diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 88774b976..79d83c401 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -95,12 +95,6 @@ this will play a compatible file.
 
 this will play a compatible file and enable the commands view.
 
-```
-./furnace -output audio.wav <file>
-```
-
-this will render a file to .wav.
-
 # notes
 
 > how do I use Neo Geo SSG envelopes?
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.cpp b/src/engine/engine.cpp
index 165f439f6..57458d081 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/engine.cpp
@@ -3229,7 +3229,7 @@ void DivEngine::quitDispatch() {
 #include "winStuff.h"
 #endif
 
-bool DivEngine::init(String outName) {
+bool DivEngine::init() {
   // init config
 #ifdef _WIN32
   configPath=getWinConfigPath();
@@ -3263,56 +3263,38 @@ bool DivEngine::init(String outName) {
   }
 
   // init the rest of engine
-  SNDFILE* outFile=NULL;
-  SF_INFO outInfo;
-  if (outName!="") {
-    // init out file
-    got.bufsize=2048;
-    got.rate=44100;
-
-    outInfo.samplerate=got.rate;
-    outInfo.channels=2;
-    outInfo.format=SF_FORMAT_WAV|SF_FORMAT_PCM_16;
-
-    outFile=sf_open(outName.c_str(),SFM_WRITE,&outInfo);
-    if (outFile==NULL) {
-      logE("could not open file for writing!\n");
+  switch (audioEngine) {
+    case DIV_AUDIO_JACK:
+#ifndef HAVE_JACK
+      logE("Furnace was not compiled with JACK support!\n");
+      setConf("audioEngine","SDL");
+      saveConf();
       return false;
-    }
-  } else {
-    switch (audioEngine) {
-      case DIV_AUDIO_JACK:
-  #ifndef HAVE_JACK
-        logE("Furnace was not compiled with JACK support!\n");
-        setConf("audioEngine","SDL");
-        saveConf();
-        return false;
-  #else
-        output=new TAAudioJACK;
-  #endif
-        break;
-      case DIV_AUDIO_SDL:
-        output=new TAAudioSDL;
-        break;
-      default:
-        logE("invalid audio engine!\n");
-        return false;
-    }
-    want.bufsize=getConfInt("audioBufSize",1024);
-    want.rate=getConfInt("audioRate",44100);
-    want.fragments=2;
-    want.inChans=0;
-    want.outChans=2;
-    want.outFormat=TA_AUDIO_FORMAT_F32;
-    want.name="Furnace";
-  
-    output->setCallback(process,this);
-  
-    logI("initializing audio.\n");
-    if (!output->init(want,got)) {
-      logE("error while initializing audio!\n");
+#else
+      output=new TAAudioJACK;
+#endif
+      break;
+    case DIV_AUDIO_SDL:
+      output=new TAAudioSDL;
+      break;
+    default:
+      logE("invalid audio engine!\n");
       return false;
-    }
+  }
+  want.bufsize=getConfInt("audioBufSize",1024);
+  want.rate=getConfInt("audioRate",44100);
+  want.fragments=2;
+  want.inChans=0;
+  want.outChans=2;
+  want.outFormat=TA_AUDIO_FORMAT_F32;
+  want.name="Furnace";
+
+  output->setCallback(process,this);
+
+  logI("initializing audio.\n");
+  if (!output->init(want,got)) {
+    logE("error while initializing audio!\n");
+    return false;
   }
 
   samp_bb=blip_new(32768);
@@ -3340,42 +3322,9 @@ bool DivEngine::init(String outName) {
   reset();
   active=true;
 
-  if (outName!="") {
-    short* ilBuffer=new short[got.bufsize*2];
-    // render to file
-    remainingLoops=1;
-    play();
-    while (remainingLoops) {
-      nextBuf(NULL,NULL,0,2,got.bufsize);
-
-      for (int h=0; h<song.systemLen; h++) {
-        if (disCont[h].dispatch->isStereo()) {
-          for (size_t i=0; i<got.bufsize; i++) {
-            ilBuffer[i<<1]=disCont[h].bbOut[0][i];
-            ilBuffer[1+(i<<1)]=disCont[h].bbOut[1][i];
-          }
-        } else {
-          for (size_t i=0; i<got.bufsize; i++) {
-            ilBuffer[i<<1]=disCont[h].bbOut[0][i];
-            ilBuffer[1+(i<<1)]=disCont[h].bbOut[0][i];
-          }
-        }
-      }
-
-      if (!remainingLoops) {
-        sf_writef_short(outFile,ilBuffer,totalProcessed);
-      } else {
-        sf_writef_short(outFile,ilBuffer,got.bufsize);
-      }
-    }
-    delete[] ilBuffer;
-    sf_close(outFile);
-    return true;
-  } else {
-    if (!output->setRun(true)) {
-      logE("error while activating!\n");
-      return false;
-    }
+  if (!output->setRun(true)) {
+    logE("error while activating!\n");
+    return false;
   }
   return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.h b/src/engine/engine.h
index 322026a81..f817c3d3d 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.h
+++ b/src/engine/engine.h
@@ -194,6 +194,10 @@ class DivEngine {
     SafeWriter* buildROM(int sys);
     // dump to VGM (TODO).
     SafeWriter* saveVGM();
+    // export to an audio file
+    bool saveAudio(const char* path);
+    // stop audio file export
+    bool haltAudioFile();
 
     // save config
     bool saveConf();
@@ -423,7 +427,7 @@ class DivEngine {
     void quitDispatch();
 
     // initialize the engine. optionally provide an output file name.
-    bool init(String outName="");
+    bool init();
 
     // terminate the engine.
     bool quit();
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index c1d2fdce7..1dcaea785 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
       return 1;
     }
   }
-  if (!e.init(outName)) {
+  if (!e.init()) {
     logE("could not initialize engine!\n");
     return 1;
   }