diff --git a/include/config/config_audio.h b/include/config/config_audio.h
index 1d1f5270..5aa64360 100644
--- a/include/config/config_audio.h
+++ b/include/config/config_audio.h
@@ -4,12 +4,19 @@
  * AUDIO SETTINGS *
  ******************/
 
-// Fixes the castle music sometimes triggering after getting a dialog
+// Fixes the castle music sometimes triggering after getting a dialog.
 #define CASTLE_MUSIC_FIX
 
-// Increase audio heap size to allow for more concurrent notes to be played and for more custom sequences/banks to be imported (not supported for SH)
+// Increase audio heap size to allow for more concurrent notes to be played and for more custom sequences/banks to be imported (not supported for SH).
 #define EXPAND_AUDIO_HEAP
 
+// The maximum number of notes (sfx inclusive) that can sound at any given time (not supported for SH).
+// Lower values may cause notes to get cut more easily but can potentially improve performance slightly.
+// Lower values may cause problems with streamed audio if a sequence used for it is missing channel priority data.
+// Vanilla by default only generally allocates 16 or 20 notes at once. Memory usage is always determined by the largest of the two values here.
+#define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR 40
+#define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_CONSOLE 32
+
 // Use a much better implementation of reverb over vanilla's fake echo reverb. Great for caves or eerie levels, as well as just a better audio experience in general.
 // Reverb parameters can be configured in audio/synthesis.c to meet desired aesthetic/performance needs. Currently US/JP only. Hurts emulator and console performance.
 //#define BETTER_REVERB
diff --git a/include/config/config_safeguards.h b/include/config/config_safeguards.h
index 0a5dd97d..23d6b989 100644
--- a/include/config/config_safeguards.h
+++ b/include/config/config_safeguards.h
@@ -10,6 +10,39 @@
  */
 
 
+/*****************
+ * config_audio
+ */
+
+#ifndef MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR
+    #ifdef EXPAND_AUDIO_HEAP
+        #define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR 40
+    #else
+        #define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR 20
+    #endif
+#endif // MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR
+
+#ifndef MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_CONSOLE
+    #ifdef EXPAND_AUDIO_HEAP
+        #define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR 32
+    #else
+        #define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR 16
+    #endif
+#endif // MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_CONSOLE
+
+#if (MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR >= MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_CONSOLE)
+    #define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR
+#else
+    #define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_CONSOLE
+#endif
+
+// Anything higher than 64 will most likely crash on boot. Even if it doesn't, it's still dangerous.
+#if (MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES > 64)
+    #undef MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES
+    #define MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES 64
+#endif
+
+
 /*****************
  * config_graphics
  */
diff --git a/src/audio/data.c b/src/audio/data.c
index 95917497..801c7233 100644
--- a/src/audio/data.c
+++ b/src/audio/data.c
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ struct ReverbSettingsEU sReverbSettings[8] = {
 
 struct AudioSessionSettingsEU gAudioSessionPresets[] = {
 #ifdef EXPAND_AUDIO_HEAP
-    { /*1*/ 32000,/*2*/ 1,/*3*/ 40,/*4*/ 1,/*5*/ 0, &sReverbSettings[0],/*6*/ 0x7FFF,/*7*/ 0,/*8*/ 0x8200,/*9*/ 0xDC00,/*10*/ 0xE800,/*11*/ 0x5500 },
+    { /*1*/ 32000,/*2*/ 1,/*3*/ MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES,/*4*/ 1,/*5*/ 0, &sReverbSettings[0],/*6*/ 0x7FFF,/*7*/ 0,/*8*/ 0x8200,/*9*/ 0xDC00,/*10*/ 0xE800,/*11*/ 0x5500 },
 #else
-    { /*1*/ 32000,/*2*/ 1,/*3*/ 20,/*4*/ 1,/*5*/ 0, &sReverbSettings[0],/*6*/ 0x7FFF,/*7*/ 0,/*8*/ 0x4100,/*9*/ 0x6E00,/*10*/ 0x7400,/*11*/ 0x2A80 },
+    { /*1*/ 32000,/*2*/ 1,/*3*/ MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES,/*4*/ 1,/*5*/ 0, &sReverbSettings[0],/*6*/ 0x7FFF,/*7*/ 0,/*8*/ 0x4100,/*9*/ 0x6E00,/*10*/ 0x7400,/*11*/ 0x2A80 },
 #endif
 };
 #endif
@@ -80,14 +80,13 @@ struct ReverbSettingsUS gReverbSettings[18] = {
     { 1, 0x0800, 0x2FFF },
 };
 
-// TODO: Does using 40/20 instead of 32/16 for gMaxSimultaneousNotes cause memory problems at high capacities or is it good as is?
 #ifdef EXPAND_AUDIO_HEAP
 struct AudioSessionSettings gAudioSessionPresets[1] = {
-    { 32000, 40, 1, 0x1000, 0x2FFF, 0x7FFF, 0x8200, 0xDC00, 0xE800, 0x5500 },
+    { 32000, MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES, 1, 0x1000, 0x2FFF, 0x7FFF, 0x8200, 0xDC00, 0xE800, 0x5500 },
 };
 #else
 struct AudioSessionSettings gAudioSessionPresets[1] = {
-    { 32000, 20, 1, 0x1000, 0x2FFF, 0x7FFF, 0x4100, 0x6E00, 0x7400, 0x2A80 },
+    { 32000, MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES, 1, 0x1000, 0x2FFF, 0x7FFF, 0x4100, 0x6E00, 0x7400, 0x2A80 },
 };
 #endif
 #endif
diff --git a/src/audio/data.h b/src/audio/data.h
index 8e947aa9..ab31a82f 100644
--- a/src/audio/data.h
+++ b/src/audio/data.h
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
 
 #define NUMAIBUFFERS 3
 
+#if defined(VERSION_EU)
+#define DMA_BUF_SIZE_0 0x400
+#define DMA_BUF_SIZE_1 0x200
+#else
+#define DMA_BUF_SIZE_0 (144 * 9)
+#define DMA_BUF_SIZE_1 (160 * 9)
+#endif
+
 // constant .data
 #if defined(VERSION_EU) || defined(VERSION_SH)
 extern struct AudioSessionSettingsEU gAudioSessionPresets[];
@@ -108,18 +116,42 @@ extern s16 gAiBufferLengths[NUMAIBUFFERS];
 
 extern u32 gAudioRandom;
 
+#if defined(VERSION_US) || defined(VERSION_JP)
+#define NOTES_BUFFER_SIZE \
+( \
+    MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES * ((4 /* updatesPerFrame */ * 20 * 2 * sizeof(u64)) \
+    + ALIGN16(sizeof(struct Note)) \
+    + (DMA_BUF_SIZE_0 * 3) \
+    + (DMA_BUF_SIZE_1) \
+    + ALIGN16(sizeof(struct NoteSynthesisBuffers))) \
+    + 320 * 2 * sizeof(u64) /* gMaxAudioCmds */ \
+)
+#elif defined(VERSION_EU)
+#define NOTES_BUFFER_SIZE \
+( \
+    MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES * ((4 /* updatesPerFrame */ * 0x10 * 2 * sizeof(u64)) \
+    + ALIGN16(sizeof(struct Note)) \
+    + (DMA_BUF_SIZE_0 * 3 * 1 /* presetUnk4 */) \
+    + (DMA_BUF_SIZE_1) \
+    + ALIGN16(sizeof(struct NoteSynthesisBuffers)) \
+    + ALIGN16(4 /* updatesPerFrame */ * sizeof(struct NoteSubEu))) \
+    + (0x300 + 4 /* numReverbs */ * 0x20) * 2 * sizeof(u64) /* gMaxAudioCmds */ \
+    + 0x4000 /* Extra space to hopefully tolerate whatever the note patch behavior is */ \
+)
+#endif
+
 #ifdef EXPAND_AUDIO_HEAP
 #if defined(VERSION_US) || defined(VERSION_JP) || defined(VERSION_EU)
-#define EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE      0x27400
-#define EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE 0x02000
+#define EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE (0x1800 + 0x300)
+#define EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE      0x14D80
 #else
 // SH not yet supported for expanded audio heap
-#define EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE      0x0
 #define EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE 0x0
+#define EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE      0x0
 #endif
 #else
-#define EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE      0x0
 #define EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE 0x0
+#define EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE      0x0
 #endif
 
 #ifdef VERSION_SH
@@ -148,14 +180,15 @@ extern OSMesgQueue *D_SH_80350FA8;
 #endif
 
 #if defined(VERSION_EU) || defined(VERSION_SH)
-#define AUDIO_HEAP_BASE 0x36B00
-#define AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE (0x2C00 + EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE)
+#define AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE (0x1B00 + EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE + ALIGN16(MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES * sizeof(struct Note)))
 #else
-#define AUDIO_HEAP_BASE 0x30750
-#define AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE (0x2500 + EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE)
+#define AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE (0x1600 + EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE + ALIGN16(MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES * sizeof(struct Note)))
 #endif
 
-#define AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE (AUDIO_HEAP_BASE + EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE + EXT_AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE + BETTER_REVERB_SIZE + REVERB_WINDOW_HEAP_SIZE)
+// TODO: needs validation once EU can compile. EU is very likely incorrect!
+#define AUDIO_HEAP_BASE (0x14D80 /* sound bank space */ + AUDIO_INIT_POOL_SIZE + EXT_AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE + NOTES_BUFFER_SIZE)
+
+#define AUDIO_HEAP_SIZE (AUDIO_HEAP_BASE + BETTER_REVERB_SIZE + REVERB_WINDOW_HEAP_SIZE)
 
 #ifdef VERSION_SH
 extern u32 D_SH_80315EF0;
diff --git a/src/audio/heap.c b/src/audio/heap.c
index b6aba644..3c08d8a7 100644
--- a/src/audio/heap.c
+++ b/src/audio/heap.c
@@ -1382,19 +1382,20 @@ void audio_reset_session(void) {
 
 #if defined(VERSION_JP) || defined(VERSION_US)
     for (j = 0; j < 2; j++) {
-        gAudioCmdBuffers[j] = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, gMaxAudioCmds * sizeof(u64));
+        gAudioCmdBuffers[j] = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, ALIGN16(gMaxAudioCmds * sizeof(u64)));
     }
 #endif
 
-    gNotes = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, gMaxSimultaneousNotes * sizeof(struct Note));
+    gNotes = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, ALIGN16(gMaxSimultaneousNotes * sizeof(struct Note)));
     note_init_all();
     init_note_free_list();
 
 #if defined(VERSION_EU) || defined(VERSION_SH)
-    gNoteSubsEu = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, (gAudioBufferParameters.updatesPerFrame * gMaxSimultaneousNotes) * sizeof(struct NoteSubEu));
+    // NOTE: Cannot be computed automatically in the audio heap define; approximation to be used instead
+    gNoteSubsEu = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, ALIGN16((gAudioBufferParameters.updatesPerFrame * gMaxSimultaneousNotes) * sizeof(struct NoteSubEu)));
 
     for (j = 0; j != 2; j++) {
-        gAudioCmdBuffers[j] = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, gMaxAudioCmds * sizeof(u64));
+        gAudioCmdBuffers[j] = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, ALIGN16(gMaxAudioCmds * sizeof(u64)));
     }
 
     init_reverb_eu();
@@ -1427,6 +1428,15 @@ void audio_reset_session(void) {
     append_puppyprint_log("Audio Initialised in %dus.", (s32)OS_CYCLES_TO_USEC(osGetTime() - first));
 #endif
 #endif
+
+    if (gIsConsole)
+        gMaxSimultaneousNotes = MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_CONSOLE;
+    else
+        gMaxSimultaneousNotes = MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES_EMULATOR;
+    
+    if (gMaxSimultaneousNotes > MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES)
+        gMaxSimultaneousNotes = MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES;
+
     sAudioFirstBoot = 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/audio/internal.h b/src/audio/internal.h
index c9077872..d01da280 100644
--- a/src/audio/internal.h
+++ b/src/audio/internal.h
@@ -680,6 +680,7 @@ struct Note {
     /*0x18, 0x38*/ f32 portamentoFreqScale;
     /*0x1C, 0x3C*/ f32 vibratoFreqScale;
     /*0x20*/ u16 samplePosFrac;
+    /*    */ u8 pad2[2];
     /*0x24*/ struct AudioBankSound *sound;
     /*0x28, 0x40*/ struct SequenceChannelLayer *prevParentLayer;
     /*0x2C, 0x44*/ struct SequenceChannelLayer *parentLayer;
@@ -690,6 +691,7 @@ struct Note {
     /*0x3E*/ u16 targetVolRight; // Q1.15, but will always be non-negative
     /*0x40*/ u8 reverbVol; // Q1.7
     /*0x41*/ u8 unused1; // never read, set to 0x3f
+    /*    */ u8 pad3[2];
     /*0x44*/ struct NoteAttributes attributes;
     /*0x54, 0x58*/ struct AdsrState adsr;
     /*0x74, 0x7C*/ struct Portamento portamento;
@@ -699,7 +701,7 @@ struct Note {
     /*0xA0*/ s16 reverbVolShifted; // Q1.15
     /*0xA2*/ s16 unused2; // never read, set to 0
     /*0xA4, 0x00*/ struct AudioListItem listItem;
-    /*          */ u8 pad2[0xc];
+    /*          */ u8 pad4[0xc];
 }; // size = 0xC0
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/audio/load.c b/src/audio/load.c
index 268fbf2a..d2003701 100644
--- a/src/audio/load.c
+++ b/src/audio/load.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ OSMesgQueue gAudioDmaMesgQueue;
 OSMesg gAudioDmaMesg;
 OSIoMesg gAudioDmaIoMesg;
 
-struct SharedDma sSampleDmas[0x60];
+struct SharedDma sSampleDmas[MAX_SIMULTANEOUS_NOTES * 4];
 u32 gSampleDmaNumListItems; // sh: 0x803503D4
 u32 sSampleDmaListSize1; // sh: 0x803503D8
 
@@ -335,11 +335,7 @@ void init_sample_dma_buffers(UNUSED s32 arg0) {
     s32 j;
 #endif
 
-#if defined(VERSION_EU)
-    sDmaBufSize = 0x400;
-#else
-    sDmaBufSize = 144 * 9;
-#endif
+    sDmaBufSize = DMA_BUF_SIZE_0;
 
 #if defined(VERSION_EU)
     for (i = 0; i < gMaxSimultaneousNotes * 3 * gAudioBufferParameters.presetUnk4; i++) {
@@ -378,11 +374,8 @@ out1:
     sSampleDmaReuseQueueHead1 = (u8) gSampleDmaNumListItems;
     sSampleDmaListSize1 = gSampleDmaNumListItems;
 
-#if defined(VERSION_EU)
-    sDmaBufSize = 0x200;
-#else
-    sDmaBufSize = 160 * 9;
-#endif
+    sDmaBufSize = DMA_BUF_SIZE_1;
+
     for (i = 0; i < gMaxSimultaneousNotes; i++) {
         sSampleDmas[gSampleDmaNumListItems].buffer = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, sDmaBufSize);
         if (sSampleDmas[gSampleDmaNumListItems].buffer == NULL) {
@@ -442,7 +435,7 @@ void patch_sound(UNUSED struct AudioBankSound *sound, UNUSED u8 *memBase, UNUSED
 #if defined(VERSION_EU)
         else if (sample->loaded == 0x80) {
             PATCH(sample->sampleAddr, offsetBase);
-            u8 *mem = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, sample->sampleSize); // TODO: Memory leak!
+            u8 *mem = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, sample->sampleSize); // TODO: Memory issue most likely!
             if (mem == NULL) {
                 sample->sampleAddr = patched;
                 sample->loaded = 1;
diff --git a/src/audio/playback.c b/src/audio/playback.c
index 0c0b1fff..9a29f8c4 100644
--- a/src/audio/playback.c
+++ b/src/audio/playback.c
@@ -1443,9 +1443,9 @@ void note_init_all(void) {
 #if defined(VERSION_SH)
         note->synthesisState.synthesisBuffers = sound_alloc_uninitialized(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, sizeof(struct NoteSynthesisBuffers));
 #elif defined(VERSION_EU)
-        note->synthesisState.synthesisBuffers = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, sizeof(struct NoteSynthesisBuffers));
+        note->synthesisState.synthesisBuffers = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, ALIGN16(sizeof(struct NoteSynthesisBuffers)));
 #else
-        note->synthesisBuffers = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, sizeof(struct NoteSynthesisBuffers));
+        note->synthesisBuffers = soundAlloc(&gNotesAndBuffersPool, ALIGN16(sizeof(struct NoteSynthesisBuffers)));
 #endif
     }
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/audio/synthesis.h b/src/audio/synthesis.h
index eb0242d3..b29cc399 100644
--- a/src/audio/synthesis.h
+++ b/src/audio/synthesis.h
@@ -63,7 +63,22 @@ extern u8 toggleBetterReverb;
 
 #endif
 
-#define REVERB_WINDOW_HEAP_SIZE (REVERB_WINDOW_SIZE_MAX * sizeof(s16) * 2)
+#if defined(VERSION_JP) || defined(VERSION_US)
+#define REVERB_WINDOW_HEAP_SIZE \
+( \
+    (REVERB_WINDOW_SIZE_MAX * sizeof(s16) * 2) \
+    + (4 * (16 * sizeof(s16))) \
+    + (4 /* gAudioUpdatesPerFrame */ * (2 * DEFAULT_LEN_2CH)) \
+)
+#else
+#define REVERB_WINDOW_HEAP_SIZE \
+( \
+    ((REVERB_WINDOW_SIZE_MAX * sizeof(s16) * 2) \
+    + (4 * (16 * sizeof(s16))) \
+    + (4 /* gAudioUpdatesPerFrame */ * (2 * DEFAULT_LEN_2CH))) \
+    * 4 /* gNumSynthesisReverbs */ \
+)
+#endif
 
 struct ReverbRingBufferItem {
     s16 numSamplesAfterDownsampling;
diff --git a/src/boot/main.c b/src/boot/main.c
index 7761f07a..75a9dc54 100644
--- a/src/boot/main.c
+++ b/src/boot/main.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "game/main.h"
 #include "game/rumble_init.h"
 #include "game/version.h"
+#include "game/vc_check.h"
 #ifdef UNF
 #include "usb/usb.h"
 #include "usb/debug.h"
@@ -317,6 +318,15 @@ void thread3_main(UNUSED void *arg) {
     osSyncPrintf("Linker  : %s\n", __linker__);
 #endif
 
+    if (IO_READ(DPC_CLOCK_REG) == 0) {
+        gIsConsole = FALSE;
+        gBorderHeight = BORDER_HEIGHT_EMULATOR;
+        gIsVC = IS_VC();
+    } else {
+        gIsConsole = TRUE;
+        gBorderHeight = BORDER_HEIGHT_CONSOLE;
+    }
+
     create_thread(&gSoundThread, THREAD_4_SOUND, thread4_sound, NULL, gThread4Stack + 0x2000, 20);
     osStartThread(&gSoundThread);
 
diff --git a/src/game/game_init.c b/src/game/game_init.c
index 545e9e66..4a8934c6 100644
--- a/src/game/game_init.c
+++ b/src/game/game_init.c
@@ -391,15 +391,6 @@ void render_init(void) {
 #ifdef DEBUG_FORCE_CRASH_ON_BOOT
     FORCE_CRASH
 #endif
-    if (IO_READ(DPC_PIPEBUSY_REG) == 0) {
-        gIsConsole = FALSE;
-        gBorderHeight = BORDER_HEIGHT_EMULATOR;
-        gIsVC = IS_VC();
-    } else {
-        gIsConsole = TRUE;
-        gBorderHeight = BORDER_HEIGHT_CONSOLE;
-    }
-
     gGfxPool = &gGfxPools[0];
     set_segment_base_addr(SEGMENT_RENDER, gGfxPool->buffer);
     gGfxSPTask = &gGfxPool->spTask;