diff --git a/audio.go b/audio.go
index d32c5a0..2860a4b 100644
--- a/audio.go
+++ b/audio.go
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 package sointu
 
+// AudioBuffer is a buffer of stereo audio samples of variable length, each
+// sample represented by a slice of [2]float32. [0] is left channel, [1] is
+// right
+type AudioBuffer [][2]float32
+
 // AudioOutput represents something where we can send audio e.g. audio output.
 // WriteAudio should block if not ready to accept audio e.g. buffer full.
 type AudioOutput interface {
-	WriteAudio(buffer []float32) error
+	WriteAudio(buffer AudioBuffer) error
 	Close() error
 }
 
diff --git a/audioexport.go b/audioexport.go
index d5166dc..b853552 100644
--- a/audioexport.go
+++ b/audioexport.go
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ import (
 //
 // If pcm16 is set to true, the samples in the WAV-file will be 16-bit signed
 // integers; otherwise the samples will be 32-bit floats
-func Wav(buffer []float32, pcm16 bool) ([]byte, error) {
+func Wav(buffer AudioBuffer, pcm16 bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-	wavHeader(len(buffer), pcm16, buf)
+	wavHeader(len(buffer)*2, pcm16, buf)
 	err := rawToBuffer(buffer, pcm16, buf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Wav failed: %v", err)
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func Wav(buffer []float32, pcm16 bool) ([]byte, error) {
 //
 // If pcm16 is set to true, the samples will be 16-bit signed integers;
 // otherwise the samples will be 32-bit floats
-func Raw(buffer []float32, pcm16 bool) ([]byte, error) {
+func Raw(buffer AudioBuffer, pcm16 bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
 	err := rawToBuffer(buffer, pcm16, buf)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -36,12 +36,13 @@ func Raw(buffer []float32, pcm16 bool) ([]byte, error) {
 	return buf.Bytes(), nil
 }
 
-func rawToBuffer(data []float32, pcm16 bool, buf *bytes.Buffer) error {
+func rawToBuffer(data AudioBuffer, pcm16 bool, buf *bytes.Buffer) error {
 	var err error
 	if pcm16 {
-		int16data := make([]int16, len(data))
+		int16data := make([][2]int16, len(data))
 		for i, v := range data {
-			int16data[i] = int16(clamp(int(v*math.MaxInt16), math.MinInt16, math.MaxInt16))
+			int16data[i][0] = int16(clamp(int(v[0]*math.MaxInt16), math.MinInt16, math.MaxInt16))
+			int16data[i][1] = int16(clamp(int(v[1]*math.MaxInt16), math.MinInt16, math.MaxInt16))
 		}
 		err = binary.Write(buf, binary.LittleEndian, int16data)
 	} else {
diff --git a/cmd/sointu-track/main.go b/cmd/sointu-track/main.go
index c1bfd5b..b9680f3 100644
--- a/cmd/sointu-track/main.go
+++ b/cmd/sointu-track/main.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"runtime/pprof"
 
 	"gioui.org/app"
+	"github.com/vsariola/sointu"
 	"github.com/vsariola/sointu/cmd"
 	"github.com/vsariola/sointu/oto"
 	"github.com/vsariola/sointu/tracker"
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ func main() {
 	output := audioContext.Output()
 	defer output.Close()
 	go func() {
-		buf := make([]float32, 2048)
+		buf := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1024)
 		ctx := NullContext{}
 		for {
 			player.Process(buf, ctx)
diff --git a/cmd/sointu-vsti/main.go b/cmd/sointu-vsti/main.go
index 3aafb2e..4f3670e 100644
--- a/cmd/sointu-vsti/main.go
+++ b/cmd/sointu-vsti/main.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 
+	"github.com/vsariola/sointu"
 	"github.com/vsariola/sointu/cmd"
 	"github.com/vsariola/sointu/tracker"
 	"github.com/vsariola/sointu/tracker/gioui"
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ func init() {
 		tracker.SetInstrEnlarged(true) // start the vsti with the instrument editor enlarged
 		go tracker.Main()
 		context := VSTIProcessContext{make([]vst2.MIDIEvent, 100), h}
-		buf := make([]float32, 2048)
+		buf := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1024)
 		return vst2.Plugin{
 				UniqueID:       PLUGIN_ID,
 				Version:        version,
@@ -79,13 +80,13 @@ func init() {
 				ProcessFloatFunc: func(in, out vst2.FloatBuffer) {
 					left := out.Channel(0)
 					right := out.Channel(1)
-					if len(buf) < out.Frames*2 {
-						buf = append(buf, make([]float32, out.Frames*2-len(buf))...)
+					if len(buf) < out.Frames {
+						buf = append(buf, make(sointu.AudioBuffer, out.Frames-len(buf))...)
 					}
-					buf = buf[:out.Frames*2]
+					buf = buf[:out.Frames]
 					player.Process(buf, &context)
 					for i := 0; i < out.Frames; i++ {
-						left[i], right[i] = buf[i*2], buf[i*2+1]
+						left[i], right[i] = buf[i][0], buf[i][1]
 					}
 					context.events = context.events[:0]
 				},
diff --git a/oto/convertbuffer.go b/oto/convertbuffer.go
index 9ac72c6..cbe9610 100644
--- a/oto/convertbuffer.go
+++ b/oto/convertbuffer.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package oto
 
 import (
 	"math"
+
+	"github.com/vsariola/sointu"
 )
 
 // FloatBufferTo16BitLE is a naive helper method to convert []float32 buffers to
@@ -9,17 +11,22 @@ import (
 //
 // Appends the encoded bytes into "to" slice, allowing you to preallocate the
 // capacity or just use nil
-func FloatBufferTo16BitLE(from []float32, to []byte) []byte {
+func FloatBufferTo16BitLE(from sointu.AudioBuffer, to []byte) []byte {
 	for _, v := range from {
-		var uv int16
-		if v < -1.0 {
-			uv = -math.MaxInt16 // we are a bit lazy: -1.0 is encoded as -32767, as this makes math easier, and -32768 is unused
-		} else if v > 1.0 {
-			uv = math.MaxInt16
-		} else {
-			uv = int16(v * math.MaxInt16)
-		}
-		to = append(to, byte(uv&255), byte(uv>>8))
+		left := to16BitSample(v[0])
+		right := to16BitSample(v[1])
+		to = append(to, byte(left&255), byte(left>>8), byte(right&255), byte(right>>8))
 	}
 	return to
 }
+
+// convert float32 to int16, clamping to min and max
+func to16BitSample(v float32) int16 {
+	if v < -1.0 {
+		return -math.MaxInt16
+	}
+	if v > 1.0 {
+		return math.MaxInt16
+	}
+	return int16(v * math.MaxInt16)
+}
diff --git a/oto/convertbuffer_test.go b/oto/convertbuffer_test.go
index 4c5ac2c..f5697d4 100644
--- a/oto/convertbuffer_test.go
+++ b/oto/convertbuffer_test.go
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/vsariola/sointu"
 	"github.com/vsariola/sointu/oto"
 )
 
 func TestFloatBufferToBytes(t *testing.T) {
-	floats := []float32{0, 0.000489128, 0, 0.0019555532, 0, 0.0043964, 0, 0.007806882, 0, 0.012180306, 0, 0.017508084, 0, 0.023779746, 0, 0.030982954, 0, 0.039103523, 0, 0.04812544, 0, 0.05803088, 0, 0.068800256, 0, 0.08041221, 0, 0.09284368, 0, 0.10606992, 0, 0.120064534, 0, 0.13479951, 0, 0.1502453, 0, 0.16637078, 0, 0.18314338, 0, 0.20052913, 0, 0.21849263, 0, 0.23699719, 0, 0.2560048, 0, 0.27547634, 0, 0.29537144, 0, 0.31564865, 0, 0.33626547, 0, 0.35717854, 0, 0.37834346, 0, 0.39971504, 0, 0.4212474, 0, 0.4428938, 0, 0.46460703, 0, 0.48633927, 0, 0.50804216, 0, 0.52966696, 0, 0.5511646, 0, 0.57248586, 0, 0.5935812, 0, 0.6144009, 0, 0.63489544, 0, 0.6550152, 0, 0.67471063, 0, 0.6939326, 0, 0.712632, 0, 0.7307603, 0, 0.7482692, 0, 0.7651111, 0, 0.7812389}
+	floats := sointu.AudioBuffer{{0, 0.000489128}, {0, 0.0019555532}, {0, 0.0043964}, {0, 0.007806882}, {0, 0.012180306}, {0, 0.017508084}, {0, 0.023779746}, {0, 0.030982954}, {0, 0.039103523}, {0, 0.04812544}, {0, 0.05803088}, {0, 0.068800256}, {0, 0.08041221}, {0, 0.09284368}, {0, 0.10606992}, {0, 0.120064534}, {0, 0.13479951}, {0, 0.1502453}, {0, 0.16637078}, {0, 0.18314338}, {0, 0.20052913}, {0, 0.21849263}, {0, 0.23699719}, {0, 0.2560048}, {0, 0.27547634}, {0, 0.29537144}, {0, 0.31564865}, {0, 0.33626547}, {0, 0.35717854}, {0, 0.37834346}, {0, 0.39971504}, {0, 0.4212474}, {0, 0.4428938}, {0, 0.46460703}, {0, 0.48633927}, {0, 0.50804216}, {0, 0.52966696}, {0, 0.5511646}, {0, 0.57248586}, {0, 0.5935812}, {0, 0.6144009}, {0, 0.63489544}, {0, 0.6550152}, {0, 0.67471063}, {0, 0.6939326}, {0, 0.712632}, {0, 0.7307603}, {0, 0.7482692}, {0, 0.7651111}, {0, 0.7812389}}
 	bytes := []byte{0x0, 0x0, 0x10, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x40, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x90, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0xff, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x8f, 0x1, 0x0, 0x0, 0x3d, 0x2, 0x0, 0x0, 0xb, 0x3, 0x0, 0x0, 0xf7, 0x3, 0x0, 0x0, 0x1, 0x5, 0x0, 0x0, 0x28, 0x6, 0x0, 0x0, 0x6d, 0x7, 0x0, 0x0, 0xce, 0x8, 0x0, 0x0, 0x4a, 0xa, 0x0, 0x0, 0xe2, 0xb, 0x0, 0x0, 0x93, 0xd, 0x0, 0x0, 0x5e, 0xf, 0x0, 0x0, 0x40, 0x11, 0x0, 0x0, 0x3b, 0x13, 0x0, 0x0, 0x4b, 0x15, 0x0, 0x0, 0x71, 0x17, 0x0, 0x0, 0xaa, 0x19, 0x0, 0x0, 0xf7, 0x1b, 0x0, 0x0, 0x55, 0x1e, 0x0, 0x0, 0xc4, 0x20, 0x0, 0x0, 0x42, 0x23, 0x0, 0x0, 0xce, 0x25, 0x0, 0x0, 0x66, 0x28, 0x0, 0x0, 0xa, 0x2b, 0x0, 0x0, 0xb7, 0x2d, 0x0, 0x0, 0x6d, 0x30, 0x0, 0x0, 0x29, 0x33, 0x0, 0x0, 0xeb, 0x35, 0x0, 0x0, 0xb0, 0x38, 0x0, 0x0, 0x77, 0x3b, 0x0, 0x0, 0x3f, 0x3e, 0x0, 0x0, 0x7, 0x41, 0x0, 0x0, 0xcb, 0x43, 0x0, 0x0, 0x8c, 0x46, 0x0, 0x0, 0x46, 0x49, 0x0, 0x0, 0xf9, 0x4b, 0x0, 0x0, 0xa4, 0x4e, 0x0, 0x0, 0x43, 0x51, 0x0, 0x0, 0xd6, 0x53, 0x0, 0x0, 0x5c, 0x56, 0x0, 0x0, 0xd2, 0x58, 0x0, 0x0, 0x36, 0x5b, 0x0, 0x0, 0x88, 0x5d, 0x0, 0x0, 0xc6, 0x5f, 0x0, 0x0, 0xee, 0x61, 0x0, 0x0, 0xfe, 0x63}
 	converted := oto.FloatBufferTo16BitLE(floats, nil)
 	for i, v := range converted {
@@ -23,13 +24,14 @@ func TestFloatBufferToBytes(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFloatBufferToBytesLimits(t *testing.T) {
-	floats := []float32{0, 1, -1, 0.999, -0.999}
+	floats := sointu.AudioBuffer{{0, 1}, {-1, 0.999}, {-0.999, 0}}
 	bytes := []byte{
 		0x0, 0x0,
 		0xFF, 0x7F, // float 1 = 0x7FFF = 0111111111111111
 		0x01, 0x80, // float -1 = 0x8001 = 1000000000000001
 		0xDE, 0x7F, // float 0.999 = 0x7FDE = 0111111111011110
 		0x22, 0x80, // float -0.999 = 0x8022 = 1000000000100010
+		0x0, 0x0,
 	}
 	converted := oto.FloatBufferTo16BitLE(floats, nil)
 	for i, v := range converted {
diff --git a/oto/oto.go b/oto/oto.go
index 0d24ee3..17e7183 100644
--- a/oto/oto.go
+++ b/oto/oto.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func (c *OtoContext) Close() error {
 }
 
 // Play implements the audio.Player interface for OtoPlayer
-func (o *OtoOutput) WriteAudio(floatBuffer []float32) (err error) {
+func (o *OtoOutput) WriteAudio(floatBuffer sointu.AudioBuffer) (err error) {
 	// we reuse the old capacity tmpBuffer by setting its length to zero. then,
 	// we save the tmpBuffer so we can reuse it next time
 	o.tmpBuffer = FloatBufferTo16BitLE(floatBuffer, o.tmpBuffer[:0])
diff --git a/synth.go b/synth.go
index 2242e2b..246e4eb 100644
--- a/synth.go
+++ b/synth.go
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ import (
 type Synth interface {
 	// Render tries to fill a stereo signal buffer with sound from the
 	// synthesizer, until either the buffer is full or a given number of
-	// timesteps is advanced. Normally, 1 sample = 1 unit of time, but
-	// speed modulations may change this. It returns the number of samples
-	// filled (! in stereo samples, so the buffer will have 2 * sample floats),
-	// the number of sync outputs written, the number of time steps time
-	// advanced, and a possible error.
-	Render(buffer []float32, maxtime int) (sample int, time int, err error)
+	// timesteps is advanced. Normally, 1 sample = 1 unit of time, but speed
+	// modulations may change this. It returns the number of samples filled (in
+	// stereo samples i.e. number of elements of AudioBuffer filled), the
+	// number of sync outputs written, the number of time steps time advanced,
+	// and a possible error.
+	Render(buffer AudioBuffer, maxtime int) (sample int, time int, err error)
 
 	// Update recompiles a patch, but should maintain as much as possible of its
 	// state as reasonable. For example, filters should keep their state and
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ type SynthService interface {
 
 // Render fills an stereo audio buffer using a Synth, disregarding all syncs and
 // time limits.
-func Render(synth Synth, buffer []float32) error {
+func Render(synth Synth, buffer AudioBuffer) error {
 	s, _, err := synth.Render(buffer, math.MaxInt32)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("sointu.Render failed: %v", err)
 	}
-	if s != len(buffer)/2 {
+	if s != len(buffer) {
 		return errors.New("in sointu.Render, synth.Render should have filled the whole buffer but did not")
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func Render(synth Synth, buffer []float32) error {
 // created. The default behaviour during runtime rendering is to leave them
 // playing, meaning that envelopes start attacking right away unless an explicit
 // note release is put to every track.
-func Play(synthService SynthService, song Song, release bool) ([]float32, error) {
+func Play(synthService SynthService, song Song, release bool) (AudioBuffer, error) {
 	err := song.Validate()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@ func Play(synthService SynthService, song Song, release bool) ([]float32, error)
 	for i := range curVoices {
 		curVoices[i] = song.Score.FirstVoiceForTrack(i)
 	}
-	initialCapacity := song.Score.LengthInRows() * song.SamplesPerRow() * 2
-	buffer := make([]float32, 0, initialCapacity)
-	rowbuffer := make([]float32, song.SamplesPerRow()*2)
+	initialCapacity := song.Score.LengthInRows() * song.SamplesPerRow()
+	buffer := make(AudioBuffer, 0, initialCapacity)
+	rowbuffer := make(AudioBuffer, song.SamplesPerRow())
 	for row := 0; row < song.Score.LengthInRows(); row++ {
 		patternRow := row % song.Score.RowsPerPattern
 		pattern := row / song.Score.RowsPerPattern
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func Play(synthService SynthService, song Song, release bool) ([]float32, error)
 				return buffer, fmt.Errorf("render failed: %v", err)
 			}
 			rowtime += time
-			buffer = append(buffer, rowbuffer[:samples*2]...)
+			buffer = append(buffer, rowbuffer[:samples]...)
 			if tries > 100 {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("Song speed modulation likely so slow that row never advances; error at pattern %v, row %v", pattern, patternRow)
 			}
diff --git a/tracker/player.go b/tracker/player.go
index 372b738..fbef8ed 100644
--- a/tracker/player.go
+++ b/tracker/player.go
@@ -95,13 +95,13 @@ func NewPlayer(synthService sointu.SynthService, playerMessages chan<- PlayerMes
 	return p
 }
 
-func (p *Player) Process(buffer []float32, context PlayerProcessContext) {
+func (p *Player) Process(buffer sointu.AudioBuffer, context PlayerProcessContext) {
 	p.processMessages(context)
 	midi, midiOk := context.NextEvent()
 	frame := 0
 
 	if p.recording && p.recordingNoteArrived {
-		p.recordingFrames += len(buffer) / 2
+		p.recordingFrames += len(buffer)
 	}
 
 	oldBuffer := buffer
@@ -110,11 +110,11 @@ func (p *Player) Process(buffer []float32, context PlayerProcessContext) {
 		for midiOk && frame >= midi.Frame {
 			if p.recording {
 				if !p.recordingNoteArrived {
-					p.recordingFrames = len(buffer) / 2
+					p.recordingFrames = len(buffer)
 					p.recordingNoteArrived = true
 				}
 				midiTotalFrame := midi
-				midiTotalFrame.Frame = p.recordingFrames - len(buffer)/2
+				midiTotalFrame.Frame = p.recordingFrames - len(buffer)
 				p.recordingEvents = append(p.recordingEvents, midiTotalFrame)
 			}
 			if midi.On {
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func (p *Player) Process(buffer []float32, context PlayerProcessContext) {
 			}
 			midi, midiOk = context.NextEvent()
 		}
-		framesUntilMidi := len(buffer) / 2
+		framesUntilMidi := len(buffer)
 		if delta := midi.Frame - frame; midiOk && delta < framesUntilMidi {
 			framesUntilMidi = delta
 		}
@@ -138,14 +138,14 @@ func (p *Player) Process(buffer []float32, context PlayerProcessContext) {
 		var rendered, timeAdvanced int
 		var err error
 		if p.synth != nil {
-			rendered, timeAdvanced, err = p.synth.Render(buffer[:framesUntilMidi*2], timeUntilRowAdvance)
+			rendered, timeAdvanced, err = p.synth.Render(buffer[:framesUntilMidi], timeUntilRowAdvance)
 		} else {
 			mx := framesUntilMidi
 			if timeUntilRowAdvance < mx {
 				mx = timeUntilRowAdvance
 			}
-			for i := 0; i < mx*2; i++ {
-				buffer[i] = 0
+			for i := 0; i < mx; i++ {
+				buffer[i] = [2]float32{}
 			}
 			rendered = mx
 			timeAdvanced = mx
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func (p *Player) Process(buffer []float32, context PlayerProcessContext) {
 			p.synth = nil
 			p.trySend(PlayerCrashMessage{fmt.Errorf("synth.Render: %w", err)})
 		}
-		buffer = buffer[rendered*2:]
+		buffer = buffer[rendered:]
 		frame += rendered
 		p.rowtime += timeAdvanced
 		for i := range p.samplesSinceEvent {
diff --git a/tracker/volume.go b/tracker/volume.go
index fedfe2c..e00da42 100644
--- a/tracker/volume.go
+++ b/tracker/volume.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package tracker
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"math"
+
+	"github.com/vsariola/sointu"
 )
 
 // Volume represents an average and peak volume measurement, in decibels. 0 dB =
@@ -25,14 +27,14 @@ type Volume struct {
 //
 // minVolume and maxVolume are hard limits in decibels to prevent negative
 // infinities for volumes
-func (v *Volume) Analyze(buffer []float32, tau float64, attack float64, release float64, minVolume float64, maxVolume float64) error {
+func (v *Volume) Analyze(buffer sointu.AudioBuffer, tau float64, attack float64, release float64, minVolume float64, maxVolume float64) error {
 	alpha := 1 - math.Exp(-1.0/(tau*44100)) // from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exponential_smoothing
 	alphaAttack := 1 - math.Exp(-1.0/(attack*44100))
 	alphaRelease := 1 - math.Exp(-1.0/(release*44100))
 	var err error
 	for j := 0; j < 2; j++ {
-		for i := 0; i < len(buffer); i += 2 {
-			sample2 := float64(buffer[i+j] * buffer[i+j])
+		for i := 0; i < len(buffer); i++ {
+			sample2 := float64(buffer[i][j] * buffer[i][j])
 			if math.IsNaN(sample2) {
 				if err == nil {
 					err = errors.New("NaN detected in master output")
diff --git a/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge.go b/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge.go
index cdc1f77..1cca9a7 100644
--- a/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge.go
+++ b/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge.go
@@ -79,15 +79,15 @@ func Synth(patch sointu.Patch, bpm int) (*BridgeSynth, error) {
 // time > maxtime, as it is modulated and the time could advance by 2 or more, so the loop
 // exit condition would fire when the time is already past maxtime.
 // Under no conditions, nsamples >= len(buffer)/2 i.e. guaranteed to never overwrite the buffer.
-func (bridgesynth *BridgeSynth) Render(buffer []float32, maxtime int) (int, int, error) {
+func (bridgesynth *BridgeSynth) Render(buffer sointu.AudioBuffer, maxtime int) (int, int, error) {
 	synth := (*C.Synth)(bridgesynth)
 	// TODO: syncBuffer is not getting passed to cgo; do we want to even try to support the syncing with the native bridge
 	if len(buffer)%1 == 1 {
 		return -1, -1, errors.New("RenderTime writes stereo signals, so buffer should have even length")
 	}
-	samples := C.int(len(buffer) / 2)
+	samples := C.int(len(buffer))
 	time := C.int(maxtime)
-	errcode := int(C.su_render(synth, (*C.float)(&buffer[0]), &samples, &time))
+	errcode := int(C.su_render(synth, (*C.float)(&buffer[0][0]), &samples, &time))
 	if errcode > 0 {
 		return int(samples), int(time), &RenderError{errcode: errcode}
 	}
diff --git a/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go b/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go
index 360584f..1e8fa13 100644
--- a/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go
+++ b/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func TestRenderSamples(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("bridge compile error: %v", err)
 	}
 	synth.Trigger(0, 64)
-	buffer := make([]float32, 2*su_max_samples)
+	buffer := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, su_max_samples)
 	err = sointu.Render(synth, buffer[:len(buffer)/2])
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("first render gave an error")
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func TestAllRegressionTests(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Fatalf("could not parse the .yml file: %v", err)
 			}
 			buffer, err := sointu.Play(bridge.BridgeService{}, song, false)
-			buffer = buffer[:song.Score.LengthInRows()*song.SamplesPerRow()*2] // extend to the nominal length always.
+			buffer = buffer[:song.Score.LengthInRows()*song.SamplesPerRow()] // extend to the nominal length always.
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Play failed: %v", err)
 			}
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func TestStackUnderflow(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("bridge compile error: %v", err)
 	}
-	buffer := make([]float32, 2)
+	buffer := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1)
 	err = sointu.Render(synth, buffer)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("rendering should have failed due to stack underflow")
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestStackBalancing(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("bridge compile error: %v", err)
 	}
-	buffer := make([]float32, 2)
+	buffer := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1)
 	err = sointu.Render(synth, buffer)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("rendering should have failed due to unbalanced stack push/pop")
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ func TestStackOverflow(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("bridge compile error: %v", err)
 	}
-	buffer := make([]float32, 2)
+	buffer := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1)
 	err = sointu.Render(synth, buffer)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("rendering should have failed due to stack overflow, despite balanced push/pops")
@@ -200,20 +200,20 @@ func TestDivideByZero(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("bridge compile error: %v", err)
 	}
-	buffer := make([]float32, 2)
+	buffer := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1)
 	err = sointu.Render(synth, buffer)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("rendering should have failed due to divide by zero")
 	}
 }
 
-func compareToRawFloat32(t *testing.T, buffer []float32, rawname string) {
+func compareToRawFloat32(t *testing.T, buffer sointu.AudioBuffer, rawname string) {
 	_, filename, _, _ := runtime.Caller(0)
 	expectedb, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path.Join(path.Dir(filename), "..", "..", "..", "tests", "expected_output", rawname))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("cannot read expected: %v", err)
 	}
-	expected := make([]float32, len(expectedb)/4)
+	expected := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, len(expectedb)/8)
 	buf := bytes.NewReader(expectedb)
 	err = binary.Read(buf, binary.LittleEndian, &expected)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -223,8 +223,10 @@ func compareToRawFloat32(t *testing.T, buffer []float32, rawname string) {
 		t.Fatalf("buffer length mismatch, got %v, expected %v", len(buffer), len(expected))
 	}
 	for i, v := range expected {
-		if math.IsNaN(float64(buffer[i])) || math.Abs(float64(v-buffer[i])) > 1e-6 {
-			t.Fatalf("error bigger than 1e-6 detected, at sample position %v", i)
+		for j, s := range v {
+			if math.IsNaN(float64(buffer[i][j])) || math.Abs(float64(s-buffer[i][j])) > 1e-6 {
+				t.Fatalf("error bigger than 1e-6 detected, at sample position %v", i)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/vm/interpreter.go b/vm/interpreter.go
index 9ff778c..59e633f 100644
--- a/vm/interpreter.go
+++ b/vm/interpreter.go
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func (s *Interpreter) Update(patch sointu.Patch, bpm int) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (s *Interpreter) Render(buffer []float32, maxtime int) (samples int, time int, renderError error) {
+func (s *Interpreter) Render(buffer sointu.AudioBuffer, maxtime int) (samples int, time int, renderError error) {
 	defer func() {
 		if err := recover(); err != nil {
 			renderError = fmt.Errorf("render panicced: %v", err)
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func (s *Interpreter) Render(buffer []float32, maxtime int) (samples int, time i
 	stack := s.stack[:]
 	stack = append(stack, []float32{0, 0, 0, 0}...)
 	synth := &s.synth
-	for time < maxtime && len(buffer) > 1 {
+	for time < maxtime && len(buffer) > 0 {
 		commandInstr := s.bytePatch.Commands
 		valuesInstr := s.bytePatch.Values
 		commands, values := commandInstr, valuesInstr
@@ -580,11 +580,10 @@ func (s *Interpreter) Render(buffer []float32, maxtime int) (samples int, time i
 		if len(stack) > 4 {
 			return samples, time, errors.New("stack not empty")
 		}
-		buffer[0] = synth.outputs[0]
-		buffer[1] = synth.outputs[1]
+		buffer[0][0], buffer[0][1] = synth.outputs[0], synth.outputs[1]
 		synth.outputs[0] = 0
 		synth.outputs[1] = 0
-		buffer = buffer[2:]
+		buffer = buffer[1:]
 		samples++
 		time++
 		s.synth.globalTime++
diff --git a/vm/interpreter_test.go b/vm/interpreter_test.go
index b714c24..0f6d0a1 100644
--- a/vm/interpreter_test.go
+++ b/vm/interpreter_test.go
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 )
 
+const errorThreshold = 1e-2
+
 func TestAllRegressionTests(t *testing.T) {
 	_, myname, _, _ := runtime.Caller(0)
 	files, err := filepath.Glob(path.Join(path.Dir(myname), "..", "tests", "*.yml"))
@@ -42,7 +44,7 @@ func TestAllRegressionTests(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Fatalf("could not parse the .yml file: %v", err)
 			}
 			buffer, err := sointu.Play(vm.SynthService{}, song, false)
-			buffer = buffer[:song.Score.LengthInRows()*song.SamplesPerRow()*2] // extend to the nominal length always.
+			buffer = buffer[:song.Score.LengthInRows()*song.SamplesPerRow()] // extend to the nominal length always.
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Play failed: %v", err)
 			}
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ func TestStackUnderflow(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("bridge compile error: %v", err)
 	}
-	buffer := make([]float32, 2)
+	buffer := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1)
 	err = sointu.Render(synth, buffer)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("rendering should have failed due to stack underflow")
@@ -96,20 +98,20 @@ func TestStackBalancing(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("bridge compile error: %v", err)
 	}
-	buffer := make([]float32, 2)
+	buffer := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, 1)
 	err = sointu.Render(synth, buffer)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("rendering should have failed due to unbalanced stack push/pop")
 	}
 }
 
-func compareToRawFloat32(t *testing.T, buffer []float32, rawname string) {
+func compareToRawFloat32(t *testing.T, buffer sointu.AudioBuffer, rawname string) {
 	_, filename, _, _ := runtime.Caller(0)
 	expectedb, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path.Join(path.Dir(filename), "..", "tests", "expected_output", rawname))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("cannot read expected: %v", err)
 	}
-	expected := make([]float32, len(expectedb)/4)
+	expected := make(sointu.AudioBuffer, len(expectedb)/8)
 	buf := bytes.NewReader(expectedb)
 	err = binary.Read(buf, binary.LittleEndian, &expected)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -121,14 +123,16 @@ func compareToRawFloat32(t *testing.T, buffer []float32, rawname string) {
 	firsterr := -1
 	errs := 0
 	for i, v := range expected[1 : len(expected)-1] {
-		if math.IsNaN(float64(buffer[i])) || (math.Abs(float64(v-buffer[i])) > 1e-2 &&
-			math.Abs(float64(v-buffer[i+1])) > 1e-2 && math.Abs(float64(v-buffer[i+2])) > 1e-2) {
-			errs++
-			if firsterr == -1 {
-				firsterr = i
-			}
-			if errs > 200 { // we are again quite liberal with rounding errors, as different platforms have minor differences in floating point rounding
-				t.Fatalf("more than 200 errors bigger than 1e-2 detected, first at sample position %v", firsterr)
+		for j, s := range v {
+			if math.IsNaN(float64(buffer[i][j])) || (math.Abs(float64(s-buffer[i][j])) > errorThreshold &&
+				math.Abs(float64(s-buffer[i+1][j])) > errorThreshold && math.Abs(float64(s-buffer[i+2][j])) > errorThreshold) {
+				errs++
+				if firsterr == -1 {
+					firsterr = i
+				}
+				if errs > 200 { // we are again quite liberal with rounding errors, as different platforms have minor differences in floating point rounding
+					t.Fatalf("more than 200 errors bigger than %v detected, first at sample position %v", errorThreshold, firsterr)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}