diff --git a/cmd/sointu-play/main.go b/cmd/sointu-play/main.go
index 5cb9db9..7118470 100644
--- a/cmd/sointu-play/main.go
+++ b/cmd/sointu-play/main.go
@@ -88,16 +88,7 @@ func main() {
 				return fmt.Errorf("the song could not be parsed as .json (%v) or .yml (%v)", errJSON, errYaml)
 			}
 		}
-		synth, err := bridge.Synth(song.Patch)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("could not create synth based on the patch: %v", err)
-		}
-		if !*unreleased {
-			for i := 0; i < 32; i++ {
-				synth.Release(i)
-			}
-		}
-		buffer, _, err := sointu.Play(synth, song) // render the song to calculate its length
+		buffer, _, err := sointu.Play(bridge.BridgeService{}, song, !*unreleased) // render the song to calculate its length
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("sointu.Play failed: %v", err)
 		}
diff --git a/synth.go b/synth.go
index 8a88ad4..8578bee 100644
--- a/synth.go
+++ b/synth.go
@@ -52,15 +52,26 @@ func Render(synth Synth, buffer []float32) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Play plays the Song using a given Synth, returning the stereo audio buffer
-// and the sync buffer as a result (and possible errors). This is a bit
-// illogical as the Song contains already the Patch; this could be probably
-// refactored to just accept a SynthService and a Song.
-func Play(synth Synth, song Song) ([]float32, []float32, error) {
+// Play plays the Song using a given SynthService, returning the stereo audio
+// buffer and the sync buffer as a result (and possible errors). Passing
+// 'release' as true means that all the notes are released when the synth is
+// 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, []float32, error) {
 	err := song.Validate()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
+	synth, err := synthService.Compile(song.Patch)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("sointu.Play failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if release {
+		for i := 0; i < 32; i++ {
+			synth.Release(i)
+		}
+	}
 	curVoices := make([]int, len(song.Score.Tracks))
 	for i := range curVoices {
 		curVoices[i] = song.Score.FirstVoiceForTrack(i)
diff --git a/tracker/gioui/files.go b/tracker/gioui/files.go
index 2e9e9ff..3670757 100644
--- a/tracker/gioui/files.go
+++ b/tracker/gioui/files.go
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+//go:build !js
 // +build !js
 
 package gioui
@@ -116,15 +117,7 @@ func (t *Tracker) exportWav(filename string, pcm16 bool) {
 	if extension == "" {
 		filename = filename + ".wav"
 	}
-	synth, err := t.synthService.Compile(t.Song().Patch)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Alert.Update(fmt.Sprintf("Error compiling the patch during export: %v", err), Error, time.Second*3)
-		return
-	}
-	for i := 0; i < 32; i++ {
-		synth.Release(i)
-	}
-	data, _, err := sointu.Play(synth, t.Song()) // render the song to calculate its length
+	data, _, err := sointu.Play(t.synthService, t.Song(), true) // render the song to calculate its length
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Alert.Update(fmt.Sprintf("Error rendering the song during export: %v", err), Error, time.Second*3)
 		return
diff --git a/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go b/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go
index 8fef881..6dedcf4 100644
--- a/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go
+++ b/vm/compiler/bridge/bridge_test.go
@@ -40,11 +40,7 @@ func TestOscillatSine(t *testing.T) {
 	}}}
 	tracks := []sointu.Track{{NumVoices: 1, Order: []int{0}, Patterns: []sointu.Pattern{{64, 0, 68, 0, 32, 0, 0, 0, 75, 0, 78, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0}}}}
 	song := sointu.Song{BPM: 100, RowsPerBeat: 4, Score: sointu.Score{RowsPerPattern: 16, Length: 1, Tracks: tracks}, Patch: patch}
-	synth, err := bridge.Synth(patch)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Compiling patch failed: %v", err)
-	}
-	buffer, _, err := sointu.Play(synth, song)
+	buffer, _, err := sointu.Play(bridge.BridgeService{}, song, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Render failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -99,11 +95,7 @@ func TestAllRegressionTests(t *testing.T) {
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("could not parse the .yml file: %v", err)
 			}
-			synth, err := bridge.Synth(song.Patch)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("Compiling patch failed: %v", err)
-			}
-			buffer, _, err := sointu.Play(synth, song)
+			buffer, _, err := sointu.Play(bridge.BridgeService{}, song, false)
 			buffer = buffer[:song.Score.LengthInRows()*song.SamplesPerRow()*2] // extend to the nominal length always.
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Play failed: %v", err)
diff --git a/vm/interpreter_test.go b/vm/interpreter_test.go
index 790cc38..fb97858 100644
--- a/vm/interpreter_test.go
+++ b/vm/interpreter_test.go
@@ -41,11 +41,7 @@ func TestAllRegressionTests(t *testing.T) {
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("could not parse the .yml file: %v", err)
 			}
-			synth, err := vm.Synth(song.Patch)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("Compiling patch failed: %v", err)
-			}
-			buffer, syncBuffer, err := sointu.Play(synth, song)
+			buffer, syncBuffer, err := sointu.Play(vm.SynthService{}, song, false)
 			buffer = buffer[:song.Score.LengthInRows()*song.SamplesPerRow()*2] // extend to the nominal length always.
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("Play failed: %v", err)