7 +8282,7 @@ public sealed class MainForm : Form
             {
                 // The cue ships as numbered variants ("connect 1.wav", "connect 2.wav", ...);
                 // resolve the machine-wide chosen default (or the first variant) for this cue.
-                var defaultPath = CueSounds.ResolveDefaultPath(cueId, defaultFileName, AppConfig.Load());
+                var defaultPath = CueSounds.ResolveDefaultPath(cueId, defaultFileName, cfg);
                 if (defaultPath is not null && File.Exists(defaultPath))
                 {
                     path = defaultPath;
@@ -8295,20 +8309,23 @@ public sealed class MainForm : Form
     /// </summary>
     public void ReloadAllCueSounds()
     {
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Connect, "connect.wav", out connectSound);
+        // Load the machine config ONCE and pass it to all 14 cues, instead of each cue (twice) re-reading
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Disconnect, "disconnect.wav", out disconnectSound);
+        // and re-deserializing the config file — this runs on the UI thread on every Preferences close.
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.RecordStart, "record start.wav", out recordStartSound);
+        var cfg = AppConfig.Load();
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.RecordStop, "record stop.wav", out recordStopSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Connect, "connect.wav", out connectSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Save, "save.wav", out saveSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Disconnect, "disconnect.wav", out disconnectSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ProfileSwitch, "profile.wav", out profileSwitchSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.RecordStart, "record start.wav", out recordStartSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ProfileMenuOpen, "profile menu open.wav", out profileMenuOpenSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.RecordStop, "record stop.wav", out recordStopSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Update, "update.wav", out updateSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Save, "save.wav", out saveSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.SendOn, "send on.wav", out sendOnSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ProfileSwitch, "profile.wav", out profileSwitchSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.SendOff, "send off.wav", out sendOffSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ProfileMenuOpen, "profile menu open.wav", out profileMenuOpenSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ReceiveOn, "recieve on.wav", out receiveOnSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Update, "update.wav", out updateSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ReceiveOff, "recieve off.wav", out receiveOffSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.SendOn, "send on.wav", out sendOnSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Hide, "minimise.wav", out hideSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.SendOff, "send off.wav", out sendOffSound, cfg);
-        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Show, "maximise.wav", out showSound);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ReceiveOn, "recieve on.wav", out receiveOnSound, cfg);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.ReceiveOff, "recieve off.wav", out receiveOffSound, cfg);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Hide, "minimise.wav", out hideSound, cfg);
+        TryLoadCueSound(CueId.Show, "maximise.wav", out showSound, cfg);
         // The app-wide checkbox tick/untick and tab-switch sounds live in their own services; keep
         // them in step.
         CheckSoundService.Reload();
@@ -8553,26 +8570,30 @@ public sealed class MainForm : Form
     /// </summary>
     private void HandleRemoteControlPacket(RemoteControlKind kind, sbyte delta, IPEndPoint remote)
     {
-        // Allow-list match by IP only — the sender's source port is their ephemeral outbound,
+        // Marshal to the UI thread FIRST. The allow-list scan reads selectedPeerEndpoints — a plain
-        // not their announced audio port.
+        // Dictionary owned and mutated by the UI thread — so enumerating it here on the receiver's
-        var allowed = false;
+        // network thread races a concurrent peer tick/untick (a caught "collection was modified" that
-        foreach (var ep in selectedPeerEndpoints.Values)
+        // silently drops the remote command). Running the whole check on the UI thread removes the race.
-        {
-            if (ep.Address.Equals(remote.Address)) { allowed = true; break; }
-        }
-        if (!allowed)
-        {
-            logFile.Event($"remote-control IGNORED (not in allow-list) kind={kind} delta={delta} from={remote}");
-            return;
-        }
-        if (!settings.LoadAcceptRemoteVolumeCommands())
-        {
-            logFile.Event($"remote-control IGNORED (Accept remote volume commands is off) kind={kind} delta={delta} from={remote}");
-            return;
-        }
-
         BeginInvoke(() =>
         {
+            // Allow-list match by IP only — the sender's source port is their ephemeral outbound,
+            // not their announced audio port.
+            var allowed = false;
+            foreach (var ep in selectedPeerEndpoints.Values)
+            {
+                if (ep.Address.Equals(remote.Address)) { allowed = true; break; }
+            }
+            if (!allowed)
+            {
+                logFile.Event($"remote-control IGNORED (not in allow-list) kind={kind} delta={delta} from={remote}");
+                return;
+            }
+            if (!settings.LoadAcceptRemoteVolumeCommands())
+            {
+                logFile.Event($"remote-control IGNORED (Accept remote volume commands is off) kind={kind} delta={delta} from={remote}");
+                return;
+            }
+
             switch (kind)
             {
                 case RemoteControlKind.VolumeUp:

src/RemSound.App/MainFormTrayController.cs

@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ internal sealed class MainFormTrayController : IDisposable
     private readonly ToolStripMenuItem sendingItem;
     private readonly ToolStripMenuItem receivingItem;
     private readonly ToolStripMenuItem profilesItem;
+    // Retained so Dispose can free it — NotifyIcon.Dispose does NOT dispose an externally-assigned
+    // ContextMenuStrip, and this menu (a native-window-handle-owning Control once shown) would otherwise
+    // leak per profile-switch rebuild. Disposing it cascades to its ToolStripItems.
+    private readonly ContextMenuStrip menu;
 
     public MainFormTrayController(
         Form owner,
@@ -87,7 +91,7 @@ internal sealed class MainFormTrayController : IDisposable
         trayIcon.Visible = false;
         trayIcon.DoubleClick += (_, _) => Restore();
 
-        var menu = new ContextMenuStrip();
+        menu = new ContextMenuStrip();
 
         var showItem = new ToolStripMenuItem("Sho&w RemSound")
         {
@@ -248,7 +252,11 @@ internal sealed class MainFormTrayController : IDisposable
         trayIcon.Visible = true;
     }
 
-    public void Dispose() => trayIcon.Dispose();
+    public void Dispose()
+    {
+        trayIcon.Dispose();
+        menu.Dispose(); // NotifyIcon.Dispose doesn't free the assigned ContextMenuStrip; do it ourselves.
+    }
 
     private void RefreshMenuState()
     {

src/RemSound.App/ProcessSelfMeter.cs

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ namespace RemSound.App;
 /// Threading: <see cref="Take"/> is called from the App's status-tick handler on the UI
 /// thread. Snapshot fields are mutated by that same single thread; no locks needed.
 /// </summary>
-internal sealed class ProcessSelfMeter
+internal sealed class ProcessSelfMeter : IDisposable
 {
     private TimeSpan prevTotalCpu;
     private long prevAllocBytes;
@@ -140,4 +140,8 @@ internal sealed class ProcessSelfMeter
             HandleCount: handleCount,
             ThreadCount: threadCount);
     }
+
+    /// <summary>Release the cached Process handle deterministically rather than at GC finalization —
+    /// small, but consistent with the app's resource-lifecycle discipline. Called when MainForm closes.</summary>
+    public void Dispose() => selfProcess.Dispose();
 }

src/RemSound.App/RecordingController.cs

@@ -149,6 +149,17 @@ internal sealed class RecordingController
 
     private void StartMultiTrack(RecordingSettings s, DateTime now)
     {
+        // Refuse a split received-only recording with no peers connected: it would make an empty dated
+        // folder and capture nothing while still announcing "recording started". Fail clearly instead
+        // (Start()'s catch surfaces this message). Both / sent-only still record your own send, so they
+        // never hit this. Checked BEFORE creating the folder so no orphan folder is left behind.
+        if (s.Source == RecordingSource.ReceivedOnly && (ConnectedPeersProvider?.Invoke() ?? []).Count == 0)
+        {
+            throw new InvalidOperationException(
+                "No peers are connected, so a split received-only recording would capture nothing. " +
+                "Connect to a peer first, or set the recording source to include your own sent audio.");
+        }
+
         var folder = MultiTrackFolder(s, now);
         Directory.CreateDirectory(folder);
         var ext = AudioRecorder.ExtensionFor(s.FileFormat);

src/RemSound.App/RecordingSettingsDialog.cs

@@ -612,5 +612,9 @@ internal sealed class RecordingSettingsDialog : Form
         && a.OggOpusBitrateKbps == b.OggOpusBitrateKbps
         && a.FlacBitsPerSample == b.FlacBitsPerSample
         && a.FlacCompressionLevel == b.FlacCompressionLevel
+        // Include the two v5 toggles the dialog can change, so toggling only these still marks the
+        // profile dirty (before, changing just split-tracks / bypass-shaping reported "no change").
+        && a.SplitTracks == b.SplitTracks
+        && a.BypassShaping == b.BypassShaping
         && string.Equals(a.Folder ?? string.Empty, b.Folder ?? string.Empty, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
 }

src/RemSound.App/RemSound.App.csproj

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
          tag_name on the latest GitHub release; bump it on every public release. The
          AssemblyVersion / FileVersion default to this value, and Assembly.GetName().Version
          is what the About dialog and the updater both read. -->
-    <Version>5.1</Version>
+    <Version>5.2</Version>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>

src/RemSound.App/RemSoundUpdater.cs

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ namespace RemSound.App;
 /// single canonical release stream, not to be re-pointed at a fork. If you need to publish
 /// from a different repo, change <see cref="RepoOwner"/> / <see cref="RepoName"/>.
 /// </summary>
-internal sealed class RemSoundUpdater : IDisposable
+internal sealed class RemSoundUpdater
 {
     public const string RepoOwner = "Ednunp";
     public const string RepoName = "RemSound";
@@ -51,11 +51,6 @@ internal sealed class RemSoundUpdater : IDisposable
 
     public string CurrentVersion => Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetName().Version?.ToString(3) ?? "0.0.0";
 
-    public void Dispose()
-    {
-        // HttpClient is static and shared across the process; nothing to dispose here.
-    }
-
     /// <summary>Hit the GitHub Releases API, parse the latest release, return a struct
     /// describing what was found. Returns null if the request fails (network down, rate
     /// limited, repo not found) or if the latest version is not newer than the running
@@ -259,7 +254,7 @@ internal sealed class RemSoundUpdater : IDisposable
             }
 
             Log?.Invoke($"updater: launching in-app installer from {appRoot}, parent PID {pid}");
-            System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(psi);
+            using (System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(psi)) { }
             return true;
         }
         catch (Exception ex)

src/RemSound.App/RouterPortMapper.cs

@@ -226,9 +226,12 @@ internal sealed class RouterPortMapper : IDisposable
 
     public void Dispose()
     {
-        if (disposed) return;
+        // Run the full Stop() teardown FIRST (remove the router mapping, stop discovery, unsubscribe the
-        disposed = true;
+        // static NatUtility.DeviceFound handler) while disposed is still false — otherwise Stop()'s own
+        // `if (disposed) return;` guard would skip all of it, leaving the forwarded port open until its
+        // lease expires and the object subscribed to the process-wide event. THEN mark disposed.
         try { Stop(); } catch { /* shutting down */ }
+        lock (gate) { disposed = true; }
     }
 
     private void OnDeviceFound(object? sender, DeviceEventArgs args)

src/RemSound.App/StartupAutoStart.cs

@@ -97,4 +97,33 @@ internal static class StartupAutoStart
             return false;
         }
     }
+
+    /// <summary>Remove the Run-key entry ONLY if it currently points at an exe inside
+    /// <paramref name="folder"/>. Used by the uninstaller so removing an INSTALLED copy never wipes a
+    /// DIFFERENT copy's autostart entry (e.g. a portable copy the user still wants launching at login)
+    /// that happens to share the single "RemSound" value name. Returns true if the entry is gone
+    /// afterwards or was left alone because it points elsewhere; false only on registry error.</summary>
+    public static bool TryDisableIfPointsInto(string folder)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(folder)) return false;
+            using var key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(RunKeyPath, writable: true);
+            if (key is null) return true; // No Run subkey → nothing to disable.
+            var value = (key.GetValue(ValueName) as string)?.Trim().Trim('"');
+            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(value)) return true; // nothing set for us.
+            var target = System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(folder)
+                .TrimEnd(System.IO.Path.DirectorySeparatorChar, System.IO.Path.AltDirectorySeparatorChar);
+            // Only our own installed copy's entry (its exe lives inside the folder being removed).
+            if (value.StartsWith(target, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            {
+                key.DeleteValue(ValueName, throwOnMissingValue: false);
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+    }
 }

src/RemSound.App/TabSwitchSoundService.cs

@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ namespace RemSound.App;
 internal static class TabSwitchSoundService
 {
     private static CuePlayer? switchSound;
+    // Cached at Reload() so Play() (fires on every focused tab change) doesn't re-read + re-deserialize
+    // the whole config file just to fetch one bool. Reload() runs whenever cue settings change.
+    private static bool enableTabSwitch;
 
     /// <summary>When true, <see cref="Play"/> is a no-op. Reserved for bulk programmatic tab changes
     /// the focus gate doesn't already cover; mirrors <see cref="CheckSoundService.Suppressed"/>.</summary>
@@ -24,13 +27,15 @@ internal static class TabSwitchSoundService
     /// settings change, alongside <see cref="CheckSoundService.Reload"/>.</summary>
     public static void Reload()
     {
-        switchSound = LoadCue(MainForm.CueId.TabSwitch, "tab switch.wav", AppConfig.Load());
+        var cfg = AppConfig.Load();
+        enableTabSwitch = cfg.EnableTabSwitchCue;
+        switchSound = LoadCue(MainForm.CueId.TabSwitch, "tab switch.wav", cfg);
     }
 
     public static void Play()
     {
         if (Suppressed) return;
-        if (AppConfig.Load().EnableTabSwitchCue) switchSound?.Play();
+        if (enableTabSwitch) switchSound?.Play();
     }
 
     private static CuePlayer? LoadCue(string cueId, string defaultFile, AppConfig cfg)

src/RemSound.App/UpdateApplier.cs

@@ -204,12 +204,24 @@ internal static class UpdateApplier
         {
             var exe = Path.Combine(target, "RemSound.exe");
             if (!File.Exists(exe)) { log($"cannot restart — {exe} missing"); return; }
-            Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo { FileName = exe, WorkingDirectory = target, UseShellExecute = true });
+            // Give the restarted copy the same foreground treatment as the post-install relaunch, so it
+            // doesn't reopen BEHIND other windows where a blind user wouldn't notice it came back (the
+            // old copy has already exited, so a fresh process has no foreground credit of its own).
+            // --foreground makes it pull itself forward; the AllowSetForegroundWindow grant is
+            // best-effort (this staged updater may not hold foreground rights to give away).
+            var psi = new ProcessStartInfo { FileName = exe, WorkingDirectory = target, UseShellExecute = true };
+            psi.ArgumentList.Add("--foreground");
+            using var child = Process.Start(psi);
+            if (child is not null) { try { AllowSetForegroundWindow(child.Id); } catch { } }
             log("RemSound restarted");
         }
         catch (Exception ex) { log($"could not restart RemSound: {ex.Message}"); }
     }
 
+    [System.Runtime.InteropServices.DllImport("user32.dll")]
+    [return: System.Runtime.InteropServices.MarshalAs(System.Runtime.InteropServices.UnmanagedType.Bool)]
+    private static extern bool AllowSetForegroundWindow(int dwProcessId);
+
     /// <summary>Best-effort temp cleanup. We're running FROM the stage, so we can't delete our own
     /// exe's folder here — the restarted app finishes that on startup (see Program.CleanUpUpdateStages).</summary>
     private static void CleanupStage(string? stageRoot, Action<string> log)

src/RemSound.Core/AudioRingBuffer.cs

@@ -49,6 +49,17 @@ public sealed class AudioRingBuffer
     /// <summary>Producer side. Writes the entire span; if the buffer is full, drops the oldest bytes to make room.</summary>
     public void Write(ReadOnlySpan<byte> source)
     {
+        if (source.Length > storage.Length)
+        {
+            // A single write bigger than the whole ring can't fit. Keep only the NEWEST storage.Length
+            // bytes and count the older excess as dropped, so an oversized write degrades to dropped
+            // audio instead of throwing (a CopyTo overflow) on this lock-free real-time producer path.
+            // Unreachable in normal use — writes are MTU-bounded and the ring is far larger — but this
+            // turns an undocumented precondition into a safe, real invariant.
+            Interlocked.Add(ref drops, source.Length - storage.Length);
+            source = source[^storage.Length..];
+        }
+
         var currentTail = tail;
         var currentHead = Volatile.Read(ref head);
         var available = storage.Length - ((currentTail - currentHead) & 0x7FFFFFFF);

src/RemSound.Core/RemSoundSettingsStore.cs

@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ public sealed class RemSoundSettingsStore
     public void SaveMaxLatencyMs(int value)
     {
         var s = Load() ?? new Settings();
-        s.MaxLatencyMs = Math.Clamp(value, 1, 500);
+        s.MaxLatencyMs = Math.Clamp(value, 5, 500); // match LoadMaxLatencyMs's [5,500] so stored == effective
         Save(s);
     }
 
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ public sealed class RemSoundSettingsStore
     public void SaveMaxLatencyMsAsio(int value)
     {
         var s = Load() ?? new Settings();
-        s.MaxLatencyMsAsio = Math.Clamp(value, 1, 500);
+        s.MaxLatencyMsAsio = Math.Clamp(value, 5, 500); // match LoadMaxLatencyMsAsio's [5,500]
         Save(s);
     }
 

src/RemSound.Receiver/AudioReceiver.cs

@@ -176,8 +176,6 @@ public sealed class AudioReceiver : IDisposable
         if (wasRunning) multiOutput.Start();
     }
 
-    public bool IsAsioBackend => multiOutput is CompositeRenderBackend;
-
     /// <summary>Sets the Buffer-smoothness knob (1 = aggressive — clicks the buffer back
     /// to target on any drift, holds the user's latency tightly; 10 = smooth — no clicks
     /// but the queue can creep up under jitter or sustained clock drift). Knob drives a
@@ -691,8 +689,14 @@ public sealed class AudioReceiver : IDisposable
         Interlocked.Exchange(ref bytesReceived, 0);
         Interlocked.Exchange(ref packetsDropped, 0);
 
-        // Tear down any sessions left over from a previous Start (in case Stop wasn't called).
+        // Tear down any sessions left over from a previous Start (in case Stop wasn't called). Under
-        DisposeAllSessionsLocked();
+        // sessionsLock to match the method's "Locked" contract and its other two callers — the counter
+        // getters / prune run on the App's snapshot-tick thread and touch `sessions` under this lock, so
+        // clearing it bare would be an unsynchronised mutation of the non-thread-safe dictionary.
+        lock (sessionsLock)
+        {
+            DisposeAllSessionsLocked();
+        }
         playoutEngine.ResetAll();
 
         listener.Start(udpPort);
@@ -1073,7 +1077,21 @@ public sealed class AudioReceiver : IDisposable
                 isFormatChange = true;
             }
 
-            newSession = new StreamSession(remote, streamId, format, sp, diagnostics, _ => sp.NoteFramesQueued(playoutEngine.TargetLatencyMs), decryptor);
+            try
+            {
+                newSession = new StreamSession(remote, streamId, format, sp, diagnostics, _ => sp.NoteFramesQueued(playoutEngine.TargetLatencyMs), decryptor);
+            }
+            catch
+            {
+                // The StreamSession ctor failed — most realistically because a corrupt/hostile Format
+                // announced an Opus sample rate/channel count the decoder rejects. We already registered
+                // the SessionPlayout in PlayoutEngine via GetOrCreateSession above; nothing was added to
+                // `sessions`, so PruneIdleSessions would never reap it and it would linger forever, summed
+                // on every render callback and poisoning the auto-tune's underrun stats. Reap it here,
+                // then let the exception propagate so the packet handler still logs it.
+                playoutEngine.RemoveSession(remote, streamId);
+                throw;
+            }
             sessions[key] = newSession;
 
             // Same-lane streamId rotation: drop other sessions from this peer that share the

src/RemSound.Receiver/NetworkListener.cs

@@ -10,9 +10,12 @@ namespace RemSound.Receiver;
 /// Hands raw packets (byte buffer + length + remote endpoint) up to a callback supplied by the
 /// owner — has no idea what's inside the packets.
 ///
-/// Allocation-free in steady state: one fixed receive buffer reused across calls,
+/// The receive buffer is a single fixed array reused across calls. NOTE: the current
-/// <see cref="Socket.ReceiveFrom"/> with <see cref="SocketAddress"/> avoids the per-call
+/// <see cref="Socket.ReceiveFrom(byte[], int, int, SocketFlags, ref EndPoint)"/> overload still
-/// IPEndPoint boxing that <see cref="UdpClient.ReceiveAsync"/> incurred.
+/// allocates a SocketAddress + a fresh IPEndPoint per datagram — tiny (tens of bytes) and dwarfed
+/// by decode/mix work, but not literally allocation-free. A future optimisation could switch to the
+/// Span/SocketAddress overload with a cached SocketAddress and only materialise an IPEndPoint when a
+/// new session actually opens.
 /// </summary>
 internal sealed class NetworkListener : IDisposable
 {

src/RemSound.Receiver/PeerDspChain.cs

@@ -110,20 +110,41 @@ public sealed class PeerDspChain
         int n = left.Length;
         if (n > 0)
         {
-            for (int f = 0; f < frames; f++)
+            // Fold the post-EQ gain into the EQ loop's final store, so a peer with both EQ and non-unity
+            // gain walks the block ONCE on the render thread instead of twice (branch hoisted out of the
+            // per-frame loop). n==0 + gain-only keeps its own single pass below.
+            if (hasGain)
             {
-                float sl = output[2 * f];
+                for (int f = 0; f < frames; f++)
-                float sr = output[2 * f + 1];
-                for (int b = 0; b < n; b++)
                 {
-                    sl = left[b].Transform(sl);
+                    float sl = output[2 * f];
-                    sr = right[b].Transform(sr);
+                    float sr = output[2 * f + 1];
+                    for (int b = 0; b < n; b++)
+                    {
+                        sl = left[b].Transform(sl);
+                        sr = right[b].Transform(sr);
+                    }
+                    output[2 * f] = sl * gainL;
+                    output[2 * f + 1] = sr * gainR;
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                for (int f = 0; f < frames; f++)
+                {
+                    float sl = output[2 * f];
+                    float sr = output[2 * f + 1];
+                    for (int b = 0; b < n; b++)
+                    {
+                        sl = left[b].Transform(sl);
+                        sr = right[b].Transform(sr);
+                    }
+                    output[2 * f] = sl;
+                    output[2 * f + 1] = sr;
                 }
-                output[2 * f] = sl;
-                output[2 * f + 1] = sr;
             }
         }
-        if (hasGain)
+        else if (hasGain)
         {
             for (int f = 0; f < frames; f++)
             {

src/RemSound.Receiver/PlayoutEngine.cs

@@ -657,15 +657,15 @@ internal sealed class PlayoutEngine : IWaveProvider
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Render-side audio pull. Iterates every session regardless of lane tag and sums them
-    /// into one mixed bus. This is what every render backend (WasapiOnly, AsioOnly, classic
+    /// into one mixed bus. This is what the WasapiOnly / AsioOnly render path reads from, so a
-    /// Both via the tee, and BothIndependent via the tee) reads from, so a user can pick any
+    /// user can pick any output device for any received audio — independently of which capture
-    /// output device for any received audio — independently of which capture technology the
+    /// technology the sender used. Per-lane latency targets are still honoured: each session
-    /// sender used. Per-lane latency targets are still honoured: each session reads its own
+    /// reads its own route's TargetMs / MaxMs via <see cref="LatencyFor"/>, so the WASAPI-captured
-    /// route's TargetMs / MaxMs via <see cref="LatencyFor"/>, so the WASAPI-captured stream
+    /// stream can buffer at one latency and the ASIO-captured stream at another within the same
-    /// can buffer at one latency and the ASIO-captured stream at another within the same
+    /// output mix. In BothIndependent mode this all-sessions pull is NOT used: each lane reads its
-    /// output mix. The lane-specific <see cref="WasapiLaneOutput"/> / <see cref="AsioLaneOutput"/>
+    /// own filtered surface (<see cref="WasapiLaneOutput"/> / <see cref="AsioLaneOutput"/>) directly
-    /// surfaces are kept around for future per-route routing options but are not used by the
+    /// — see <c>CompositeRenderBackend</c> — so those surfaces are ACTIVE render sources, not
-    /// default render path (see <c>CompositeRenderBackend</c>). 2026-05-11 revision: previous
+    /// future-only. 2026-05-11 revision: previous
     /// implementation filtered by route, which made it impossible to route a WASAPI-captured
     /// stream onto an ASIO output (and vice versa) in BothIndependent mode — that broke a
     /// long-standing cross-backend send/receive flow.

src/RemSound.Receiver/SessionPlayout.cs

@@ -435,36 +435,6 @@ internal sealed class SessionPlayout : IDisposable
         drainRequested = true;
     }
 
-    /// <summary>Reset the buffer and per-session state. Used at start/stop. Arming will rebuild
-    /// from the next packets that arrive.</summary>
-    public void Reset()
-    {
-        playout.Reset();
-        playbackArmed = false;
-        largestWriteMs = 0;
-        inUnderrunConcealment = false;
-        consecutiveEmptyReads = 0;
-        lastConcealSampleL = 0f;
-        lastConcealSampleR = 0f;
-        filteredErrorFrames = 0;
-        prevDriftSampleTicks = 0;
-        trimGlideTargetMs = 0;
-        prevTrimGlideTicks = 0;
-        // Phase-4 drift resampler state. Reset counters and window state. Reset() on the
-        // resampler clears its internal filter delay line so a fresh session doesn't
-        // inherit phase from a prior one. SetRates back to 1:1 — we'll re-measure drift
-        // from scratch.
-        bytesWrittenForDriftEst = 0;
-        bytesReadOutputForDriftEst = 0;
-        resamplerWindowStartTicks = 0;
-        resamplerWindowStartBytesWritten = 0;
-        resamplerWindowStartBytesOutput = 0;
-        smoothedRateRatio = 1.0;
-        resamplerActivelyTracking = false;
-        driftResampler.Reset();
-        driftResampler.SetRates(MixSampleRate, MixSampleRate);
-    }
-
     public void Dispose()
     {
         // AudioRingBuffer is managed; nothing to free explicitly. Method present for symmetry

src/RemSound.Receiver/StreamSession.cs

@@ -114,8 +114,6 @@ internal sealed class StreamSession : IDisposable
         && Format.Channels == format.Channels
         && Format.FrameSamplesPerChannel == format.FrameSamplesPerChannel;
 
-    public bool IsSameEndpoint(IPEndPoint endpoint) => Endpoint.Equals(endpoint);
-
     public bool HandleAudioPayload(uint sequence, ReadOnlySpan<byte> payload)
     {
         diagnostics.RecordPacketArrived();

src/RemSound.Sender/AudioSender.cs

@@ -421,8 +421,6 @@ public sealed class AudioSender : IDisposable
         }
     }
 
-    public bool IsAsioBackend => engine is CompositeCaptureBackend;
-
     /// <summary>Updates the PCM frame size based on the user's "Send rate" choice. For Opus,
     /// frame size is set via <see cref="ConfigureCodec"/>'s opusFrameSamplesPerChannel
     /// parameter (the App halves it when SendRate is Tight). On a frame-size change, resets

src/RemSound.Sender/CompositeCaptureBackend.cs

@@ -102,10 +102,11 @@ internal sealed class CompositeCaptureBackend : ICaptureBackend
     public long TotalCaptureBytes => (wasapi?.TotalCaptureBytes ?? 0) + (asio?.TotalCaptureBytes ?? 0);
     public string? FirstCaptureFormatDescription => asio?.FirstCaptureFormatDescription ?? wasapi?.FirstCaptureFormatDescription;
     public string? FirstCaptureLastError => asio?.FirstCaptureLastError ?? wasapi?.FirstCaptureLastError;
-    // ClippedSampleCount lived on the (now-removed) classic-Both mix loop; the per-lane
+    // Sum both inner backends' clip counters. Each per-lane backend (MixingEngine / PushModeWasapi /
-    // BothIndependent pipeline has no shared mix bus to clip. Kept as 0 so any UI binding
+    // Asio) still clamps and counts clipped samples; the earlier "no shared mix bus, so always 0" was
-    // that still reads it doesn't NRE.
+    // stale and silently zeroed the clip diagnostic that the SNAP log reports (clipΔ), leaving real
-    public long ClippedSampleCount => 0;
+    // clipping invisible — which matters given RemSound's click-vs-clip debugging history.
+    public long ClippedSampleCount => (wasapi?.ClippedSampleCount ?? 0) + (asio?.ClippedSampleCount ?? 0);
 
     /// <summary>Worst callback-gap across both inner backends. We have to take from BOTH (so
     /// each inner's counter resets), then return the larger — otherwise the unread inner

src/RemSound.Sender/SenderLane.cs

@@ -62,6 +62,15 @@ internal sealed class SenderLane
 
     private OpusEncoderState opusEncoder;
     private int opusFrameStereoSamples;
+    // Serialises the Opus encoder SWAP (OnCodecChanged, UI thread) against its USE (EmitOpusFrame,
+    // capture thread). Without it, changing codec or send-rate while streaming could Dispose the native
+    // libopus encoder mid-Encode on the capture thread — a native use-after-free / hard crash with no
+    // managed stack. Held only for the encode + copy-out (microseconds) and the rare swap, so hot-path
+    // contention is negligible.
+    private readonly object encoderGate = new();
+    // Copy of the just-encoded Opus bytes, taken under encoderGate so encryption + send can run OUTSIDE
+    // the lock — LastEncoded returns a span into the encoder's own buffer, which the swap frees.
+    private readonly byte[] opusPlainScratch = new byte[4096];
 
     // Per-lane pre-encode discontinuity probe. Moved here from AudioSender (2026-05-15) so
     // each lane has its OWN probe state and the cross-buffer step measurement (which carries
@@ -154,13 +163,17 @@ internal sealed class SenderLane
     {
         if (newCodec == AudioTransportCodec.Opus)
         {
-            // Dispose the outgoing encoder before replacing it — its underlying
+            // Dispose the outgoing encoder before replacing it — its underlying NativeOpusEncoder owns
-            // NativeOpusEncoder owns native libopus state that doesn't get released until
+            // native libopus state that doesn't get released until explicit Dispose under our
-            // explicit Dispose under our SustainedLowLatency GC mode. Pre-2026-05-27 this
+            // SustainedLowLatency GC mode. Under encoderGate so the capture thread can't be mid-Encode on
-            // overwrite leaked the old encoder's native state on every codec change.
+            // the old native encoder when we free it (that was a native use-after-free on a codec/rate
-            opusEncoder.Dispose();
+            // change while streaming).
-            opusEncoder = new OpusEncoderState(opusFrameSamplesPerChannel, opusBitrate);
+            lock (encoderGate)
-            opusFrameStereoSamples = opusEncoder.FrameSizePerChannel * MixChannels;
+            {
+                opusEncoder.Dispose();
+                opusEncoder = new OpusEncoderState(opusFrameSamplesPerChannel, opusBitrate);
+                opusFrameStereoSamples = opusEncoder.FrameSizePerChannel * MixChannels;
+            }
         }
         streamId = NewStreamId();
         lastFormatPacketUtc = DateTime.MinValue;
@@ -319,23 +332,28 @@ internal sealed class SenderLane
 
     private void EmitOpusFrame(ReadOnlySpan<float> stereoFloats)
     {
-        ReadOnlySpan<byte> opusBytes;
+        int encLen;
-        if (owner.IsMuted)
+        // Encode and copy the bytes out UNDER encoderGate, so a concurrent OnCodecChanged can't Dispose
+        // the encoder mid-Encode (native use-after-free) or free the LastEncoded buffer before we copy
+        // it. Crypto + send run outside the lock, off the copied bytes.
+        lock (encoderGate)
         {
-            Span<float> silence = stackalloc float[opusFrameStereoSamples];
+            if (owner.IsMuted)
-            silence.Clear();
+            {
-            var muteLen = opusEncoder.Encode(silence);
+                Span<float> silence = stackalloc float[opusFrameStereoSamples];
-            opusBytes = opusEncoder.LastEncoded(muteLen);
+                silence.Clear();
-        }
+                encLen = opusEncoder.Encode(silence);
-        else
+            }
-        {
+            else
-            var len = opusEncoder.Encode(stereoFloats);
+            {
-            if (len <= 0) return;
+                encLen = opusEncoder.Encode(stereoFloats);
-            opusBytes = opusEncoder.LastEncoded(len);
+            }
+            if (encLen <= 0) return;
+            opusEncoder.LastEncoded(encLen).CopyTo(opusPlainScratch);
         }
         EnsureCrypto();
         if (cryptoGcm is null) return; // no password yet → never send audio in the clear
-        var ctLen = RemSoundCrypto.EncryptInto(cryptoGcm, opusBytes, cipherScratch);
+        var ctLen = RemSoundCrypto.EncryptInto(cryptoGcm, opusPlainScratch.AsSpan(0, encLen), cipherScratch);
         Interlocked.Increment(ref audioFramesSent);
         SendAudio(cipherScratch.AsSpan(0, ctLen));
     }