Merge branch 'planar_audio'

Conflicts:
	audio/out/ao_lavc.c

59 files changed, 1460 insertions, 1406 deletions

diff --git a/audio/audio.c b/audio/audio.c
index 9d41928436..2a67e22e5e 100644
--- a/audio/audio.c
+++ b/audio/audio.c
@@ -17,42 +17,60 @@
 
 #include <assert.h>
 
+#include <libavutil/mem.h>
+
+#include "mpvcore/mp_common.h"
 #include "mpvcore/mp_talloc.h"
 #include "audio.h"
 
+static void update_redundant_info(struct mp_audio *mpa)
+{
+    assert(mp_chmap_is_empty(&mpa->channels) ||
+           mp_chmap_is_valid(&mpa->channels));
+    mpa->nch = mpa->channels.num;
+    mpa->bps = af_fmt2bits(mpa->format) / 8;
+    if (af_fmt_is_planar(mpa->format)) {
+        mpa->spf = 1;
+        mpa->num_planes = mpa->nch;
+        mpa->sstride = mpa->bps;
+    } else {
+        mpa->spf = mpa->nch;
+        mpa->num_planes = 1;
+        mpa->sstride = mpa->bps * mpa->nch;
+    }
+}
+
 void mp_audio_set_format(struct mp_audio *mpa, int format)
 {
     mpa->format = format;
-    mpa->bps = af_fmt2bits(format) / 8;
+    update_redundant_info(mpa);
 }
 
 void mp_audio_set_num_channels(struct mp_audio *mpa, int num_channels)
 {
-    struct mp_chmap map;
-    mp_chmap_from_channels(&map, num_channels);
-    mp_audio_set_channels(mpa, &map);
+    mp_chmap_from_channels(&mpa->channels, num_channels);
+    update_redundant_info(mpa);
 }
 
 // Use old MPlayer/ALSA channel layout.
 void mp_audio_set_channels_old(struct mp_audio *mpa, int num_channels)
 {
-    struct mp_chmap map;
-    mp_chmap_from_channels_alsa(&map, num_channels);
-    mp_audio_set_channels(mpa, &map);
+    mp_chmap_from_channels_alsa(&mpa->channels, num_channels);
+    update_redundant_info(mpa);
 }
 
 void mp_audio_set_channels(struct mp_audio *mpa, const struct mp_chmap *chmap)
 {
-    assert(mp_chmap_is_empty(chmap) || mp_chmap_is_valid(chmap));
     mpa->channels = *chmap;
-    mpa->nch = mpa->channels.num;
+    update_redundant_info(mpa);
 }
 
 void mp_audio_copy_config(struct mp_audio *dst, const struct mp_audio *src)
 {
-    mp_audio_set_format(dst, src->format);
-    mp_audio_set_channels(dst, &src->channels);
+    dst->format = src->format;
+    dst->channels = src->channels;
     dst->rate = src->rate;
+    update_redundant_info(dst);
 }
 
 bool mp_audio_config_equals(const struct mp_audio *a, const struct mp_audio *b)
@@ -74,3 +92,135 @@ char *mp_audio_config_to_str(struct mp_audio *mpa)
 {
     return mp_audio_fmt_to_str(mpa->rate, &mpa->channels, mpa->format);
 }
+
+void mp_audio_force_interleaved_format(struct mp_audio *mpa)
+{
+    if (af_fmt_is_planar(mpa->format))
+        mp_audio_set_format(mpa, af_fmt_from_planar(mpa->format));
+}
+
+// Return used size of a plane. (The size is the same for all planes.)
+int mp_audio_psize(struct mp_audio *mpa)
+{
+    return mpa->samples * mpa->sstride;
+}
+
+void mp_audio_set_null_data(struct mp_audio *mpa)
+{
+    for (int n = 0; n < MP_NUM_CHANNELS; n++)
+        mpa->planes[n] = NULL;
+    mpa->samples = 0;
+}
+
+static void mp_audio_destructor(void *ptr)
+{
+    struct mp_audio *mpa = ptr;
+    for (int n = mpa->num_planes; n < MP_NUM_CHANNELS; n++) {
+        // Note: don't free if not allocated by mp_audio_realloc
+        if (mpa->allocated[n])
+            av_free(mpa->planes[n]);
+    }
+}
+
+/* Reallocate the data stored in mpa->planes[n] so that enough samples are
+ * available on every plane. The previous data is kept (for the smallest
+ * common number of samples before/after resize).
+ *
+ * mpa->samples is not set or used.
+ *
+ * This function is flexible enough to handle format and channel layout
+ * changes. In these cases, all planes are reallocated as needed. Unused
+ * planes are freed.
+ *
+ * mp_audio_realloc(mpa, 0) will still yield non-NULL for mpa->data[n].
+ *
+ * Allocated data is implicitly freed on talloc_free(mpa).
+ */
+void mp_audio_realloc(struct mp_audio *mpa, int samples)
+{
+    assert(samples >= 0);
+    int size = MPMAX(samples * mpa->sstride, 1);
+    for (int n = 0; n < mpa->num_planes; n++) {
+        if (size != mpa->allocated[n]) {
+            // Note: av_realloc() can't be used (see libavutil doxygen)
+            void *new = av_malloc(size);
+            if (!new)
+                abort();
+            if (mpa->allocated[n])
+                memcpy(new, mpa->planes[n], MPMIN(mpa->allocated[n], size));
+            av_free(mpa->planes[n]);
+            mpa->planes[n] = new;
+            mpa->allocated[n] = size;
+        }
+    }
+    for (int n = mpa->num_planes; n < MP_NUM_CHANNELS; n++) {
+        av_free(mpa->planes[n]);
+        mpa->planes[n] = NULL;
+        mpa->allocated[n] = 0;
+    }
+    talloc_set_destructor(mpa, mp_audio_destructor);
+}
+
+// Like mp_audio_realloc(), but only reallocate if the audio grows in size.
+void mp_audio_realloc_min(struct mp_audio *mpa, int samples)
+{
+    if (samples > mp_audio_get_allocated_size(mpa))
+        mp_audio_realloc(mpa, samples);
+}
+
+/* Get the size allocated for the data, in number of samples. If the allocated
+ * size isn't on sample boundaries (e.g. after format changes), the returned
+ * sample number is a rounded down value.
+ *
+ * Note that this only works in situations where mp_audio_realloc() also works!
+ */
+int mp_audio_get_allocated_size(struct mp_audio *mpa)
+{
+    int size = 0;
+    for (int n = 0; n < mpa->num_planes; n++) {
+        int s = mpa->allocated[n] / mpa->sstride;
+        size = n == 0 ? s : MPMIN(size, s);
+    }
+    return size;
+}
+
+// Clear the samples [start, start + length) with silence.
+void mp_audio_fill_silence(struct mp_audio *mpa, int start, int length)
+{
+    assert(start >= 0 && length >= 0 && start + length <= mpa->samples);
+    int offset = start * mpa->sstride;
+    int size = length * mpa->sstride;
+    for (int n = 0; n < mpa->num_planes; n++) {
+        if (n > 0 && mpa->planes[n] == mpa->planes[0])
+            continue; // silly optimization for special cases
+        af_fill_silence((char *)mpa->planes[n] + offset, size, mpa->format);
+    }
+}
+
+// All integer parameters are in samples.
+// dst and src can overlap.
+void mp_audio_copy(struct mp_audio *dst, int dst_offset,
+                   struct mp_audio *src, int src_offset, int length)
+{
+    assert(mp_audio_config_equals(dst, src));
+    assert(length >= 0);
+    assert(dst_offset >= 0 && dst_offset + length <= dst->samples);
+    assert(src_offset >= 0 && src_offset + length <= src->samples);
+
+    for (int n = 0; n < dst->num_planes; n++) {
+        memmove((char *)dst->planes[n] + dst_offset * dst->sstride,
+                (char *)src->planes[n] + src_offset * src->sstride,
+                length * dst->sstride);
+    }
+}
+
+// Set data to the audio after the given number of samples (i.e. slice it).
+void mp_audio_skip_samples(struct mp_audio *data, int samples)
+{
+    assert(samples >= 0 && samples <= data->samples);
+
+    for (int n = 0; n < data->num_planes; n++)
+        data->planes[n] = (uint8_t *)data->planes[n] + samples * data->sstride;
+
+    data->samples -= samples;
+}
diff --git a/audio/audio.h b/audio/audio.h
index de35e697c8..54ac2d5aac 100644
--- a/audio/audio.h
+++ b/audio/audio.h
@@ -23,14 +23,22 @@
 
 // Audio data chunk
 struct mp_audio {
-    void *audio; // data buffer
-    int len;    // buffer length (in bytes)
-    int rate;   // sample rate
+    int samples;        // number of samples in data (per channel)
+    void *planes[MP_NUM_CHANNELS]; // data buffer (one per plane)
+    int rate;           // sample rate
     struct mp_chmap channels; // channel layout, use mp_audio_set_*() to set
     int format; // format (AF_FORMAT_...), use mp_audio_set_format() to set
     // Redundant fields, for convenience
-    int nch;    // number of channels (redundant with chmap)
-    int bps;    // bytes per sample (redundant with format)
+    int sstride;        // distance between 2 samples in bytes on a plane
+                        //  interleaved: bps * nch
+                        //  planar:      bps
+    int nch;            // number of channels (redundant with chmap)
+    int spf;            // sub-samples per sample on each plane
+    int num_planes;     // number of planes
+    int bps;            // size of sub-samples (af_fmt2bits(format) / 8)
+
+    // private
+    int allocated[MP_NUM_CHANNELS]; // use mp_audio_get_allocated_size()
 };
 
 void mp_audio_set_format(struct mp_audio *mpa, int format);
@@ -43,4 +51,20 @@ bool mp_audio_config_equals(const struct mp_audio *a, const struct mp_audio *b);
 char *mp_audio_fmt_to_str(int srate, const struct mp_chmap *chmap, int format);
 char *mp_audio_config_to_str(struct mp_audio *mpa);
 
+void mp_audio_force_interleaved_format(struct mp_audio *mpa);
+
+int mp_audio_psize(struct mp_audio *mpa);
+
+void mp_audio_set_null_data(struct mp_audio *mpa);
+
+void mp_audio_realloc(struct mp_audio *mpa, int samples);
+void mp_audio_realloc_min(struct mp_audio *mpa, int samples);
+int mp_audio_get_allocated_size(struct mp_audio *mpa);
+
+void mp_audio_fill_silence(struct mp_audio *mpa, int start, int length);
+
+void mp_audio_copy(struct mp_audio *dst, int dst_offset,
+                   struct mp_audio *src, int src_offset, int length);
+void mp_audio_skip_samples(struct mp_audio *data, int samples);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/audio/audio_buffer.c b/audio/audio_buffer.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..53563f90c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/audio/audio_buffer.c
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of mpv.
+ *
+ * mpv is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * mpv is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with mpv.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <limits.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
+#include "mpvcore/mp_common.h"
+
+#include "audio_buffer.h"
+#include "audio.h"
+#include "format.h"
+
+struct mp_audio_buffer {
+    struct mp_audio *buffer;
+};
+
+struct mp_audio_buffer *mp_audio_buffer_create(void *talloc_ctx)
+{
+    struct mp_audio_buffer *ab = talloc(talloc_ctx, struct mp_audio_buffer);
+    *ab = (struct mp_audio_buffer) {
+        .buffer = talloc_zero(ab, struct mp_audio),
+    };
+    return ab;
+}
+
+// Reinitialize the buffer, set a new format, drop old data.
+// The audio data in fmt is not used, only the format.
+void mp_audio_buffer_reinit(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, struct mp_audio *fmt)
+{
+    mp_audio_copy_config(ab->buffer, fmt);
+    mp_audio_realloc(ab->buffer, 1);
+    ab->buffer->samples = 0;
+}
+
+void mp_audio_buffer_reinit_fmt(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int format,
+                                const struct mp_chmap *channels, int srate)
+{
+    struct mp_audio mpa = {0};
+    mp_audio_set_format(&mpa, format);
+    mp_audio_set_channels(&mpa, channels);
+    mpa.rate = srate;
+    mp_audio_buffer_reinit(ab, &mpa);
+}
+
+void mp_audio_buffer_get_format(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab,
+                                struct mp_audio *out_fmt)
+{
+    *out_fmt = (struct mp_audio){0};
+    mp_audio_copy_config(out_fmt, ab->buffer);
+}
+
+// Make the total size of the internal buffer at least this number of samples.
+void mp_audio_buffer_preallocate_min(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples)
+{
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(ab->buffer, samples);
+}
+
+// Get number of samples that can be written without forcing a resize of the
+// internal buffer.
+int mp_audio_buffer_get_write_available(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab)
+{
+    return mp_audio_get_allocated_size(ab->buffer) - ab->buffer->samples;
+}
+
+// Get a pointer to the end of the buffer (where writing would append). If the
+// internal buffer is too small for the given number of samples, it's resized.
+// After writing to the buffer, mp_audio_buffer_finish_write() has to be used
+// to make the written data part of the readable buffer.
+void mp_audio_buffer_get_write_buffer(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples,
+                                      struct mp_audio *out_buffer)
+{
+    assert(samples >= 0);
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(ab->buffer, ab->buffer->samples + samples);
+    *out_buffer = *ab->buffer;
+    out_buffer->samples = ab->buffer->samples + samples;
+    mp_audio_skip_samples(out_buffer, ab->buffer->samples);
+}
+
+void mp_audio_buffer_finish_write(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples)
+{
+    assert(samples >= 0 && samples <= mp_audio_buffer_get_write_available(ab));
+    ab->buffer->samples += samples;
+}
+
+// Append data to the end of the buffer.
+// If the buffer is not large enough, it is transparently resized.
+// For now always copies the data.
+void mp_audio_buffer_append(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, struct mp_audio *mpa)
+{
+    int offset = ab->buffer->samples;
+    ab->buffer->samples += mpa->samples;
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(ab->buffer, ab->buffer->samples);
+    mp_audio_copy(ab->buffer, offset, mpa, 0, mpa->samples);
+}
+
+// Prepend silence to the start of the buffer.
+void mp_audio_buffer_prepend_silence(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples)
+{
+    assert(samples >= 0);
+    int oldlen = ab->buffer->samples;
+    ab->buffer->samples += samples;
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(ab->buffer, ab->buffer->samples);
+    mp_audio_copy(ab->buffer, samples, ab->buffer, 0, oldlen);
+    mp_audio_fill_silence(ab->buffer, 0, samples);
+}
+
+// Get the start of the current readable buffer.
+void mp_audio_buffer_peek(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, struct mp_audio *out_mpa)
+{
+    *out_mpa = *ab->buffer;
+}
+
+// Skip leading samples. (Used with mp_audio_buffer_peek() to read data.)
+void mp_audio_buffer_skip(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples)
+{
+    assert(samples >= 0 && samples <= ab->buffer->samples);
+    mp_audio_copy(ab->buffer, 0, ab->buffer, samples,
+                  ab->buffer->samples - samples);
+    ab->buffer->samples -= samples;
+}
+
+void mp_audio_buffer_clear(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab)
+{
+    ab->buffer->samples = 0;
+}
+
+// Return number of buffered audio samples
+int mp_audio_buffer_samples(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab)
+{
+    return ab->buffer->samples;
+}
+
+// Return amount of buffered audio in seconds.
+double mp_audio_buffer_seconds(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab)
+{
+    return ab->buffer->samples / (double)ab->buffer->rate;
+}
diff --git a/audio/audio_buffer.h b/audio/audio_buffer.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8cd0df30d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/audio/audio_buffer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of mpv.
+ *
+ * mpv is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * mpv is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with mpv.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#ifndef MP_AUDIO_BUFFER_H
+#define MP_AUDIO_BUFFER_H
+
+struct mp_audio_buffer;
+struct mp_audio;
+struct mp_chmap;
+
+struct mp_audio_buffer *mp_audio_buffer_create(void *talloc_ctx);
+void mp_audio_buffer_reinit(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, struct mp_audio *fmt);
+void mp_audio_buffer_reinit_fmt(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int format,
+                                const struct mp_chmap *channels, int srate);
+void mp_audio_buffer_get_format(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab,
+                                struct mp_audio *out_fmt);
+void mp_audio_buffer_preallocate_min(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples);
+int mp_audio_buffer_get_write_available(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab);
+void mp_audio_buffer_get_write_buffer(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int minsamples,
+                                      struct mp_audio *out_buffer);
+void mp_audio_buffer_finish_write(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples);
+void mp_audio_buffer_append(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, struct mp_audio *mpa);
+void mp_audio_buffer_prepend_silence(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples);
+void mp_audio_buffer_peek(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, struct mp_audio *out_mpa);
+void mp_audio_buffer_skip(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab, int samples);
+void mp_audio_buffer_clear(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab);
+int mp_audio_buffer_samples(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab);
+double mp_audio_buffer_seconds(struct mp_audio_buffer *ab);
+
+#endif
diff --git a/audio/decode/ad.h b/audio/decode/ad.h
index 30e739d135..6c76e8dfd0 100644
--- a/audio/decode/ad.h
+++ b/audio/decode/ad.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "demux/demux.h"
 
 #include "audio/format.h"
+#include "audio/audio.h"
 
 struct mp_decoder_list;
 
@@ -35,8 +36,7 @@ struct ad_functions {
     int (*init)(sh_audio_t *sh, const char *decoder);
     void (*uninit)(sh_audio_t *sh);
     int (*control)(sh_audio_t *sh, int cmd, void *arg);
-    int (*decode_audio)(sh_audio_t *sh, unsigned char *buffer, int minlen,
-                        int maxlen);
+    int (*decode_audio)(sh_audio_t *sh, struct mp_audio *buffer, int maxlen);
 };
 
 enum ad_ctrl {
diff --git a/audio/decode/ad_lavc.c b/audio/decode/ad_lavc.c
index 72bb51e00c..2e0cade8c5 100644
--- a/audio/decode/ad_lavc.c
+++ b/audio/decode/ad_lavc.c
@@ -36,25 +36,20 @@
 #include "mpvcore/av_opts.h"
 
 #include "ad.h"
-#include "audio/reorder_ch.h"
 #include "audio/fmt-conversion.h"
 
-#include "compat/mpbswap.h"
 #include "compat/libav.h"
 
 struct priv {
     AVCodecContext *avctx;
     AVFrame *avframe;
-    uint8_t *output;
-    uint8_t *output_packed; // used by deplanarize to store packed audio samples
-    int output_left;
-    int unitsize;
+    struct mp_audio frame;
     bool force_channel_map;
     struct demux_packet *packet;
 };
 
 static void uninit(sh_audio_t *sh);
-static int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh,unsigned char *buffer,int minlen,int maxlen);
+static int decode_new_packet(struct sh_audio *sh);
 
 #define OPT_BASE_STRUCT struct MPOpts
 
@@ -138,22 +133,21 @@ static int preinit(sh_audio_t *sh)
     return 1;
 }
 
-/* Prefer playing audio with the samplerate given in container data
- * if available, but take number the number of channels and sample format
- * from the codec, since if the codec isn't using the correct values for
- * those everything breaks anyway.
- */
-static int setup_format(sh_audio_t *sh_audio,
-                        const AVCodecContext *lavc_context)
+static int setup_format(sh_audio_t *sh_audio)
 {
     struct priv *priv = sh_audio->context;
-    int sample_format        =
-        af_from_avformat(av_get_packed_sample_fmt(lavc_context->sample_fmt));
-    int samplerate           = lavc_context->sample_rate;
-    // If not set, try container samplerate
+    AVCodecContext *lavc_context = priv->avctx;
+
+    int sample_format = af_from_avformat(lavc_context->sample_fmt);
+    if (!sample_format)
+        return -1;
+
+    int samplerate = lavc_context->sample_rate;
     if (!samplerate && sh_audio->wf) {
+        // If not set, try container samplerate.
+        // (Maybe this can't happen, and it's an artifact from the past.)
         samplerate = sh_audio->wf->nSamplesPerSec;
-        mp_tmsg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "ad_lavc: using container rate.\n");
+        mp_tmsg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_WARN, "ad_lavc: using container rate.\n");
     }
 
     struct mp_chmap lavc_chmap;
@@ -166,14 +160,9 @@ static int setup_format(sh_audio_t *sh_audio,
             lavc_chmap = sh_audio->channels;
     }
 
-    if (!mp_chmap_equals(&lavc_chmap, &sh_audio->channels) ||
-        samplerate != sh_audio->samplerate ||
-        sample_format != sh_audio->sample_format) {
-        sh_audio->channels = lavc_chmap;
-        sh_audio->samplerate = samplerate;
-        sh_audio->sample_format = sample_format;
-        return 1;
-    }
+    sh_audio->channels = lavc_chmap;
+    sh_audio->samplerate = samplerate;
+    sh_audio->sample_format = sample_format;
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -273,15 +262,12 @@ static int init(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, const char *decoder)
     mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "INFO: libavcodec \"%s\" init OK!\n",
            lavc_codec->name);
 
-    // Decode at least 1 byte:  (to get header filled)
-    for (int tries = 0;;) {
-        int x = decode_audio(sh_audio, sh_audio->a_buffer, 1,
-                             sh_audio->a_buffer_size);
-        if (x > 0) {
-            sh_audio->a_buffer_len = x;
+    // Decode at least 1 sample:  (to get header filled)
+    for (int tries = 1; ; tries++) {
+        int x = decode_new_packet(sh_audio);
+        if (x >= 0 && ctx->frame.samples > 0)
             break;
-        }
-        if (++tries >= 5) {
+        if (tries >= 5) {
             mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR,
                    "ad_lavc: initial decode failed\n");
             uninit(sh_audio);
@@ -293,12 +279,6 @@ static int init(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, const char *decoder)
     if (sh_audio->wf && sh_audio->wf->nAvgBytesPerSec)
         sh_audio->i_bps = sh_audio->wf->nAvgBytesPerSec;
 
-    int af_sample_fmt =
-        af_from_avformat(av_get_packed_sample_fmt(lavc_context->sample_fmt));
-    if (af_sample_fmt == AF_FORMAT_UNKNOWN) {
-        uninit(sh_audio);
-        return 0;
-    }
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -326,7 +306,7 @@ static int control(sh_audio_t *sh, int cmd, void *arg)
     switch (cmd) {
     case ADCTRL_RESYNC_STREAM:
         avcodec_flush_buffers(ctx->avctx);
-        ctx->output_left = 0;
+        ctx->frame.samples = 0;
         talloc_free(ctx->packet);
         ctx->packet = NULL;
         return CONTROL_TRUE;
@@ -334,29 +314,13 @@ static int control(sh_audio_t *sh, int cmd, void *arg)
     return CONTROL_UNKNOWN;
 }
 
-static av_always_inline void deplanarize(struct sh_audio *sh)
-{
-    struct priv *priv = sh->context;
-
-    uint8_t **planes  = priv->avframe->extended_data;
-    size_t bps        = av_get_bytes_per_sample(priv->avctx->sample_fmt);
-    size_t nb_samples = priv->avframe->nb_samples;
-    size_t channels   = priv->avctx->channels;
-    size_t size       = bps * nb_samples * channels;
-
-    if (talloc_get_size(priv->output_packed) != size)
-        priv->output_packed =
-            talloc_realloc_size(priv, priv->output_packed, size);
-
-    reorder_to_packed(priv->output_packed, planes, bps, channels, nb_samples);
-
-    priv->output = priv->output_packed;
-}
-
 static int decode_new_packet(struct sh_audio *sh)
 {
     struct priv *priv = sh->context;
     AVCodecContext *avctx = priv->avctx;
+
+    priv->frame.samples = 0;
+
     struct demux_packet *mpkt = priv->packet;
     if (!mpkt)
         mpkt = demux_read_packet(sh->gsh);
@@ -372,7 +336,7 @@ static int decode_new_packet(struct sh_audio *sh)
 
     if (mpkt->pts != MP_NOPTS_VALUE) {
         sh->pts = mpkt->pts;
-        sh->pts_bytes = 0;
+        sh->pts_offset = 0;
     }
     int got_frame = 0;
     int ret = avcodec_decode_audio4(avctx, priv->avframe, &got_frame, &pkt);
@@ -397,58 +361,39 @@ static int decode_new_packet(struct sh_audio *sh)
     }
     if (!got_frame)
         return 0;
-    uint64_t unitsize = (uint64_t)av_get_bytes_per_sample(avctx->sample_fmt) *
-                        avctx->channels;
-    if (unitsize > 100000)
-        abort();
-    priv->unitsize = unitsize;
-    uint64_t output_left = unitsize * priv->avframe->nb_samples;
-    if (output_left > 500000000)
-        abort();
-    priv->output_left = output_left;
-    if (av_sample_fmt_is_planar(avctx->sample_fmt) && avctx->channels > 1) {
-        deplanarize(sh);
-    } else {
-        priv->output = priv->avframe->data[0];
-    }
-    mp_dbg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_DBG2, "Decoded %d -> %d  \n", in_len,
-           priv->output_left);
+
+    if (setup_format(sh) < 0)
+        return -1;
+
+    priv->frame.samples = priv->avframe->nb_samples;
+    mp_audio_set_format(&priv->frame, sh->sample_format);
+    mp_audio_set_channels(&priv->frame, &sh->channels);
+    priv->frame.rate = sh->samplerate;
+    for (int n = 0; n < priv->frame.num_planes; n++)
+        priv->frame.planes[n] = priv->avframe->data[n];
+
+    mp_dbg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_DBG2, "Decoded %d -> %d samples\n", in_len,
+           priv->frame.samples);
     return 0;
 }
 
-
-static int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, unsigned char *buf, int minlen,
-                        int maxlen)
+static int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh, struct mp_audio *buffer, int maxlen)
 {
-    struct priv *priv = sh_audio->context;
-    AVCodecContext *avctx = priv->avctx;
+    struct priv *priv = sh->context;
 
-    int len = -1;
-    while (len < minlen) {
-        if (!priv->output_left) {
-            if (decode_new_packet(sh_audio) < 0)
-                break;
-            continue;
-        }
-        if (setup_format(sh_audio, avctx))
-            return len;
-        int size = (minlen - len + priv->unitsize - 1);
-        size -= size % priv->unitsize;
-        size = FFMIN(size, priv->output_left);
-        if (size > maxlen)
-            abort();
-        memcpy(buf, priv->output, size);
-        priv->output += size;
-        priv->output_left -= size;
-        if (len < 0)
-            len = size;
-        else
-            len += size;
-        buf += size;
-        maxlen -= size;
-        sh_audio->pts_bytes += size;
+    if (!priv->frame.samples) {
+        if (decode_new_packet(sh) < 0)
+            return -1;
     }
-    return len;
+
+    if (!mp_audio_config_equals(buffer, &priv->frame))
+        return 0;
+
+    buffer->samples = MPMIN(priv->frame.samples, maxlen);
+    mp_audio_copy(buffer, 0, &priv->frame, 0, buffer->samples);
+    mp_audio_skip_samples(&priv->frame, buffer->samples);
+    sh->pts_offset += buffer->samples;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static void add_decoders(struct mp_decoder_list *list)
diff --git a/audio/decode/ad_mpg123.c b/audio/decode/ad_mpg123.c
index 47cb5d2039..322f45826f 100644
--- a/audio/decode/ad_mpg123.c
+++ b/audio/decode/ad_mpg123.c
@@ -27,38 +27,37 @@
 #include "ad.h"
 #include "mpvcore/mp_msg.h"
 
-/* Reducing the ifdeffery to two main variants:
- *   1. most compatible to any libmpg123 version
- *   2. fastest variant with recent libmpg123 (>=1.14)
- * Running variant 2 on older libmpg123 versions may work in
- * principle, but is not supported.
- * So, please leave the check for MPG123_API_VERSION there, m-kay?
- */
 #include <mpg123.h>
 
-/* Enable faster mode of operation with newer libmpg123, avoiding
- * unnecessary memcpy() calls. */
-#if (defined MPG123_API_VERSION) && (MPG123_API_VERSION >= 33)
-#define AD_MPG123_FRAMEWISE
+#if (defined MPG123_API_VERSION) && (MPG123_API_VERSION < 33)
+#error "This should not happen"
 #endif
 
-/* Switch for updating bitrate info of VBR files. Not essential. */
-#define AD_MPG123_MEAN_BITRATE
-
 struct ad_mpg123_context {
     mpg123_handle *handle;
-    char new_format;
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_MEAN_BITRATE
+    bool new_format;
+    int sample_size;
+    bool need_data;
     /* Running mean for bit rate, stream length estimation. */
     float mean_rate;
     unsigned int mean_count;
     /* Time delay for updates. */
     short delay;
-#endif
     /* If the stream is actually VBR. */
     char vbr;
 };
 
+static void uninit(sh_audio_t *sh)
+{
+    struct ad_mpg123_context *con = (struct ad_mpg123_context*) sh->context;
+
+    mpg123_close(con->handle);
+    mpg123_delete(con->handle);
+    talloc_free(sh->context);
+    sh->context = NULL;
+    mpg123_exit();
+}
+
 /* This initializes libmpg123 and prepares the handle, including funky
  * parameters. */
 static int preinit(sh_audio_t *sh)
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ static int preinit(sh_audio_t *sh)
     if (mpg123_init() != MPG123_OK)
         return 0;
 
-    sh->context = malloc(sizeof(struct ad_mpg123_context));
+    sh->context = talloc_zero(NULL, struct ad_mpg123_context);
     con = sh->context;
     /* Auto-choice of optimized decoder (first argument NULL). */
     con->handle = mpg123_new(NULL, &err);
@@ -104,17 +103,15 @@ static int preinit(sh_audio_t *sh)
     /* Example for RVA choice (available since libmpg123 1.0.0):
     mpg123_param(con->handle, MPG123_RVA, MPG123_RVA_MIX, 0.0) */
 
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_FRAMEWISE
     /* Prevent funky automatic resampling.
      * This way, we can be sure that one frame will never produce
-     * more than 1152 stereo samples. */
+     * more than 1152 stereo samples.
+     * Background:
+     * Going to decode directly to the output buffer. It is important to have
+     * MPG123_AUTO_RESAMPLE disabled for the buffer size being an all-time
+     * limit.
+     * We need at least 1152 samples. dec_audio.c normally guarantees this. */
     mpg123_param(con->handle, MPG123_REMOVE_FLAGS, MPG123_AUTO_RESAMPLE, 0.);
-#else
-    /* Older mpg123 is vulnerable to concatenated streams when gapless cutting
-     * is enabled (will only play the jingle of a badly constructed radio
-     * stream). The versions using framewise decoding are fine with that. */
-    mpg123_param(con->handle, MPG123_REMOVE_FLAGS, MPG123_GAPLESS, 0.);
-#endif
 
     return 1;
 
@@ -126,77 +123,21 @@ static int preinit(sh_audio_t *sh)
         mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR, "mpg123 preinit error: %s\n",
                mpg123_strerror(con->handle));
 
-    if (con->handle)
-        mpg123_delete(con->handle);
-    mpg123_exit();
-    free(sh->context);
-    sh->context = NULL;
+    uninit(sh);
     return 0;
 }
 
-/* Compute bitrate from frame size. */
-static int compute_bitrate(struct mpg123_frameinfo *i)
-{
-    static const int samples_per_frame[4][4] = {
-        {-1, 384, 1152, 1152},  /* MPEG 1 */
-        {-1, 384, 1152,  576},  /* MPEG 2 */
-        {-1, 384, 1152,  576},  /* MPEG 2.5 */
-        {-1,  -1,   -1,   -1},  /* Unknown */
-    };
-    return (int) ((i->framesize + 4) * 8 * i->rate * 0.001 /
-                  samples_per_frame[i->version][i->layer] + 0.5);
-}
-
-/* Opted against the header printout from old mp3lib, too much
- * irrelevant info. This is modelled after the mpg123 app's
- * standard output line.
- * If more verbosity is demanded, one can add more detail and
- * also throw in ID3v2 info which libmpg123 collects anyway. */
-static void print_header_compact(struct mpg123_frameinfo *i)
-{
-    static const char *smodes[5] = {
-        "stereo", "joint-stereo", "dual-channel", "mono", "invalid"
-    };
-    static const char *layers[4] = {
-        "Unknown", "I", "II", "III"
-    };
-    static const char *versions[4] = {
-        "1.0", "2.0", "2.5", "x.x"
-    };
-
-    mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "MPEG %s layer %s, ",
-           versions[i->version], layers[i->layer]);
-    switch (i->vbr) {
-    case MPG123_CBR:
-        if (i->bitrate)
-            mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "%d kbit/s", i->bitrate);
-        else
-            mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "%d kbit/s (free format)",
-                   compute_bitrate(i));
-        break;
-    case MPG123_VBR:
-        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "VBR");
-        break;
-    case MPG123_ABR:
-        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "%d kbit/s ABR", i->abr_rate);
-        break;
-    default:
-        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "???");
-    }
-    mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, ", %ld Hz %s\n", i->rate,
-           smodes[i->mode]);
-}
-
 /* libmpg123 has a new format ready; query and store, return return value
    of mpg123_getformat() */
-static int set_format(sh_audio_t *sh, struct ad_mpg123_context *con)
+static int set_format(sh_audio_t *sh)
 {
+    struct ad_mpg123_context *con = sh->context;
     int ret;
     long rate;
     int channels;
     int encoding;
     ret = mpg123_getformat(con->handle, &rate, &channels, &encoding);
-    if(ret == MPG123_OK) {
+    if (ret == MPG123_OK) {
         mp_chmap_from_channels(&sh->channels, channels);
         sh->samplerate = rate;
         /* Without external force, mpg123 will always choose signed encoding,
@@ -210,13 +151,10 @@ static int set_format(sh_audio_t *sh, struct ad_mpg123_context *con)
         case MPG123_ENC_SIGNED_16:
             sh->sample_format = AF_FORMAT_S16_NE;
             break;
-        /* To stay compatible with the oldest libmpg123 headers, do not rely
-         * on float and 32 bit encoding symbols being defined.
-         * Those formats came later */
-        case 0x1180: /* MPG123_ENC_SIGNED_32 */
+        case MPG123_ENC_SIGNED_32:
             sh->sample_format = AF_FORMAT_S32_NE;
             break;
-        case 0x200: /* MPG123_ENC_FLOAT_32 */
+        case MPG123_ENC_FLOAT_32:
             sh->sample_format = AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE;
             break;
         default:
@@ -225,151 +163,38 @@ static int set_format(sh_audio_t *sh, struct ad_mpg123_context *con)
                    "Bad encoding from mpg123: %i.\n", encoding);
             return MPG123_ERR;
         }
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_FRAMEWISE
-        /* Going to decode directly to MPlayer's memory. It is important
-         * to have MPG123_AUTO_RESAMPLE disabled for the buffer size
-         * being an all-time limit. */
-        sh->audio_out_minsize = 1152 * 2 * (af_fmt2bits(sh->sample_format) / 8);
-#endif
+        con->sample_size = channels * (af_fmt2bits(sh->sample_format) / 8);
         con->new_format = 0;
     }
     return ret;
 }
 
-/* This tries to extract a requested amount of decoded data.
- * Even when you request 0 bytes, it will feed enough input so that
- * the decoder _could_ have delivered something.
- * Returns byte count >= 0, -1 on error.
- *
- * Thoughts on exact pts keeping:
- * We have to assume that MPEG frames are cut in pieces by packet boundaries.
- * Also, it might be possible that the first packet does not contain enough
- * data to ensure initial stream sync... or re-sync on erroneous streams.
- * So we need something robust to relate the decoded byte count to the correct
- * time stamp. This is tricky, though. From the outside, you cannot tell if,
- * after having fed two packets until the first output arrives, one should
- * start counting from the first packet's pts or the second packet's.
- * So, let's just count from the last fed package's pts. If the packets are
- * exactly cut to MPEG frames, this will cause one frame mismatch in the
- * beginning (when mpg123 peeks ahead for the following header), but will
- * be corrected with the third frame already. One might add special code to
- * not increment the base pts past the first packet's after a resync before
- * the first decoded bytes arrived. */
-static int decode_a_bit(sh_audio_t *sh, unsigned char *buf, int count)
+static int feed_new_packet(sh_audio_t *sh)
 {
-    int ret = MPG123_OK;
-    int got = 0;
     struct ad_mpg123_context *con = sh->context;
+    int ret;
 
-    /* There will be one MPG123_NEW_FORMAT message on first open.
-     * This will be handled in init(). */
-    do {
-        size_t got_now = 0;
-        /* Fetch new format now, after old data has been used. */
-        if(con->new_format)
-            ret = set_format(sh, con);
-
-        /* Feed the decoder. This will only fire from the second round on. */
-        if (ret == MPG123_NEED_MORE) {
-            /* Feed more input data. */
-            struct demux_packet *pkt = demux_read_packet(sh->gsh);
-            if (!pkt)
-                break;          /* Apparently that's it. EOF. */
-
-            /* Next bytes from that presentation time. */
-            if (pkt->pts != MP_NOPTS_VALUE) {
-                sh->pts       = pkt->pts;
-                sh->pts_bytes = 0;
-            }
-
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_FRAMEWISE
-            /* Have to use mpg123_feed() to avoid decoding here. */
-            ret = mpg123_feed(con->handle, pkt->buffer, pkt->len);
-#else
-            /* Do not use mpg123_feed(), added in later libmpg123 versions. */
-            ret = mpg123_decode(con->handle, pkt->buffer, pkt->len, NULL, 0, NULL);
-#endif
-            talloc_free(pkt);
-            if (ret == MPG123_ERR)
-                break;
-
-            /* Indication of format change is possible here (from mpg123_decode()). */
-            if(ret == MPG123_NEW_FORMAT) {
-                con->new_format = 1;
-                if(got)
-                    break; /* Do not switch format during a chunk. */
-
-                ret = set_format(sh, con);
-            }
-        }
-        /* Theoretically, mpg123 could return MPG123_DONE, so be prepared.
-         * Should not happen in our usage, but it is a valid return code. */
-        else if (ret == MPG123_ERR || ret == MPG123_DONE)
-            break;
-
-        /* Try to decode a bit. This is the return value that counts
-         * for the loop condition. */
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_FRAMEWISE
-        if (!buf) { /* fake call just for feeding to get format */
-            ret = set_format(sh, con);
-        } else { /* This is the decoding. One frame at a time. */
-            ret = mpg123_replace_buffer(con->handle, buf, count);
-            if (ret == MPG123_OK)
-                ret = mpg123_decode_frame(con->handle, NULL, NULL, &got_now);
-        }
-#else
-        ret = mpg123_decode(con->handle, NULL, 0, buf + got, count - got,
-                            &got_now);
-#endif
-
-        got += got_now;
-        sh->pts_bytes += got_now;
-
-        /* Indication of format change should happen here. */
-        if(ret == MPG123_NEW_FORMAT) {
-            con->new_format = 1;
-            if(got)
-                break; /* Do not switch format during a chunk. */
-
-            ret = set_format(sh, con);
-        }
-
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_FRAMEWISE
-    } while (ret == MPG123_NEED_MORE || (got == 0 && count != 0));
-#else
-    } while (ret == MPG123_NEED_MORE || got < count);
-#endif
+    struct demux_packet *pkt = demux_read_packet(sh->gsh);
+    if (!pkt)
+        return -1; /* EOF. */
 
-    if (ret == MPG123_ERR) {
-        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR, "mpg123 decoding failed: %s\n",
-               mpg123_strerror(con->handle));
+    /* Next bytes from that presentation time. */
+    if (pkt->pts != MP_NOPTS_VALUE) {
+        sh->pts        = pkt->pts;
+        sh->pts_offset = 0;
     }
 
-    return got;
-}
+    /* Have to use mpg123_feed() to avoid decoding here. */
+    ret = mpg123_feed(con->handle, pkt->buffer, pkt->len);
+    talloc_free(pkt);
 
-/* Close, reopen stream. Feed data until we know the format of the stream.
- * 1 on success, 0 on error */
-static int reopen_stream(sh_audio_t *sh)
-{
-    struct ad_mpg123_context *con = (struct ad_mpg123_context*) sh->context;
+    if (ret == MPG123_ERR)
+        return -1;
 
-    mpg123_close(con->handle);
-    /* No resetting of the context:
-     * We do not want to loose the mean bitrate data. */
-
-    /* Open and make sure we have fed enough data to get stream properties. */
-    if (MPG123_OK == mpg123_open_feed(con->handle) &&
-        /* Feed data until mpg123 is ready (has found stream beginning). */
-        !decode_a_bit(sh, NULL, 0) &&
-        set_format(sh, con) == MPG123_OK) { /* format setting again just for return value */
-        return 1;
-    } else {
-        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR,
-               "mpg123 failed to reopen stream: %s\n",
-               mpg123_strerror(con->handle));
-        return 0;
-    }
+    if (ret == MPG123_NEW_FORMAT)
+        con->new_format = 1;
+
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /* Now we really start accessing some data and determining file format.
@@ -378,62 +203,72 @@ static int reopen_stream(sh_audio_t *sh)
  * erros in other places simply cannot occur. */
 static int init(sh_audio_t *sh, const char *decoder)
 {
-    mpg123_id3v2 *v2;
-    struct mpg123_frameinfo finfo;
     struct ad_mpg123_context *con = sh->context;
+    int ret;
 
-    con->new_format = 0;
-    if (reopen_stream(sh) &&
-        /* Get MPEG header info. */
-        MPG123_OK == mpg123_info(con->handle, &finfo) &&
-        /* Since we queried format, mpg123 should have read past ID3v2 tags.
-         * We need to decide if printing of UTF-8 encoded text info is wanted. */
-        MPG123_OK == mpg123_id3(con->handle, NULL, &v2)) {
-        /* If we are here, we passed all hurdles. Yay! Extract the info. */
-        print_header_compact(&finfo);
-        /* Do we want to print out the UTF-8 Id3v2 info?
-        if (v2)
-            print_id3v2(v2); */
-
-        /* Have kb/s, want B/s
-         * For VBR, the first frame will be a bad estimate. */
-        sh->i_bps = (finfo.bitrate ? finfo.bitrate : compute_bitrate(&finfo))
-                    * 1000 / 8;
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_MEAN_BITRATE
-        con->delay      = 1;
-        con->mean_rate  = 0.;
-        con->mean_count = 0;
-#endif
-        con->vbr = (finfo.vbr != MPG123_CBR);
+    ret = mpg123_open_feed(con->handle);
+    if (ret != MPG123_OK)
+        goto fail;
+
+    for (int n = 0; ; n++) {
+        if (feed_new_packet(sh) < 0) {
+            ret = MPG123_NEED_MORE;
+            goto fail;
+        }
+        size_t got_now = 0;
+        ret = mpg123_decode_frame(con->handle, NULL, NULL, &got_now);
+        if (ret == MPG123_OK || ret == MPG123_NEW_FORMAT) {
+            ret = set_format(sh);
+            if (ret == MPG123_OK)
+                break;
+        }
+        if (ret != MPG123_NEED_MORE)
+            goto fail;
+        // max. 16 retries (randomly chosen number)
+        if (n > 16) {
+            ret = MPG123_NEED_MORE;
+            goto fail;
+        }
+    }
 
-        return 1;
+    return 1;
+
+fail:
+    if (ret == MPG123_NEED_MORE) {
+        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR, "Could not find mp3 stream.\n");
     } else {
         mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR, "mpg123 init error: %s\n",
                mpg123_strerror(con->handle));
-        return 0;
     }
+
+    uninit(sh);
+    return 0;
 }
 
-static void uninit(sh_audio_t *sh)
+/* Compute bitrate from frame size. */
+static int compute_bitrate(struct mpg123_frameinfo *i)
 {
-    struct ad_mpg123_context *con = (struct ad_mpg123_context*) sh->context;
-
-    mpg123_close(con->handle);
-    mpg123_delete(con->handle);
-    free(sh->context);
-    sh->context = NULL;
-    mpg123_exit();
+    static const int samples_per_frame[4][4] = {
+        {-1, 384, 1152, 1152},  /* MPEG 1 */
+        {-1, 384, 1152,  576},  /* MPEG 2 */
+        {-1, 384, 1152,  576},  /* MPEG 2.5 */
+        {-1,  -1,   -1,   -1},  /* Unknown */
+    };
+    return (int) ((i->framesize + 4) * 8 * i->rate * 0.001 /
+                  samples_per_frame[i->version][i->layer] + 0.5);
 }
 
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_MEAN_BITRATE
 /* Update mean bitrate. This could be dropped if accurate time display
  * on audio file playback is not desired. */
 static void update_info(sh_audio_t *sh)
 {
     struct ad_mpg123_context *con = sh->context;
-    if (con->vbr && --con->delay < 1) {
-        struct mpg123_frameinfo finfo;
-        if (MPG123_OK == mpg123_info(con->handle, &finfo)) {
+    struct mpg123_frameinfo finfo;
+    if (mpg123_info(con->handle, &finfo) != MPG123_OK)
+        return;
+
+    if (finfo.vbr != MPG123_CBR) {
+        if (--con->delay < 1) {
             if (++con->mean_count > ((unsigned int) -1) / 2)
                 con->mean_count = ((unsigned int) -1) / 4;
 
@@ -444,47 +279,80 @@ static void update_info(sh_audio_t *sh)
 
             con->delay = 10;
         }
+    } else {
+        sh->i_bps = (finfo.bitrate ? finfo.bitrate : compute_bitrate(&finfo))
+                    * 1000 / 8;
+        con->delay      = 1;
+        con->mean_rate  = 0.;
+        con->mean_count = 0;
     }
 }
-#endif
 
-static int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh, unsigned char *buf, int minlen,
-                        int maxlen)
+static int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh, struct mp_audio *buffer, int maxlen)
 {
-    int bytes;
+    struct ad_mpg123_context *con = sh->context;
+    void *buf = buffer->planes[0];
+    int ret;
+
+    if (con->new_format) {
+        ret = set_format(sh);
+        if (ret == MPG123_OK) {
+            return 0; // let caller handle format change
+        } else if (ret == MPG123_NEED_MORE) {
+            con->need_data = true;
+        } else {
+            goto mpg123_fail;
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (con->need_data) {
+        if (feed_new_packet(sh) < 0)
+            return -1;
+    }
 
-    bytes = decode_a_bit(sh, buf, maxlen);
-    /* This EOF is ignored, apparently, until input data is exhausted. */
-    if (bytes == 0)
-        return -1;              /* EOF */
+    size_t got_now = 0;
+    ret = mpg123_replace_buffer(con->handle, buf, maxlen * con->sample_size);
+    if (ret != MPG123_OK)
+        goto mpg123_fail;
+
+    ret = mpg123_decode_frame(con->handle, NULL, NULL, &got_now);
+
+    int got_samples = got_now / con->sample_size;
+    buffer->samples += got_samples;
+    sh->pts_offset += got_samples;
+
+    if (ret == MPG123_NEW_FORMAT) {
+        con->new_format = true;
+    } else if (ret == MPG123_NEED_MORE) {
+        con->need_data = true;
+    } else if (ret != MPG123_OK && ret != MPG123_DONE) {
+        goto mpg123_fail;
+    }
 
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_MEAN_BITRATE
     update_info(sh);
-#endif
-    return bytes;
+    return 0;
+
+mpg123_fail:
+    mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR, "mpg123 decoding error: %s\n",
+           mpg123_strerror(con->handle));
+    return -1;
 }
 
 static int control(sh_audio_t *sh, int cmd, void *arg)
 {
+    struct ad_mpg123_context *con = sh->context;
+
     switch (cmd) {
     case ADCTRL_RESYNC_STREAM:
-        /* Close/reopen the stream for mpg123 to make sure it doesn't
-         * think that it still knows the exact stream position.
-         * Otherwise, we would have funny effects from the gapless code.
-         * Oh, and it helps to minimize artifacts from jumping in the stream. */
-        if (reopen_stream(sh)) {
-#ifdef AD_MPG123_MEAN_BITRATE
-            update_info(sh);
-#endif
-            return CONTROL_TRUE;
-        } else {
-            /* MPlayer ignores this case! It just keeps on decoding.
-             * So we have to make sure resync never fails ... */
+        mpg123_close(con->handle);
+
+        if (mpg123_open_feed(con->handle) != MPG123_OK) {
             mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR,
-                   "mpg123 cannot reopen stream for resync.\n");
+                   "mpg123 failed to reopen stream: %s\n",
+                   mpg123_strerror(con->handle));
             return CONTROL_FALSE;
         }
-        break;
+        return CONTROL_TRUE;
     }
     return CONTROL_UNKNOWN;
 }
diff --git a/audio/decode/ad_spdif.c b/audio/decode/ad_spdif.c
index f03041d6a6..a233286c19 100644
--- a/audio/decode/ad_spdif.c
+++ b/audio/decode/ad_spdif.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <string.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 
 #include <libavformat/avformat.h>
 #include <libavcodec/avcodec.h>
@@ -184,37 +185,43 @@ fail:
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh, unsigned char *buf,
-                        int minlen, int maxlen)
+static int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh, struct mp_audio *buffer, int maxlen)
 {
     struct spdifContext *spdif_ctx = sh->context;
     AVFormatContext     *lavf_ctx  = spdif_ctx->lavf_ctx;
 
+    int sstride = 2 * sh->channels.num;
+    assert(sstride == buffer->sstride);
+
+    if (maxlen < spdif_ctx->iec61937_packet_size)
+        return 0;
+
     spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len  = 0;
     spdif_ctx->out_buffer_size = maxlen;
-    spdif_ctx->out_buffer      = buf;
-    while (spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len + spdif_ctx->iec61937_packet_size < maxlen
-           && spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len < minlen) {
-        struct demux_packet *mpkt = demux_read_packet(sh->gsh);
-        if (!mpkt)
-            break;
-        AVPacket pkt;
-        mp_set_av_packet(&pkt, mpkt);
-        pkt.pts = pkt.dts = 0;
-        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "spdif packet, size=%d\n", pkt.size);
-        if (mpkt->pts != MP_NOPTS_VALUE) {
-            sh->pts       = mpkt->pts;
-            sh->pts_bytes = 0;
-        }
-        int out_len = spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len;
-        int ret = av_write_frame(lavf_ctx, &pkt);
-        avio_flush(lavf_ctx->pb);
-        sh->pts_bytes += spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len - out_len;
-        talloc_free(mpkt);
-        if (ret < 0)
-            break;
+    spdif_ctx->out_buffer      = buffer->planes[0];
+
+    struct demux_packet *mpkt = demux_read_packet(sh->gsh);
+    if (!mpkt)
+        return 0;
+
+    AVPacket pkt;
+    mp_set_av_packet(&pkt, mpkt);
+    pkt.pts = pkt.dts = 0;
+    mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "spdif packet, size=%d\n", pkt.size);
+    if (mpkt->pts != MP_NOPTS_VALUE) {
+        sh->pts        = mpkt->pts;
+        sh->pts_offset = 0;
     }
-    return spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len;
+    int out_len = spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len;
+    int ret = av_write_frame(lavf_ctx, &pkt);
+    avio_flush(lavf_ctx->pb);
+    sh->pts_offset += (spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len - out_len) / sstride;
+    talloc_free(mpkt);
+    if (ret < 0)
+        return -1;
+
+    buffer->samples = spdif_ctx->out_buffer_len / sstride;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static int control(sh_audio_t *sh, int cmd, void *arg)
diff --git a/audio/decode/dec_audio.c b/audio/decode/dec_audio.c
index e381a12a3c..19b5d8bdeb 100644
--- a/audio/decode/dec_audio.c
+++ b/audio/decode/dec_audio.c
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 #include "dec_audio.h"
 #include "ad.h"
 #include "audio/format.h"
+#include "audio/audio.h"
+#include "audio/audio_buffer.h"
 
 #include "audio/filter/af.h"
 
@@ -54,31 +56,29 @@ static const struct ad_functions * const ad_drivers[] = {
     NULL
 };
 
+// At least ad_mpg123 needs to be able to decode this many samples at once
+#define DECODE_MAX_UNIT 1152
+
+// At least 8192 samples, plus hack for ad_mpg123
+#define DECODE_BUFFER_SAMPLES (8192 + DECODE_MAX_UNIT)
+
+// Drop audio buffer and reinit it (after format change)
+static void reinit_audio_buffer(sh_audio_t *sh)
+{
+    mp_audio_buffer_reinit_fmt(sh->decode_buffer, sh->sample_format,
+                               &sh->channels, sh->samplerate);
+    mp_audio_buffer_preallocate_min(sh->decode_buffer, DECODE_BUFFER_SAMPLES);
+}
+
 static int init_audio_codec(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, const char *decoder)
 {
     assert(!sh_audio->initialized);
     resync_audio_stream(sh_audio);
-    sh_audio->sample_format = AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE;
-    sh_audio->audio_out_minsize = 8192; // default, preinit() may change it
     if (!sh_audio->ad_driver->preinit(sh_audio)) {
         mp_tmsg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR, "Audio decoder preinit failed.\n");
         return 0;
     }
 
-    const int base_size = 65536;
-    // At least 64 KiB plus rounding up to next decodable unit size
-    sh_audio->a_buffer_size = base_size + sh_audio->audio_out_minsize;
-
-    mp_tmsg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V,
-            "dec_audio: Allocating %d + %d = %d bytes for output buffer.\n",
-            sh_audio->audio_out_minsize, base_size,
-            sh_audio->a_buffer_size);
-
-    sh_audio->a_buffer = av_mallocz(sh_audio->a_buffer_size);
-    if (!sh_audio->a_buffer)
-        abort();
-    sh_audio->a_buffer_len = 0;
-
     if (!sh_audio->ad_driver->init(sh_audio, decoder)) {
         mp_tmsg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "Audio decoder init failed.\n");
         uninit_audio(sh_audio); // free buffers
@@ -87,13 +87,18 @@ static int init_audio_codec(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, const char *decoder)
 
     sh_audio->initialized = 1;
 
-    if (mp_chmap_is_empty(&sh_audio->channels) || !sh_audio->samplerate) {
+    if (mp_chmap_is_empty(&sh_audio->channels) || !sh_audio->samplerate ||
+        !sh_audio->sample_format)
+    {
         mp_tmsg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_ERR, "Audio decoder did not specify "
                 "audio format!\n");
         uninit_audio(sh_audio); // free buffers
         return 0;
     }
 
+    sh_audio->decode_buffer = mp_audio_buffer_create(NULL);
+    reinit_audio_buffer(sh_audio);
+
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -187,7 +192,8 @@ void uninit_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio)
     }
     talloc_free(sh_audio->gsh->decoder_desc);
     sh_audio->gsh->decoder_desc = NULL;
-    av_freep(&sh_audio->a_buffer);
+    talloc_free(sh_audio->decode_buffer);
+    sh_audio->decode_buffer = NULL;
 }
 
 
@@ -230,102 +236,91 @@ int init_audio_filters(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, int in_samplerate,
     return 1;
 }
 
-static void set_min_out_buffer_size(struct bstr *outbuf, int len)
-{
-    size_t oldlen = talloc_get_size(outbuf->start);
-    if (oldlen < len) {
-        assert(outbuf->start);  // talloc context should be already set
-        mp_msg(MSGT_DECAUDIO, MSGL_V, "Increasing filtered audio buffer size "
-               "from %zd to %d\n", oldlen, len);
-        outbuf->start = talloc_realloc_size(NULL, outbuf->start, len);
-    }
-}
-
-static int filter_n_bytes(sh_audio_t *sh, struct bstr *outbuf, int len)
+// Filter len bytes of input, put result into outbuf.
+static int filter_n_bytes(sh_audio_t *sh, struct mp_audio_buffer *outbuf,
+                          int len)
 {
-    assert(len - 1 + sh->audio_out_minsize <= sh->a_buffer_size);
-
     int error = 0;
 
-    // Decode more bytes if needed
-    int old_samplerate = sh->samplerate;
-    struct mp_chmap old_channels = sh->channels;
-    int old_sample_format = sh->sample_format;
-    while (sh->a_buffer_len < len) {
-        unsigned char *buf = sh->a_buffer + sh->a_buffer_len;
-        int minlen = len - sh->a_buffer_len;
-        int maxlen = sh->a_buffer_size - sh->a_buffer_len;
-        int ret = sh->ad_driver->decode_audio(sh, buf, minlen, maxlen);
-        int format_change = sh->samplerate != old_samplerate
-                            || !mp_chmap_equals(&sh->channels, &old_channels)
-                            || sh->sample_format != old_sample_format;
-        if (ret <= 0 || format_change) {
-            error = format_change ? -2 : -1;
-            // samples from format-changing call get discarded too
-            len = sh->a_buffer_len;
+    struct mp_audio config;
+    mp_audio_buffer_get_format(sh->decode_buffer, &config);
+
+    while (mp_audio_buffer_samples(sh->decode_buffer) < len) {
+        int maxlen = mp_audio_buffer_get_write_available(sh->decode_buffer);
+        if (maxlen < DECODE_MAX_UNIT)
+            break;
+        struct mp_audio buffer;
+        mp_audio_buffer_get_write_buffer(sh->decode_buffer, maxlen, &buffer);
+        buffer.samples = 0;
+        error = sh->ad_driver->decode_audio(sh, &buffer, maxlen);
+        if (error < 0)
+            break;
+        // Commit the data just read as valid data
+        mp_audio_buffer_finish_write(sh->decode_buffer, buffer.samples);
+        // Format change
+        if (sh->samplerate != config.rate ||
+            !mp_chmap_equals(&sh->channels, &config.channels) ||
+            sh->sample_format != config.format)
+        {
+            // If there are still samples left in the buffer, let them drain
+            // first, and don't signal a format change to the caller yet.
+            if (mp_audio_buffer_samples(sh->decode_buffer) > 0)
+                break;
+            reinit_audio_buffer(sh);
+            error = -2;
             break;
         }
-        sh->a_buffer_len += ret;
     }
 
     // Filter
-    struct mp_audio filter_input = {
-        .audio = sh->a_buffer,
-        .len = len,
-        .rate = sh->samplerate,
-    };
-    mp_audio_set_format(&filter_input, sh->sample_format);
-    mp_audio_set_channels(&filter_input, &sh->channels);
+    struct mp_audio filter_input;
+    mp_audio_buffer_peek(sh->decode_buffer, &filter_input);
+    filter_input.rate = sh->afilter->input.rate; // due to playback speed change
+    len = MPMIN(filter_input.samples, len);
+    filter_input.samples = len;
 
     struct mp_audio *filter_output = af_play(sh->afilter, &filter_input);
     if (!filter_output)
         return -1;
-    set_min_out_buffer_size(outbuf, outbuf->len + filter_output->len);
-    memcpy(outbuf->start + outbuf->len, filter_output->audio,
-           filter_output->len);
-    outbuf->len += filter_output->len;
+    mp_audio_buffer_append(outbuf, filter_output);
 
     // remove processed data from decoder buffer:
-    sh->a_buffer_len -= len;
-    memmove(sh->a_buffer, sh->a_buffer + len, sh->a_buffer_len);
+    mp_audio_buffer_skip(sh->decode_buffer, len);
 
     return error;
 }
 
-/* Try to get at least minlen decoded+filtered bytes in outbuf
+/* Try to get at least minsamples decoded+filtered samples in outbuf
  * (total length including possible existing data).
  * Return 0 on success, -1 on error/EOF (not distinguished).
- * In the former case outbuf->len is always >= minlen on return.
- * In case of EOF/error it might or might not be.
- * Outbuf.start must be talloc-allocated, and will be reallocated
- * if needed to fit all filter output. */
-int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, struct bstr *outbuf, int minlen)
+ * In the former case outbuf has at least minsamples buffered on return.
+ * In case of EOF/error it might or might not be. */
+int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, struct mp_audio_buffer *outbuf,
+                 int minsamples)
 {
     // Indicates that a filter seems to be buffering large amounts of data
     int huge_filter_buffer = 0;
-    // Decoded audio must be cut at boundaries of this many bytes
-    int bps = af_fmt2bits(sh_audio->sample_format) / 8;
-    int unitsize = sh_audio->channels.num * bps * 16;
+    // Decoded audio must be cut at boundaries of this many samples
+    // (Note: the reason for this is unknown, possibly a refactoring artifact)
+    int unitsize = 16;
 
     /* Filter output size will be about filter_multiplier times input size.
      * If some filter buffers audio in big blocks this might only hold
      * as average over time. */
     double filter_multiplier = af_calc_filter_multiplier(sh_audio->afilter);
 
-    /* If the decoder set audio_out_minsize then it can do the equivalent of
-     * "while (output_len < target_len) output_len += audio_out_minsize;",
-     * so we must guarantee there is at least audio_out_minsize-1 bytes
-     * more space in the output buffer than the minimum length we try to
-     * decode. */
-    int max_decode_len = sh_audio->a_buffer_size - sh_audio->audio_out_minsize;
-    if (!unitsize)
-        return -1;
-    max_decode_len -= max_decode_len % unitsize;
+    int prev_buffered = -1;
+    while (minsamples >= 0) {
+        int buffered = mp_audio_buffer_samples(outbuf);
+        if (minsamples < buffered || buffered == prev_buffered)
+            break;
+        prev_buffered = buffered;
 
-    while (minlen >= 0 && outbuf->len < minlen) {
+        int decsamples = (minsamples - buffered) / filter_multiplier;
         // + some extra for possible filter buffering
-        int declen = (minlen - outbuf->len) / filter_multiplier + (unitsize << 5); 
-        if (huge_filter_buffer)
+        decsamples += 1 << unitsize;
+
+        if (huge_filter_buffer) {
             /* Some filter must be doing significant buffering if the estimated
              * input length didn't produce enough output from filters.
              * Feed the filters 2k bytes at a time until we have enough output.
@@ -334,33 +329,24 @@ int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, struct bstr *outbuf, int minlen)
              * to get audio data and buffer video frames in memory while doing
              * so. However the performance impact of either is probably not too
              * significant as long as the value is not completely insane. */
-            declen = 2000;
-        declen -= declen % unitsize;
-        if (declen > max_decode_len)
-            declen = max_decode_len;
-        else
-            /* if this iteration does not fill buffer, we must have lots
-             * of buffering in filters */
-            huge_filter_buffer = 1;
-        int res = filter_n_bytes(sh_audio, outbuf, declen);
+            decsamples = 2000;
+        }
+
+        /* if this iteration does not fill buffer, we must have lots
+         * of buffering in filters */
+        huge_filter_buffer = 1;
+
+        int res = filter_n_bytes(sh_audio, outbuf, decsamples);
         if (res < 0)
             return res;
     }
     return 0;
 }
 
-void decode_audio_prepend_bytes(struct bstr *outbuf, int count, int byte)
-{
-    set_min_out_buffer_size(outbuf, outbuf->len + count);
-    memmove(outbuf->start + count, outbuf->start, outbuf->len);
-    memset(outbuf->start, byte, count);
-    outbuf->len += count;
-}
-
-
 void resync_audio_stream(sh_audio_t *sh_audio)
 {
     sh_audio->pts = MP_NOPTS_VALUE;
+    sh_audio->pts_offset = 0;
     if (!sh_audio->initialized)
         return;
     sh_audio->ad_driver->control(sh_audio, ADCTRL_RESYNC_STREAM, NULL);
diff --git a/audio/decode/dec_audio.h b/audio/decode/dec_audio.h
index b46f4282fb..3ec5954471 100644
--- a/audio/decode/dec_audio.h
+++ b/audio/decode/dec_audio.h
@@ -22,15 +22,14 @@
 #include "audio/chmap.h"
 #include "demux/stheader.h"
 
-struct bstr;
+struct mp_audio_buffer;
 struct mp_decoder_list;
 
 struct mp_decoder_list *mp_audio_decoder_list(void);
 int init_best_audio_codec(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, char *audio_decoders);
-int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, struct bstr *outbuf, int minlen);
-void decode_audio_prepend_bytes(struct bstr *outbuf, int count, int byte);
+int decode_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, struct mp_audio_buffer *outbuf,
+                 int minsamples);
 void resync_audio_stream(sh_audio_t *sh_audio);
-void skip_audio_frame(sh_audio_t *sh_audio);
 void uninit_audio(sh_audio_t *sh_audio);
 
 int init_audio_filters(sh_audio_t *sh_audio, int in_samplerate,
diff --git a/audio/filter/af.c b/audio/filter/af.c
index edee4bef65..63013e81d9 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af.c
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ static struct af_instance *af_create(struct af_stream *s, char *name,
     *af = (struct af_instance) {
         .info = info,
         .mul = 1,
+        .data = talloc_zero(af, struct mp_audio),
     };
     struct m_config *config = m_config_from_obj_desc(af, &desc);
     if (m_config_initialize_obj(config, &desc, &af->priv, &args) < 0)
@@ -523,8 +524,7 @@ static int af_reinit(struct af_stream *s)
         // Check if this is the first filter
         struct mp_audio in = *af->prev->data;
         // Reset just in case...
-        in.audio = NULL;
-        in.len = 0;
+        mp_audio_set_null_data(&in);
 
         int rv = af->control(af, AF_CONTROL_REINIT, &in);
         if (rv == AF_OK && !mp_audio_config_equals(&in, af->prev->data))
@@ -640,8 +640,8 @@ int af_init(struct af_stream *s)
         return -1;
 
     // Precaution in case caller is misbehaving
-    s->input.audio  = s->output.audio  = NULL;
-    s->input.len    = s->output.len    = 0;
+    mp_audio_set_null_data(&s->input);
+    mp_audio_set_null_data(&s->output);
 
     // Check if this is the first call
     if (s->first->next == s->last) {
@@ -703,12 +703,12 @@ struct mp_audio *af_play(struct af_stream *s, struct mp_audio *data)
     return data;
 }
 
-// Calculate average ratio of filter output size to input size
+// Calculate average ratio of filter output samples to input samples.
+// e.g: num_output_samples = mul * num_input_samples
 double af_calc_filter_multiplier(struct af_stream *s)
 {
     struct af_instance *af = s->first;
     double mul = 1;
-    // Iterate through all filters and calculate total multiplication factor
     do {
         mul *= af->mul;
         af = af->next;
@@ -721,49 +721,14 @@ double af_calc_filter_multiplier(struct af_stream *s)
 double af_calc_delay(struct af_stream *s)
 {
     struct af_instance *af = s->first;
-    register double delay = 0.0;
-    // Iterate through all filters
+    double delay = 0.0;
     while (af) {
         delay += af->delay;
-        delay *= af->mul;
         af = af->next;
     }
     return delay;
 }
 
-/* Calculate the minimum output buffer size for given input data d
- * when using the af_resize_local_buffer function. The +t+1 part ensures the
- * value is >= len*mul rounded upwards to whole samples even if the
- * double 'mul' is inexact. */
-static int af_lencalc(double mul, struct mp_audio *d)
-{
-    int t = d->bps * d->nch;
-    return d->len * mul + t + 1;
-}
-
-/* I a local buffer is used (i.e. if the filter doesn't operate on the incoming
- * buffer), this macro must be called to ensure the buffer is big enough. */
-int af_resize_local_buffer(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
-{
-    if (af->data->len >= af_lencalc(af->mul, data))
-        return AF_OK;
-
-    // Calculate new length
-    register int len = af_lencalc(af->mul, data);
-    mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_V, "[libaf] Reallocating memory in module %s, "
-           "old len = %i, new len = %i\n", af->info->name, af->data->len, len);
-    // If there is a buffer free it
-    free(af->data->audio);
-    // Create new buffer and check that it is OK
-    af->data->audio = malloc(len);
-    if (!af->data->audio) {
-        mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_FATAL, "[libaf] Could not allocate memory \n");
-        return AF_ERROR;
-    }
-    af->data->len = len;
-    return AF_OK;
-}
-
 // documentation in af.h
 struct af_instance *af_control_any_rev(struct af_stream *s, int cmd, void *arg)
 {
diff --git a/audio/filter/af.h b/audio/filter/af.h
index 3cfdee85dd..7852fa09a6 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af.h
+++ b/audio/filter/af.h
@@ -61,13 +61,14 @@ struct af_instance {
     struct mp_audio * (*play)(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data);
     void *setup;  // old field for priv structs
     void *priv;
-    struct mp_audio *data; // configuration for outgoing data stream
+    struct mp_audio *data; // configuration and buffer for outgoing data stream
     struct af_instance *next;
     struct af_instance *prev;
-    double delay; /* Delay caused by the filter, in units of bytes read without
-                   * corresponding output */
+    double delay; /* Delay caused by the filter, in seconds of audio consumed
+                   * without corresponding output */
     double mul; /* length multiplier: how much does this instance change
-                   the length of the buffer. */
+                 * the number of samples passed though. (Ratio of input
+                 * and output, e.g. mul=4 => 1 sample becomes 4 samples) .*/
     bool auto_inserted; // inserted by af.c, such as conversion filters
 };
 
@@ -182,10 +183,6 @@ double af_calc_delay(struct af_stream *s);
  * \{
  */
 
-int af_resize_local_buffer(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data);
-
-#define RESIZE_LOCAL_BUFFER af_resize_local_buffer
-
 /**
  * \brief convert dB to gain value
  * \param n number of values to convert
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_bs2b.c b/audio/filter/af_bs2b.c
index 0e77b3e4eb..769a2b4577 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_bs2b.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_bs2b.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static struct mp_audio *play_##name(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *dat
 { \
     /* filter is called for all pairs of samples available in the buffer */ \
     bs2b_cross_feed_##name(((struct af_bs2b*)(af->priv))->filter, \
-        (type*)(data->audio), data->len/data->bps/2); \
+        (type*)(data->planes[0]), data->samples); \
 \
     return data; \
 }
@@ -161,7 +161,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 static void uninit(struct af_instance *af)
 {
     struct af_bs2b *s = af->priv;
-    free(af->data);
     if (s->filter)
         bs2b_close(s->filter);
 }
@@ -172,13 +171,9 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
     struct af_bs2b *s = af->priv;
     af->control = control;
     af->uninit  = uninit;
-    af->mul     = 1;
-    if (!(af->data = calloc(1, sizeof(struct mp_audio))))
-        return AF_ERROR;
 
     // NULL means failed initialization
     if (!(s->filter = bs2b_open())) {
-        free(af->data);
         return AF_ERROR;
     }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_center.c b/audio/filter/af_center.c
index 0cfdbc3b0e..ed482c7a6b 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_center.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_center.c
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-    free(af->data);
     free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -87,9 +86,9 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 {
   struct mp_audio*    c   = data;	 // Current working data
   af_center_t*  s   = af->setup; // Setup for this instance
-  float*   	a   = c->audio;	 // Audio data
-  int		len = c->len/4;	 // Number of samples in current audio block
+  float*   	a   = c->planes[0];	 // Audio data
   int		nch = c->nch;	 // Number of channels
+  int		len = c->samples*c->nch;	 // Number of samples in current audio block
   int		ch  = s->ch;	 // Channel in which to insert the center audio
   register int  i;
 
@@ -108,10 +107,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=s=calloc(1,sizeof(af_center_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
   // Set default values
   s->ch = 1;  	 // Channel nr 2
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_channels.c b/audio/filter/af_channels.c
index 27445aafe2..f77807a1af 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_channels.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_channels.c
@@ -168,7 +168,10 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 
     af->data->rate   = ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->rate;
     mp_audio_set_format(af->data, ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->format);
-    af->mul          = (double)af->data->nch / ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->nch;
+    mp_audio_force_interleaved_format(af->data);
+    int r = af_test_output(af,(struct mp_audio*)arg);
+    if (r != AF_OK)
+        return r;
     return check_routes(s,((struct mp_audio*)arg)->nch,af->data->nch);
   case AF_CONTROL_COMMAND_LINE:{
     int nch = 0;
@@ -218,9 +221,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
   free(af->setup);
-  if (af->data)
-      free(af->data->audio);
-  free(af->data);
 }
 
 // Filter data through filter
@@ -231,20 +231,19 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
   af_channels_t* s = af->setup;
   int 		 i;
 
-  if(AF_OK != RESIZE_LOCAL_BUFFER(af,data))
-    return NULL;
+  mp_audio_realloc_min(af->data, data->samples);
 
   // Reset unused channels
-  memset(l->audio,0,c->len / c->nch * l->nch);
+  memset(l->planes[0],0,mp_audio_psize(c) / c->nch * l->nch);
 
   if(AF_OK == check_routes(s,c->nch,l->nch))
     for(i=0;i<s->nr;i++)
-      copy(c->audio,l->audio,c->nch,s->route[i][FR],
-	   l->nch,s->route[i][TO],c->len,c->bps);
+      copy(c->planes[0],l->planes[0],c->nch,s->route[i][FR],
+	   l->nch,s->route[i][TO],mp_audio_psize(c),c->bps);
 
   // Set output data
-  c->audio = l->audio;
-  c->len   = c->len / c->nch * l->nch;
+  c->planes[0] = l->planes[0];
+  c->samples   = c->samples / c->nch * l->nch;
   mp_audio_set_channels(c, &l->channels);
 
   return c;
@@ -255,10 +254,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_channels_t));
-  if((af->data == NULL) || (af->setup == NULL))
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
   return AF_OK;
 }
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_convert24.c b/audio/filter/af_convert24.c
index 18ce156467..ee8aff5afc 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_convert24.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_convert24.c
@@ -53,8 +53,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 
         assert(test_conversion(in->format, out->format));
 
-        af->mul = (double)out->bps / in->bps;
-
         return mp_audio_config_equals(in, &orig_in) ? AF_OK : AF_FALSE;
     }
     case AF_CONTROL_FORMAT_FMT | AF_CONTROL_SET: {
@@ -74,16 +72,15 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 
 static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 {
-    if (RESIZE_LOCAL_BUFFER(af, data) != AF_OK)
-        return NULL;
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(af->data, data->samples);
 
     struct mp_audio *out = af->data;
-    size_t len = data->len / data->bps;
+    size_t len = mp_audio_psize(data) / data->bps;
 
     if (data->bps == 4) {
         for (int s = 0; s < len; s++) {
-            uint32_t val = *((uint32_t *)data->audio + s);
-            uint8_t *ptr = (uint8_t *)out->audio + s * 3;
+            uint32_t val = *((uint32_t *)data->planes[0] + s);
+            uint8_t *ptr = (uint8_t *)out->planes[0] + s * 3;
             ptr[0] = val >> SHIFT(0);
             ptr[1] = val >> SHIFT(1);
             ptr[2] = val >> SHIFT(2);
@@ -91,32 +88,23 @@ static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
         mp_audio_set_format(data, af_fmt_change_bits(data->format, 24));
     } else {
         for (int s = 0; s < len; s++) {
-            uint8_t *ptr = (uint8_t *)data->audio + s * 3;
+            uint8_t *ptr = (uint8_t *)data->planes[0] + s * 3;
             uint32_t val = ptr[0] << SHIFT(0)
                          | ptr[1] << SHIFT(1)
                          | ptr[2] << SHIFT(2);
-            *((uint32_t *)out->audio + s) = val;
+            *((uint32_t *)out->planes[0] + s) = val;
         }
         mp_audio_set_format(data, af_fmt_change_bits(data->format, 32));
     }
 
-    data->audio = out->audio;
-    data->len = len * data->bps;
+    data->planes[0] = out->planes[0];
     return data;
 }
 
-static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
-{
-    if (af->data)
-        free(af->data->audio);
-}
-
 static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
 {
     af->control = control;
     af->play = play;
-    af->uninit = uninit;
-    af->data = talloc_zero(af, struct mp_audio);
     return AF_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_convertsignendian.c b/audio/filter/af_convertsignendian.c
index bfea004bb2..65fffdf487 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_convertsignendian.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_convertsignendian.c
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 
 static bool test_conversion(int src_format, int dst_format)
 {
+    if ((src_format & AF_FORMAT_PLANAR) ||
+        (dst_format & AF_FORMAT_PLANAR))
+        return false;
     int src_noend = src_format & ~AF_FORMAT_END_MASK;
     int dst_noend = dst_format & ~AF_FORMAT_END_MASK;
     // We can swap endian for all formats, but sign only for integer formats.
@@ -100,13 +103,13 @@ static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 {
     int infmt = data->format;
     int outfmt = af->data->format;
-    size_t len = data->len / data->bps;
+    size_t len = data->samples * data->nch;
 
     if ((infmt & AF_FORMAT_END_MASK) != (outfmt & AF_FORMAT_END_MASK))
-        endian(data->audio, len, data->bps);
+        endian(data->planes[0], len, data->bps);
 
     if ((infmt & AF_FORMAT_SIGN_MASK) != (outfmt & AF_FORMAT_SIGN_MASK))
-        si2us(data->audio, len, data->bps,
+        si2us(data->planes[0], len, data->bps,
               (outfmt & AF_FORMAT_END_MASK) == AF_FORMAT_LE);
 
     mp_audio_set_format(data, outfmt);
@@ -117,8 +120,6 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
 {
     af->control = control;
     af->play = play;
-    af->mul = 1;
-    af->data = talloc_zero(af, struct mp_audio);
     return AF_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_delay.c b/audio/filter/af_delay.c
index a6515f84cf..e2ef57221d 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_delay.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_delay.c
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
       free(s->q[i]);
 
     mp_audio_copy_config(af->data, (struct mp_audio*)arg);
+    mp_audio_force_interleaved_format(af->data);
 
     // Allocate new delay queues
     for(i=0;i<af->data->nch;i++){
@@ -111,7 +112,6 @@ static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
   int i;
 
-  free(af->data);
   for(i=0;i<AF_NCH;i++)
       free(((af_delay_t*)(af->setup))->q[i]);
   free(af->setup);
@@ -123,13 +123,13 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
   struct mp_audio*   	c   = data;	 // Current working data
   af_delay_t*  	s   = af->setup; // Setup for this instance
   int 		nch = c->nch;	 // Number of channels
-  int		len = c->len/c->bps; // Number of sample in data chunk
+  int		len = mp_audio_psize(c)/c->bps; // Number of sample in data chunk
   int		ri  = 0;
   int 		ch,i;
   for(ch=0;ch<nch;ch++){
     switch(c->bps){
     case 1:{
-      int8_t* a = c->audio;
+      int8_t* a = c->planes[0];
       int8_t* q = s->q[ch];
       int wi = s->wi[ch];
       ri = s->ri;
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
       break;
     }
     case 2:{
-      int16_t* a = c->audio;
+      int16_t* a = c->planes[0];
       int16_t* q = s->q[ch];
       int wi = s->wi[ch];
       ri = s->ri;
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
       break;
     }
     case 4:{
-      int32_t* a = c->audio;
+      int32_t* a = c->planes[0];
       int32_t* q = s->q[ch];
       int wi = s->wi[ch];
       ri = s->ri;
@@ -181,10 +181,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_delay_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
   return AF_OK;
 }
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_drc.c b/audio/filter/af_drc.c
index 9bbbde4831..17c4a12a95 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_drc.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_drc.c
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
     // Sanity check
     if(!arg) return AF_ERROR;
 
+    mp_audio_force_interleaved_format((struct mp_audio*)arg);
     mp_audio_copy_config(af->data, (struct mp_audio*)arg);
 
     if(((struct mp_audio*)arg)->format != (AF_FORMAT_S16_NE)){
@@ -112,15 +113,14 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-    free(af->data);
     free(af->setup);
 }
 
 static void method1_int16(af_drc_t *s, struct mp_audio *c)
 {
   register int i = 0;
-  int16_t *data = (int16_t*)c->audio;	// Audio data
-  int len = c->len/2;		// Number of samples
+  int16_t *data = (int16_t*)c->planes[0];	// Audio data
+  int len = c->samples*c->nch;		// Number of samples
   float curavg = 0.0, newavg, neededmul;
   int tmp;
 
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ static void method1_int16(af_drc_t *s, struct mp_audio *c)
 static void method1_float(af_drc_t *s, struct mp_audio *c)
 {
   register int i = 0;
-  float *data = (float*)c->audio;	// Audio data
-  int len = c->len/4;		// Number of samples
+  float *data = (float*)c->planes[0];	// Audio data
+  int len = c->samples*c->nch;		// Number of samples
   float curavg = 0.0, newavg, neededmul, tmp;
 
   for (i = 0; i < len; i++)
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ static void method1_float(af_drc_t *s, struct mp_audio *c)
 static void method2_int16(af_drc_t *s, struct mp_audio *c)
 {
   register int i = 0;
-  int16_t *data = (int16_t*)c->audio;	// Audio data
-  int len = c->len/2;		// Number of samples
+  int16_t *data = (int16_t*)c->planes[0];	// Audio data
+  int len = c->samples*c->nch;		// Number of samples
   float curavg = 0.0, newavg, avg = 0.0;
   int tmp, totallen = 0;
 
@@ -248,8 +248,8 @@ static void method2_int16(af_drc_t *s, struct mp_audio *c)
 static void method2_float(af_drc_t *s, struct mp_audio *c)
 {
   register int i = 0;
-  float *data = (float*)c->audio;	// Audio data
-  int len = c->len/4;		// Number of samples
+  float *data = (float*)c->planes[0];	// Audio data
+  int len = c->samples*c->nch;		// Number of samples
   float curavg = 0.0, newavg, avg = 0.0, tmp;
   int totallen = 0;
 
@@ -319,10 +319,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_drc_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
 
   ((af_drc_t*)af->setup)->mul = MUL_INIT;
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_dummy.c b/audio/filter/af_dummy.c
index ab601ba9bb..d1cb054413 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_dummy.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_dummy.c
@@ -40,12 +40,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
   return AF_UNKNOWN;
 }
 
-// Deallocate memory
-static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
-{
-    free(af->data);
-}
-
 // Filter data through filter
 static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 {
@@ -58,12 +52,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 // Allocate memory and set function pointers
 static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
-  af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=malloc(sizeof(struct mp_audio));
-  if(af->data == NULL)
-    return AF_ERROR;
   return AF_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_equalizer.c b/audio/filter/af_equalizer.c
index cbdcd3f84a..75a489d867 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_equalizer.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_equalizer.c
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
       bp2(s->a[k],s->b[k],F[k]/((float)af->data->rate),Q);
 
     // Calculate how much this plugin adds to the overall time delay
-    af->delay = 2 * af->data->nch * af->data->bps;
+    af->delay = 2.0 / (double)af->data->rate;
 
     // Calculate gain factor to prevent clipping at output
     for(k=0;k<AF_NCH;k++)
@@ -156,7 +156,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-    free(af->data);
     free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -170,9 +169,9 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 
   while(ci--){
     float*	g   = s->g[ci];      // Gain factor
-    float*	in  = ((float*)c->audio)+ci;
-    float*	out = ((float*)c->audio)+ci;
-    float* 	end = in + c->len/4; // Block loop end
+    float*	in  = ((float*)c->planes[0])+ci;
+    float*	out = ((float*)c->planes[0])+ci;
+    float* 	end = in + c->samples*c->nch; // Block loop end
 
     while(in < end){
       register int	k  = 0;		// Frequency band index
@@ -204,10 +203,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_equalizer_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
   return AF_OK;
 }
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_export.c b/audio/filter/af_export.c
index 45143075a1..5e1096f85a 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_export.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_export.c
@@ -183,9 +183,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 */
 static void uninit( struct af_instance* af )
 {
-  free(af->data);
-  af->data = NULL;
-
   if(af->setup){
     af_export_t* s = af->setup;
     if (s->buf)
@@ -213,9 +210,9 @@ static struct mp_audio* play( struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data )
 {
   struct mp_audio*   	c   = data;	     // Current working data
   af_export_t* 	s   = af->setup;     // Setup for this instance
-  int16_t* 	a   = c->audio;	     // Incomming sound
+  int16_t* 	a   = c->planes[0];	     // Incomming sound
   int 		nch = c->nch;	     // Number of channels
-  int		len = c->len/c->bps; // Number of sample in data chunk
+  int		len = c->samples*c->nch; // Number of sample in data chunk
   int 		sz  = s->sz;         // buffer size (in samples)
   int 		flag = 0;	     // Set to 1 if buffer is filled
 
@@ -259,10 +256,8 @@ static int af_open( struct af_instance* af )
   af->control = control;
   af->uninit  = uninit;
   af->play    = play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data    = calloc(1, sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup   = calloc(1, sizeof(af_export_t));
-  if((af->data == NULL) || (af->setup == NULL))
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
 
   ((af_export_t *)af->setup)->filename = mp_find_user_config_file(SHARED_FILE);
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_extrastereo.c b/audio/filter/af_extrastereo.c
index 4cf27f2724..4561b60690 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_extrastereo.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_extrastereo.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
     if(!arg) return AF_ERROR;
 
     mp_audio_copy_config(af->data, (struct mp_audio*)arg);
+    mp_audio_force_interleaved_format(af->data);
     mp_audio_set_num_channels(af->data, 2);
     if (af->data->format == AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE)
     {
@@ -74,7 +75,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-    free(af->data);
     free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ static struct mp_audio* play_s16(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 {
   af_extrastereo_t *s = af->setup;
   register int i = 0;
-  int16_t *a = (int16_t*)data->audio;	// Audio data
-  int len = data->len/2;		// Number of samples
+  int16_t *a = (int16_t*)data->planes[0];	// Audio data
+  int len = data->samples*data->nch;		// Number of samples
   int avg, l, r;
 
   for (i = 0; i < len; i+=2)
@@ -105,8 +105,8 @@ static struct mp_audio* play_float(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data
 {
   af_extrastereo_t *s = af->setup;
   register int i = 0;
-  float *a = (float*)data->audio;	// Audio data
-  int len = data->len/4;		// Number of samples
+  float *a = (float*)data->planes[0];	// Audio data
+  int len = data->samples * data->nch;	// Number of samples
   float avg, l, r;
 
   for (i = 0; i < len; i+=2)
@@ -128,10 +128,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play_s16;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_extrastereo_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
 
   ((af_extrastereo_t*)af->setup)->mul = 2.5;
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_format.c b/audio/filter/af_format.c
index 642ef927bb..5b941951cb 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_format.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_format.c
@@ -35,9 +35,6 @@ struct priv {
     struct mp_chmap out_channels;
 
     int fail;
-
-    struct mp_audio data;
-    struct mp_audio temp;
 };
 
 static void force_in_params(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *in)
@@ -101,23 +98,14 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 
 static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 {
-    struct priv *priv = af->priv;
-    struct mp_audio *r = &priv->temp;
-
-    *r = *af->data;
-    r->audio = data->audio;
-    r->len = data->len;
-
-    return r;
+    mp_audio_copy_config(data, af->data);
+    return data;
 }
 
 static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
 {
     af->control = control;
     af->play = play;
-    af->mul = 1;
-    struct priv *priv = af->priv;
-    af->data = &priv->data;
 
     force_in_params(af, af->data);
     force_out_params(af, af->data);
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_hrtf.c b/audio/filter/af_hrtf.c
index 5b80bf0eec..ed51351750 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_hrtf.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_hrtf.c
@@ -313,7 +313,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void* arg)
 	      mp_audio_set_channels_old(af->data, 5);
         mp_audio_set_format(af->data, AF_FORMAT_S16_NE);
 	test_output_res = af_test_output(af, (struct mp_audio*)arg);
-	af->mul = 2.0 / af->data->nch;
 	// after testing input set the real output format
         mp_audio_set_num_channels(af->data, 2);
 	s->print_flag = 1;
@@ -366,9 +365,6 @@ static void uninit(struct af_instance *af)
 	free(s->fwrbuf_rr);
 	free(af->setup);
     }
-    if(af->data)
-	free(af->data->audio);
-    free(af->data);
 }
 
 /* Filter data through filter
@@ -385,14 +381,13 @@ damped (without any real 3D acoustical image, however).
 static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 {
     af_hrtf_t *s = af->setup;
-    short *in = data->audio; // Input audio data
+    short *in = data->planes[0]; // Input audio data
     short *out = NULL; // Output audio data
-    short *end = in + data->len / sizeof(short); // Loop end
+    short *end = in + data->samples * data->nch; // Loop end
     float common, left, right, diff, left_b, right_b;
     const int dblen = s->dlbuflen, hlen = s->hrflen, blen = s->basslen;
 
-    if(AF_OK != RESIZE_LOCAL_BUFFER(af, data))
-	return NULL;
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(af->data, data->samples);
 
     if(s->print_flag) {
 	s->print_flag = 0;
@@ -425,7 +420,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 		 "channel\n");
     }
 
-    out = af->data->audio;
+    out = af->data->planes[0];
 
     /* MPlayer's 5 channel layout (notation for the variable):
      *
@@ -565,8 +560,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
     }
 
     /* Set output data */
-    data->audio = af->data->audio;
-    data->len   = data->len / data->nch * 2;
+    data->planes[0] = af->data->planes[0];
     mp_audio_set_num_channels(data, 2);
 
     return data;
@@ -603,10 +597,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af)
     af->control = control;
     af->uninit = uninit;
     af->play = play;
-    af->mul = 1;
-    af->data = calloc(1, sizeof(struct mp_audio));
     af->setup = calloc(1, sizeof(af_hrtf_t));
-    if((af->data == NULL) || (af->setup == NULL))
+    if(af->setup == NULL)
 	return AF_ERROR;
 
     s = af->setup;
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_karaoke.c b/audio/filter/af_karaoke.c
index b24ba0d877..8c633b136c 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_karaoke.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_karaoke.c
@@ -41,19 +41,13 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 	return AF_UNKNOWN;
 }
 
-// Deallocate memory
-static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
-{
-	free(af->data);
-}
-
 // Filter data through filter
 static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 {
 	struct mp_audio*	c	= data;		 // Current working data
-	float*		a	= c->audio;	 // Audio data
-	int			len	= c->len/4;	 // Number of samples in current audio block
+	float*		a	= c->planes[0];	 // Audio data
 	int			nch	= c->nch;	 // Number of channels
+	int			len	= c->samples*nch;	 // Number of samples in current audio block
 	register int  i;
 
 	/*
@@ -74,14 +68,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 // Allocate memory and set function pointers
 static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
 	af->control	= control;
-	af->uninit	= uninit;
 	af->play	= play;
-	af->mul		= 1;
-	af->data	= calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
-
-	if(af->data == NULL)
-		return AF_ERROR;
-
 	return AF_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_ladspa.c b/audio/filter/af_ladspa.c
index 73b7430201..df88c06ab2 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_ladspa.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_ladspa.c
@@ -497,10 +497,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg) {
         mp_audio_copy_config(af->data, (struct mp_audio*)arg);
         mp_audio_set_format(af->data, AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE);
 
-        /* arg->len is not set here yet, so init of buffers and connecting the
-         * filter, has to be done in play() :-/
-         */
-
         return af_test_output(af, (struct mp_audio*)arg);
     case AF_CONTROL_COMMAND_LINE: {
         char *buf;
@@ -650,7 +646,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg) {
  */
 
 static void uninit(struct af_instance *af) {
-    free(af->data);
     if (af->setup) {
         af_ladspa_t *setup = (af_ladspa_t*) af->setup;
         const LADSPA_Descriptor *pdes = setup->plugin_descriptor;
@@ -710,8 +705,8 @@ static void uninit(struct af_instance *af) {
 static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data) {
     af_ladspa_t *setup = af->setup;
     const LADSPA_Descriptor *pdes = setup->plugin_descriptor;
-    float *audio = (float*)data->audio;
-    int nsamples = data->len/4; /* /4 because it's 32-bit float */
+    float *audio = (float*)data->planes[0];
+    int nsamples = data->samples*data->nch;
     int nch = data->nch;
     int rate = data->rate;
     int i, p;
@@ -723,10 +718,6 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data) {
      * plugin, connect ports and activate plugin
      */
 
-    /* 2004-12-07: Also check if the buffersize has to be changed!
-     *             data->len is not constant per se! re-init buffers.
-     */
-
     if ( (setup->bufsize != nsamples/nch) || (setup->nch != nch) ) {
 
         /* if setup->nch==0, it's the first call, if not, something has
@@ -884,16 +875,9 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance *af) {
     af->control=control;
     af->uninit=uninit;
     af->play=play;
-    af->mul=1;
-
-    af->data = calloc(1, sizeof(struct mp_audio));
-    if (af->data == NULL)
-        return af_ladspa_malloc_failed((char*)af_info_ladspa.name);
 
     af->setup = calloc(1, sizeof(af_ladspa_t));
     if (af->setup == NULL) {
-        free(af->data);
-        af->data=NULL;
         return af_ladspa_malloc_failed((char*)af_info_ladspa.name);
     }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_lavcac3enc.c b/audio/filter/af_lavcac3enc.c
index 9ca193017a..dc2aeb5045 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_lavcac3enc.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_lavcac3enc.c
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "af.h"
-#include "audio/reorder_ch.h"
+#include "audio/audio_buffer.h"
+#include "audio/fmt-conversion.h"
 
 
 #define AC3_MAX_CHANNELS 6
@@ -53,10 +54,9 @@ typedef struct af_ac3enc_s {
     bool planarize;
     int add_iec61937_header;
     int bit_rate;
-    int pending_data_size;
-    char *pending_data;
-    int pending_len;
-    int expect_len;
+    struct mp_audio_buffer *pending;
+    int in_samples;     // samples of input per AC3 frame
+    int out_samples;    // upper bound on encoded output per AC3 frame
     int min_channel_num;
     int in_sampleformat;
 } af_ac3enc_t;
@@ -65,51 +65,59 @@ typedef struct af_ac3enc_s {
 static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 {
     af_ac3enc_t *s  = af->setup;
-    struct mp_audio *data = arg;
-    int i, bit_rate, test_output_res;
+    int i, bit_rate;
     static const int default_bit_rate[AC3_MAX_CHANNELS+1] = \
         {0, 96000, 192000, 256000, 384000, 448000, 448000};
 
     switch (cmd){
-    case AF_CONTROL_REINIT:
-        if (AF_FORMAT_IS_AC3(data->format) || data->nch < s->min_channel_num)
+    case AF_CONTROL_REINIT: {
+        struct mp_audio *in = arg;
+        struct mp_audio orig_in = *in;
+
+        if (AF_FORMAT_IS_AC3(in->format) || in->nch < s->min_channel_num)
             return AF_DETACH;
 
-        mp_audio_set_format(af->data, s->in_sampleformat);
-        if (data->rate == 48000 || data->rate == 44100 || data->rate == 32000)
-            af->data->rate = data->rate;
-        else
-            af->data->rate = 48000;
-        if (data->nch > AC3_MAX_CHANNELS)
-            mp_audio_set_num_channels(af->data, AC3_MAX_CHANNELS);
-        else
-            mp_audio_set_channels(af->data, &data->channels);
-        mp_chmap_reorder_to_lavc(&af->data->channels);
-        test_output_res = af_test_output(af, data);
-
-        s->pending_len = 0;
-        s->expect_len = AC3_FRAME_SIZE * data->nch * af->data->bps;
-        assert(s->expect_len <= s->pending_data_size);
-        if (s->add_iec61937_header)
-            af->mul = (double)AC3_FRAME_SIZE * 2 * 2 / s->expect_len;
-        else
-            af->mul = (double)AC3_MAX_CODED_FRAME_SIZE / s->expect_len;
+        mp_audio_set_format(in, s->in_sampleformat);
 
-        mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_DBG2, "af_lavcac3enc reinit: %d, %d, %f, %d.\n",
-               data->nch, data->rate, af->mul, s->expect_len);
+        if (in->rate != 48000 && in->rate != 44100 && in->rate != 32000)
+            in->rate = 48000;
+        af->data->rate = in->rate;
+
+        mp_chmap_reorder_to_lavc(&in->channels);
+        if (in->nch > AC3_MAX_CHANNELS)
+            mp_audio_set_num_channels(in, AC3_MAX_CHANNELS);
+
+        mp_audio_set_format(af->data, AF_FORMAT_AC3_BE);
+        mp_audio_set_num_channels(af->data, 2);
+
+        if (!mp_audio_config_equals(in, &orig_in))
+            return AF_FALSE;
 
-        bit_rate = s->bit_rate ? s->bit_rate : default_bit_rate[af->data->nch];
+        s->in_samples = AC3_FRAME_SIZE;
+        if (s->add_iec61937_header) {
+            s->out_samples = AC3_FRAME_SIZE;
+        } else {
+            s->out_samples = AC3_MAX_CODED_FRAME_SIZE / af->data->sstride;
+        }
+        af->mul = s->out_samples / (double)s->in_samples;
 
-        if (s->lavc_actx->channels != af->data->nch ||
-                s->lavc_actx->sample_rate != af->data->rate ||
-                s->lavc_actx->bit_rate != bit_rate) {
+        mp_audio_buffer_reinit(s->pending, in);
 
+        mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_DBG2, "af_lavcac3enc reinit: %d, %d, %f, %d.\n",
+               in->nch, in->rate, af->mul, s->in_samples);
+
+        bit_rate = s->bit_rate ? s->bit_rate : default_bit_rate[in->nch];
+
+        if (s->lavc_actx->channels != in->nch ||
+            s->lavc_actx->sample_rate != in->rate ||
+            s->lavc_actx->bit_rate != bit_rate)
+        {
             avcodec_close(s->lavc_actx);
 
             // Put sample parameters
-            s->lavc_actx->channels = af->data->nch;
-            s->lavc_actx->channel_layout = mp_chmap_to_lavc(&af->data->channels);
-            s->lavc_actx->sample_rate = af->data->rate;
+            s->lavc_actx->channels = in->nch;
+            s->lavc_actx->channel_layout = mp_chmap_to_lavc(&in->channels);
+            s->lavc_actx->sample_rate = in->rate;
             s->lavc_actx->bit_rate = bit_rate;
 
             if (avcodec_open2(s->lavc_actx, s->lavc_acodec, NULL) < 0) {
@@ -122,9 +130,8 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
                    "encoder frame size %d\n", s->lavc_actx->frame_size);
             return AF_ERROR;
         }
-        mp_audio_set_format(af->data, AF_FORMAT_AC3_BE);
-        mp_audio_set_num_channels(af->data, 2);
-        return test_output_res;
+        return AF_OK;
+    }
     case AF_CONTROL_COMMAND_LINE:
         mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_DBG2, "af_lavcac3enc cmdline: %s.\n", (char*)arg);
         s->bit_rate = 0;
@@ -160,102 +167,62 @@ static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
     af_ac3enc_t *s = af->setup;
 
-    if (af->data)
-        free(af->data->audio);
-    free(af->data);
     if (s) {
         av_free_packet(&s->pkt);
         if(s->lavc_actx) {
             avcodec_close(s->lavc_actx);
             av_free(s->lavc_actx);
         }
-        free(s->pending_data);
-        free(s);
     }
 }
 
 // Filter data through filter
 static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* audio)
 {
+    struct mp_audio *out = af->data;
     af_ac3enc_t *s = af->setup;
-    struct mp_audio *c = audio;    // Current working data
-    struct mp_audio *l;
-    int left, outsize = 0;
-    char *buf, *src;
-    int max_output_len;
-    int frame_num = (audio->len + s->pending_len) / s->expect_len;
-    int samplesize = af_fmt2bits(s->in_sampleformat) / 8;
-
-    if (s->add_iec61937_header)
-        max_output_len = AC3_FRAME_SIZE * 2 * 2 * frame_num;
-    else
-        max_output_len = AC3_MAX_CODED_FRAME_SIZE * frame_num;
-
-    if (af->data->len < max_output_len) {
-        mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_V, "[libaf] Reallocating memory in module %s, "
-               "old len = %i, new len = %i\n", af->info->name, af->data->len,
-                max_output_len);
-        free(af->data->audio);
-        af->data->audio = malloc(max_output_len);
-        if (!af->data->audio) {
-            mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_FATAL, "[libaf] Could not allocate memory \n");
-            return NULL;
-        }
-        af->data->len = max_output_len;
-    }
+    int num_frames = (audio->samples + mp_audio_buffer_samples(s->pending))
+                     / s->in_samples;
 
-    l = af->data;           // Local data
-    buf = l->audio;
-    src = c->audio;
-    left = c->len;
+    int max_out_samples = s->out_samples * num_frames;
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(out, max_out_samples);
+    out->samples = 0;
 
-
-    while (left > 0) {
+    while (audio->samples > 0) {
         int ret;
 
-        if (left + s->pending_len < s->expect_len) {
-            memcpy(s->pending_data + s->pending_len, src, left);
-            src += left;
-            s->pending_len += left;
-            left = 0;
-            break;
-        }
-
-        char *src2 = src;
-
-        if (s->pending_len) {
-            int needs = s->expect_len - s->pending_len;
-            if (needs > 0) {
-                memcpy(s->pending_data + s->pending_len, src, needs);
-                src += needs;
-                left -= needs;
+        int consumed_pending = 0;
+        struct mp_audio in_frame;
+        int pending = mp_audio_buffer_samples(s->pending);
+        if (pending == 0 && audio->samples >= s->in_samples) {
+            in_frame = *audio;
+            mp_audio_skip_samples(audio, s->in_samples);
+        } else {
+            if (pending > 0 && pending < s->in_samples) {
+                struct mp_audio tmp = *audio;
+                tmp.samples = MPMIN(tmp.samples, s->in_samples);
+                mp_audio_buffer_append(s->pending, &tmp);
+                mp_audio_skip_samples(audio, tmp.samples);
             }
-            src2= s->pending_data;
-        }
-
-        void *data = (void *) src2;
-        if (s->planarize) {
-            void *data2 = malloc(s->expect_len);
-            reorder_to_planar(data2, data, samplesize,
-                    c->nch, s->expect_len / samplesize / c->nch);
-            data = data2;
+            mp_audio_buffer_peek(s->pending, &in_frame);
+            if (in_frame.samples < s->in_samples)
+                break;
+            consumed_pending = s->in_samples;
         }
+        in_frame.samples = s->in_samples;
 
         AVFrame *frame = avcodec_alloc_frame();
         if (!frame) {
             mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_FATAL, "[libaf] Could not allocate memory \n");
             return NULL;
         }
-        frame->nb_samples = AC3_FRAME_SIZE;
+        frame->nb_samples = s->in_samples;
         frame->format = s->lavc_actx->sample_fmt;
         frame->channel_layout = s->lavc_actx->channel_layout;
-
-        ret = avcodec_fill_audio_frame(frame, c->nch, s->lavc_actx->sample_fmt,
-                                       (const uint8_t*)data, s->expect_len, 0);
-        if (ret < 0) {
-            mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_FATAL, "[lavac3enc] Frame setup failed.\n");
-            return NULL;
-        }
+        assert(in_frame.num_planes <= AV_NUM_DATA_POINTERS);
+        for (int n = 0; n < in_frame.num_planes; n++)
+            frame->data[n] = in_frame.planes[n];
+        frame->linesize[0] = s->in_samples * audio->sstride;
 
         int ok;
         ret = avcodec_encode_audio2(s->lavc_actx, &s->pkt, frame, &ok);
@@ -264,63 +231,55 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* audio)
             return NULL;
         }
 
-        if (s->planarize)
-            free(data);
-
         avcodec_free_frame(&frame);
 
-        if (s->pending_len) {
-            s->pending_len = 0;
-        } else {
-            src += s->expect_len;
-            left -= s->expect_len;
-        }
+        mp_audio_buffer_skip(s->pending, consumed_pending);
 
         mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_DBG2, "avcodec_encode_audio got %d, pending %d.\n",
-               s->pkt.size, s->pending_len);
+               s->pkt.size, mp_audio_buffer_samples(s->pending));
 
-        int len = s->pkt.size;
+        int frame_size = s->pkt.size;
         int header_len = 0;
-        if (s->add_iec61937_header) {
-            assert(s->pkt.size > 5);
-            int bsmod = s->pkt.data[5] & 0x7;
+        char hdr[8];
 
-            AV_WB16(buf,     0xF872);   // iec 61937 syncword 1
-            AV_WB16(buf + 2, 0x4E1F);   // iec 61937 syncword 2
-            buf[4] = bsmod;             // bsmod
-            buf[5] = 0x01;              // data-type ac3
-            AV_WB16(buf + 6, len << 3); // number of bits in payload
+        if (s->add_iec61937_header && s->pkt.size > 5) {
+            int bsmod = s->pkt.data[5] & 0x7;
+            int len = frame_size;
 
-            memset(buf + 8 + len, 0, AC3_FRAME_SIZE * 2 * 2 - 8 - len);
+            frame_size = AC3_FRAME_SIZE * 2 * 2;
             header_len = 8;
-            len = AC3_FRAME_SIZE * 2 * 2;
+
+            AV_WB16(hdr,     0xF872);   // iec 61937 syncword 1
+            AV_WB16(hdr + 2, 0x4E1F);   // iec 61937 syncword 2
+            hdr[4] = bsmod;             // bsmod
+            hdr[5] = 0x01;              // data-type ac3
+            AV_WB16(hdr + 6, len << 3); // number of bits in payload
         }
 
-        assert(buf + len <= (char *)af->data->audio + af->data->len);
-        assert(s->pkt.size <= len - header_len);
+        size_t max_size = (max_out_samples - out->samples) * out->sstride;
+        if (frame_size > max_size)
+            abort();
 
+        char *buf = (char *)out->planes[0] + out->samples * out->sstride;
+        memcpy(buf, hdr, header_len);
         memcpy(buf + header_len, s->pkt.data, s->pkt.size);
-
-        outsize += len;
-        buf += len;
+        memset(buf + header_len + s->pkt.size, 0,
+               frame_size - (header_len + s->pkt.size));
+        out->samples += frame_size / out->sstride;
     }
-    c->audio = l->audio;
-    mp_audio_set_num_channels(c, 2);
-    mp_audio_set_format(c, af->data->format);
-    c->len   = outsize;
-    mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_DBG2, "play return size %d, pending %d\n",
-           outsize, s->pending_len);
-    return c;
+
+    mp_audio_buffer_append(s->pending, audio);
+
+    *audio = *out;
+    return audio;
 }
 
 static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
 
-    af_ac3enc_t *s = calloc(1,sizeof(af_ac3enc_t));
+    af_ac3enc_t *s = talloc_zero(af, af_ac3enc_t);
     af->control=control;
     af->uninit=uninit;
     af->play=play;
-    af->mul=1;
-    af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
     af->setup=s;
 
     s->lavc_acodec = avcodec_find_encoder_by_name("ac3");
@@ -335,45 +294,25 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
         return AF_ERROR;
     }
     const enum AVSampleFormat *fmts = s->lavc_acodec->sample_fmts;
-    for (int i = 0; ; i++) {
-        if (fmts[i] == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_NONE) {
-            mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_ERR, "Audio LAVC, encoder doesn't "
-                   "support expected sample formats!\n");
-            return AF_ERROR;
-        } else if (fmts[i] == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16) {
-            s->in_sampleformat = AF_FORMAT_S16_NE;
-            s->lavc_actx->sample_fmt = fmts[i];
-            s->planarize = 0;
-            break;
-        } else if (fmts[i] == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLT) {
-            s->in_sampleformat = AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE;
-            s->lavc_actx->sample_fmt = fmts[i];
-            s->planarize = 0;
-            break;
-        } else if (fmts[i] == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16P) {
-            s->in_sampleformat = AF_FORMAT_S16_NE;
+    for (int i = 0; fmts[i] != AV_SAMPLE_FMT_NONE; i++) {
+        s->in_sampleformat = af_from_avformat(fmts[i]);
+        if (s->in_sampleformat) {
             s->lavc_actx->sample_fmt = fmts[i];
-            s->planarize = 1;
-            break;
-        } else if (fmts[i] == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLTP) {
-            s->in_sampleformat = AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE;
-            s->lavc_actx->sample_fmt = fmts[i];
-            s->planarize = 1;
             break;
         }
     }
+    if (!s->in_sampleformat) {
+        mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_ERR, "Audio LAVC, encoder doesn't "
+               "support expected sample formats!\n");
+        return AF_ERROR;
+    }
     mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_V, "[af_lavcac3enc]: in sample format: %s\n",
            af_fmt_to_str(s->in_sampleformat));
-    s->pending_data_size = AF_NCH * AC3_FRAME_SIZE *
-        af_fmt2bits(s->in_sampleformat) / 8;
-    s->pending_data = malloc(s->pending_data_size);
-
-    if (s->planarize)
-        mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_WARN,
-                "[af_lavcac3enc]: need to planarize audio data\n");
 
     av_init_packet(&s->pkt);
 
+    s->pending = mp_audio_buffer_create(af);
+
     return AF_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_lavfi.c b/audio/filter/af_lavfi.c
index 3c6d981f1d..24ff8c5985 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_lavfi.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_lavfi.c
@@ -58,14 +58,7 @@ struct priv {
     AVFilterContext *in;
     AVFilterContext *out;
 
-    // Guarantee that the data stays valid until next filter call
-    char *out_buffer;
-
-    struct mp_audio data;
-    struct mp_audio temp;
-
-    int64_t bytes_in;
-    int64_t bytes_out;
+    int64_t samples_in;
 
     AVRational timebase_out;
 
@@ -129,6 +122,8 @@ static bool recreate_graph(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *config)
     static const enum AVSampleFormat sample_fmts[] = {
         AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8, AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16, AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S32,
         AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLT, AV_SAMPLE_FMT_DBL,
+        AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8P, AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16P, AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S32P,
+        AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLTP, AV_SAMPLE_FMT_DBLP,
         AV_SAMPLE_FMT_NONE
     };
     r = av_opt_set_int_list(out, "sample_fmts", sample_fmts,
@@ -202,7 +197,8 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 
         p->timebase_out = l_out->time_base;
 
-        af->mul = (double) (out->rate * out->nch) / (in->rate * in->nch);
+        // Blatantly incorrect; we don't know what the filters do.
+        af->mul = out->rate / (double)in->rate;
 
         return mp_audio_config_equals(in, &orig_in) ? AF_OK : AF_FALSE;
     }
@@ -218,28 +214,25 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 {
     struct priv *p = af->priv;
+    struct mp_audio *r = af->data;
 
     AVFilterLink *l_in = p->in->outputs[0];
 
-    struct mp_audio *r = &p->temp;
-    *r = *af->data;
-
-    int in_frame_size = data->bps * data->channels.num;
-    int out_frame_size = r->bps * r->channels.num;
-
     AVFrame *frame = av_frame_alloc();
-    frame->nb_samples = data->len / in_frame_size;
+    frame->nb_samples = data->samples;
     frame->format = l_in->format;
 
     // Timebase is 1/sample_rate
-    frame->pts = p->bytes_in / in_frame_size;
+    frame->pts = p->samples_in;
 
     av_frame_set_channels(frame, l_in->channels);
     av_frame_set_channel_layout(frame, l_in->channel_layout);
     av_frame_set_sample_rate(frame, l_in->sample_rate);
 
-    frame->data[0] = data->audio;
     frame->extended_data = frame->data;
+    for (int n = 0; n < data->num_planes; n++)
+        frame->data[n] = data->planes[n];
+    frame->linesize[0] = frame->nb_samples * data->sstride;
 
     if (av_buffersrc_add_frame(p->in, frame) < 0) {
         av_frame_free(&frame);
@@ -248,7 +241,7 @@ static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
     av_frame_free(&frame);
 
     int64_t out_pts = AV_NOPTS_VALUE;
-    size_t out_len = 0;
+    r->samples = 0;
     for (;;) {
         frame = av_frame_alloc();
         if (av_buffersink_get_frame(p->out, frame) < 0) {
@@ -257,36 +250,32 @@ static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
             break;
         }
 
-        size_t new_len = out_len + frame->nb_samples * out_frame_size;
-        if (new_len > talloc_get_size(p->out_buffer))
-            p->out_buffer = talloc_realloc(p, p->out_buffer, char, new_len);
-        memcpy(p->out_buffer + out_len, frame->data[0], new_len - out_len);
-        out_len = new_len;
+        mp_audio_realloc_min(r, r->samples + frame->nb_samples);
+        for (int n = 0; n < r->num_planes; n++) {
+            memcpy((char *)r->planes[n] + r->samples * r->sstride,
+                   frame->extended_data[n], frame->nb_samples * r->sstride);
+        }
+        r->samples += frame->nb_samples;
+
         if (out_pts == AV_NOPTS_VALUE)
             out_pts = frame->pts;
 
         av_frame_free(&frame);
     }
 
-    r->audio = p->out_buffer;
-    r->len = out_len;
-
-    p->bytes_in += data->len;
-    p->bytes_out += r->len;
+    p->samples_in += data->samples;
 
     if (out_pts != AV_NOPTS_VALUE) {
-        int64_t num_in_frames = p->bytes_in / in_frame_size;
-        double in_time = num_in_frames / (double)data->rate;
-
+        double in_time = p->samples_in / (double)data->rate;
         double out_time = out_pts * av_q2d(p->timebase_out);
         // Need pts past the last output sample.
-        int out_frames = r->len / out_frame_size;
-        out_time += out_frames / (double)r->rate;
+        out_time += r->samples / (double)r->rate;
 
-        af->delay = (in_time - out_time) * r->rate * out_frame_size;
+        af->delay = in_time - out_time;
     }
 
-    return r;
+    *data = *r;
+    return data;
 }
 
 static void uninit(struct af_instance *af)
@@ -298,9 +287,10 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
     af->control = control;
     af->uninit = uninit;
     af->play = play;
-    af->mul = 1;
     struct priv *priv = af->priv;
-    af->data = &priv->data;
+    af->data = talloc_zero(priv, struct mp_audio),
+    // Removing this requires fixing AVFrame.data vs. AVFrame.extended_data
+    assert(MP_NUM_CHANNELS <= AV_NUM_DATA_POINTERS);
     return AF_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_lavrresample.c b/audio/filter/af_lavrresample.c
index 860e5a52d3..2e298a3f39 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_lavrresample.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_lavrresample.c
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
+#include <assert.h>
+
 #include <libavutil/opt.h>
 #include <libavutil/audioconvert.h>
 #include <libavutil/common.h>
@@ -247,8 +249,7 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
         if (af_to_avformat(out->format) == AV_SAMPLE_FMT_NONE)
             mp_audio_set_format(out, in->format);
 
-        af->mul     = (double) (out->rate * out->nch) / (in->rate * in->nch);
-        af->delay   = out->nch * s->opts.filter_size / FFMIN(af->mul, 1);
+        af->mul     = out->rate / (double)in->rate;
 
         int r = ((in->format == orig_in.format) &&
                 mp_chmap_equals(&in->channels, &orig_in.channels))
@@ -299,36 +300,49 @@ static bool needs_reorder(int *reorder, int num_ch)
     return false;
 }
 
+static void reorder_planes(struct mp_audio *mpa, int *reorder)
+{
+    struct mp_audio prev = *mpa;
+    for (int n = 0; n < mpa->num_planes; n++) {
+        assert(reorder[n] >= 0 && reorder[n] < mpa->num_planes);
+        mpa->planes[n] = prev.planes[reorder[n]];
+    }
+}
+
+#if !USE_SET_CHANNEL_MAPPING
+static void do_reorder(struct mp_audio *mpa, int *reorder)
+{
+    if (af_fmt_is_planar(mpa->format)) {
+        reorder_planes(mpa, reorder);
+    } else {
+        reorder_channels(mpa->planes[0], reorder, mpa->bps, mpa->nch, mpa->samples);
+    }
+}
+#endif
+
 static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 {
     struct af_resample *s = af->priv;
     struct mp_audio *in   = data;
     struct mp_audio *out  = af->data;
 
-
-    int in_size     = data->len;
-    int in_samples  = in_size / (data->bps * data->nch);
-    int out_samples = avresample_available(s->avrctx) +
-        av_rescale_rnd(get_delay(s) + in_samples,
+    out->samples = avresample_available(s->avrctx) +
+        av_rescale_rnd(get_delay(s) + in->samples,
                        s->ctx.out_rate, s->ctx.in_rate, AV_ROUND_UP);
-    int out_size    = out->bps * out_samples * out->nch;
 
-    if (talloc_get_size(out->audio) < out_size)
-        out->audio = talloc_realloc_size(out, out->audio, out_size);
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(out, out->samples);
 
-    af->delay = out->bps * av_rescale_rnd(get_delay(s),
-                                          s->ctx.out_rate, s->ctx.in_rate,
-                                          AV_ROUND_UP);
+    af->delay = get_delay(s) / (double)s->ctx.in_rate;
 
 #if !USE_SET_CHANNEL_MAPPING
-    reorder_channels(data->audio, s->reorder_in, data->bps, data->nch, in_samples);
+    do_reorder(in, s->reorder_in);
 #endif
 
-    if (out_samples) {
-        out_samples = avresample_convert(s->avrctx,
-            (uint8_t **) &out->audio, out_size, out_samples,
-            (uint8_t **) &in->audio,  in_size,  in_samples);
-        if (out_samples < 0)
+    if (out->samples) {
+        out->samples = avresample_convert(s->avrctx,
+            (uint8_t **) out->planes, out->samples * out->sstride, out->samples,
+            (uint8_t **) in->planes,  in->samples  * in->sstride,  in->samples);
+        if (out->samples < 0)
             return NULL; // error
     }
 
@@ -336,18 +350,23 @@ static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
 
 #if USE_SET_CHANNEL_MAPPING
     if (needs_reorder(s->reorder_out, out->nch)) {
-        if (talloc_get_size(s->reorder_buffer) < out_size)
-            s->reorder_buffer = talloc_realloc_size(s, s->reorder_buffer, out_size);
-        data->audio = s->reorder_buffer;
-        out_samples = avresample_convert(s->avrctx_out,
-                (uint8_t **) &data->audio, out_size, out_samples,
-                (uint8_t **) &out->audio, out_size, out_samples);
+        if (af_fmt_is_planar(out->format)) {
+            reorder_planes(data, s->reorder_out);
+        } else {
+            int out_size = out->samples * out->sstride;
+            if (talloc_get_size(s->reorder_buffer) < out_size)
+                s->reorder_buffer = talloc_realloc_size(s, s->reorder_buffer, out_size);
+            data->planes[0] = s->reorder_buffer;
+            int out_samples = avresample_convert(s->avrctx_out,
+                    (uint8_t **) data->planes, out_size, out->samples,
+                    (uint8_t **) out->planes, out_size, out->samples);
+            assert(out_samples == data->samples);
+        }
     }
 #else
-    reorder_channels(data->audio, s->reorder_out, out->bps, out->nch, out_samples);
+    do_reorder(data, s->reorder_out);
 #endif
 
-    data->len = out->bps * out_samples * out->nch;
     return data;
 }
 
@@ -358,10 +377,6 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
     af->control = control;
     af->uninit  = uninit;
     af->play    = play;
-    af->mul     = 1;
-    af->data    = talloc_zero(s, struct mp_audio);
-
-    af->data->rate   = 0;
 
     if (s->opts.cutoff <= 0.0)
         s->opts.cutoff = af_resample_default_cutoff(s->opts.filter_size);
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_pan.c b/audio/filter/af_pan.c
index b3e31dab98..3d8c6045d0 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_pan.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_pan.c
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
     af->data->rate   = ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->rate;
     mp_audio_set_format(af->data, AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE);
     set_channels(af->data, s->nch ? s->nch: ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->nch);
-    af->mul          = (double)af->data->nch / ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->nch;
 
     if((af->data->format != ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->format) ||
        (af->data->bps != ((struct mp_audio*)arg)->bps)){
@@ -146,9 +145,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-  if(af->data)
-    free(af->data->audio);
-  free(af->data);
   free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -158,17 +154,16 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
   struct mp_audio*    c    = data;		// Current working data
   struct mp_audio*	l    = af->data;	// Local data
   af_pan_t*  	s    = af->setup; 	// Setup for this instance
-  float*   	in   = c->audio;	// Input audio data
+  float*   	in   = c->planes[0];	// Input audio data
   float*   	out  = NULL;		// Output audio data
-  float*	end  = in+c->len/4; 	// End of loop
+  float*	end  = in+c->samples*c->nch; 	// End of loop
   int		nchi = c->nch;		// Number of input channels
   int		ncho = l->nch;		// Number of output channels
   register int  j,k;
 
-  if(AF_OK != RESIZE_LOCAL_BUFFER(af,data))
-    return NULL;
+  mp_audio_realloc_min(af->data, data->samples);
 
-  out = l->audio;
+  out = l->planes[0];
   // Execute panning
   // FIXME: Too slow
   while(in < end){
@@ -184,8 +179,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
   }
 
   // Set output data
-  c->audio = l->audio;
-  c->len   = c->len / c->nch * l->nch;
+  c->planes[0] = l->planes[0];
   set_channels(c, l->nch);
 
   return c;
@@ -196,10 +190,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_pan_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
   return AF_OK;
 }
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_scaletempo.c b/audio/filter/af_scaletempo.c
index fdcfd5560f..c8560af502 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_scaletempo.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_scaletempo.c
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ typedef struct af_scaletempo_s
     // stride
     float scale;
     float speed;
+    int frames_stride;
     float frames_stride_scaled;
     float frames_stride_error;
     int bytes_per_frame;
     int bytes_stride;
-    float bytes_stride_scaled;
     int bytes_queue;
     int bytes_queued;
     int bytes_to_slide;
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ typedef struct af_scaletempo_s
 static int fill_queue(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data, int offset)
 {
     af_scaletempo_t *s = af->priv;
-    int bytes_in = data->len - offset;
+    int bytes_in = mp_audio_psize(data) - offset;
     int offset_unchanged = offset;
 
     if (s->bytes_to_slide > 0) {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ static int fill_queue(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data, int offset)
         int bytes_copy = MPMIN(s->bytes_queue - s->bytes_queued, bytes_in);
         assert(bytes_copy >= 0);
         memcpy(s->buf_queue + s->bytes_queued,
-               (int8_t *)data->audio + offset, bytes_copy);
+               (int8_t *)data->planes[0] + offset, bytes_copy);
         s->bytes_queued += bytes_copy;
         offset += bytes_copy;
     }
@@ -220,24 +220,11 @@ static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
         return data;
     }
 
-    // RESIZE_LOCAL_BUFFER - can't use macro
-    int max_bytes_out = ((int)(data->len / s->bytes_stride_scaled) + 1)
-                        * s->bytes_stride;
-    if (max_bytes_out > af->data->len) {
-        mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_V, "[libaf] Reallocating memory in module %s, "
-               "old len = %i, new len = %i\n", af->info->name,
-               af->data->len, max_bytes_out);
-        af->data->audio = realloc(af->data->audio, max_bytes_out);
-        if (!af->data->audio) {
-            mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_FATAL,
-                   "[libaf] Could not allocate memory\n");
-            return NULL;
-        }
-        af->data->len = max_bytes_out;
-    }
+    mp_audio_realloc_min(af->data,
+        ((int)(data->samples / s->frames_stride_scaled) + 1) * s->frames_stride);
 
     int offset_in = fill_queue(af, data, 0);
-    int8_t *pout = af->data->audio;
+    int8_t *pout = af->data->planes[0];
     while (s->bytes_queued >= s->bytes_queue) {
         int ti;
         float tf;
@@ -269,10 +256,11 @@ static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
     // This filter can have a negative delay when scale > 1:
     // output corresponding to some length of input can be decided and written
     // after receiving only a part of that input.
-    af->delay = s->bytes_queued - s->bytes_to_slide;
+    af->delay = (s->bytes_queued - s->bytes_to_slide) / s->scale
+                / af->data->sstride / af->data->rate;
 
-    data->audio = af->data->audio;
-    data->len   = pout - (int8_t *)af->data->audio;
+    data->planes[0] = af->data->planes[0];
+    data->samples   = (pout - (int8_t *)af->data->planes[0]) / af->data->sstride;
     return data;
 }
 
@@ -291,6 +279,7 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
                "[scaletempo] %.3f speed * %.3f scale_nominal = %.3f\n",
                s->speed, s->scale_nominal, s->scale);
 
+        mp_audio_force_interleaved_format(data);
         mp_audio_copy_config(af->data, data);
 
         if (s->scale == 1.0) {
@@ -308,15 +297,14 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
         }
         int bps = af->data->bps;
 
-        int frames_stride       = srate * s->ms_stride;
-        s->bytes_stride         = frames_stride * bps * nch;
-        s->bytes_stride_scaled  = s->scale * s->bytes_stride;
-        s->frames_stride_scaled = s->scale * frames_stride;
+        s->frames_stride        = srate * s->ms_stride;
+        s->bytes_stride         = s->frames_stride * bps * nch;
+        s->frames_stride_scaled = s->scale * s->frames_stride;
         s->frames_stride_error  = 0;
-        af->mul = (double)s->bytes_stride / s->bytes_stride_scaled;
+        af->mul = 1.0 / s->scale;
         af->delay = 0;
 
-        int frames_overlap = frames_stride * s->percent_overlap;
+        int frames_overlap = s->frames_stride * s->percent_overlap;
         if (frames_overlap <= 0) {
             s->bytes_standing   = s->bytes_stride;
             s->samples_standing = s->bytes_standing / bps;
@@ -401,8 +389,8 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
         s->bytes_per_frame = bps * nch;
         s->num_channels    = nch;
 
-        s->bytes_queue
-            = (s->frames_search + frames_stride + frames_overlap) * bps * nch;
+        s->bytes_queue = (s->frames_search + s->frames_stride + frames_overlap)
+                         * bps * nch;
         s->buf_queue = realloc(s->buf_queue, s->bytes_queue + UNROLL_PADDING);
         if (!s->buf_queue) {
             mp_msg(MSGT_AFILTER, MSGL_FATAL, "[scaletempo] Out of memory\n");
@@ -456,8 +444,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
 static void uninit(struct af_instance *af)
 {
     af_scaletempo_t *s = af->priv;
-    free(af->data->audio);
-    free(af->data);
     free(s->buf_queue);
     free(s->buf_overlap);
     free(s->buf_pre_corr);
@@ -476,10 +462,6 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
     af->control   = control;
     af->uninit    = uninit;
     af->play      = play;
-    af->mul       = 1;
-    af->data      = calloc(1, sizeof(struct mp_audio));
-    if (af->data == NULL)
-        return AF_ERROR;
 
     s->speed_tempo = !!(s->speed_opt & SCALE_TEMPO);
     s->speed_pitch = !!(s->speed_opt & SCALE_PITCH);
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_sinesuppress.c b/audio/filter/af_sinesuppress.c
index b9c86ccfe9..ef6fd7d37b 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_sinesuppress.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_sinesuppress.c
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-    free(af->data);
     free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -94,8 +93,8 @@ static struct mp_audio* play_s16(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 {
   af_sinesuppress_t *s = af->setup;
   register int i = 0;
-  int16_t *a = (int16_t*)data->audio;	// Audio data
-  int len = data->len/2;		// Number of samples
+  int16_t *a = (int16_t*)data->planes[0];	// Audio data
+  int len = data->samples*data->nch;		// Number of samples
 
   for (i = 0; i < len; i++)
   {
@@ -149,10 +148,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play_s16;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_sinesuppress_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
 
   ((af_sinesuppress_t*)af->setup)->freq = 50.0;
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_sub.c b/audio/filter/af_sub.c
index 7778e80b64..4fd16904c9 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_sub.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_sub.c
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-    free(af->data);
     free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -143,8 +142,8 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 {
   struct mp_audio*    c   = data;	 // Current working data
   af_sub_t*  	s   = af->setup; // Setup for this instance
-  float*   	a   = c->audio;	 // Audio data
-  int		len = c->len/4;	 // Number of samples in current audio block
+  float*   	a   = c->planes[0];	 // Audio data
+  int		len = c->samples*c->nch;	 // Number of samples in current audio block
   int		nch = c->nch;	 // Number of channels
   int		ch  = s->ch;	 // Channel in which to insert the sub audio
   register int  i;
@@ -166,10 +165,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=s=calloc(1,sizeof(af_sub_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
   // Set default values
   s->ch = 5;  	 // Channel nr 6
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_surround.c b/audio/filter/af_surround.c
index e584e6505a..efeecdc1e3 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_surround.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_surround.c
@@ -144,9 +144,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-  if(af->data)
-    free(af->data->audio);
-  free(af->data);
   free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -165,17 +162,16 @@ static float steering_matrix[][12] = {
 static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data){
   af_surround_t* s   = (af_surround_t*)af->setup;
   float*	 m   = steering_matrix[0];
-  float*     	 in  = data->audio; 	// Input audio data
+  float*     	 in  = data->planes[0]; 	// Input audio data
   float*     	 out = NULL;		// Output audio data
-  float*	 end = in + data->len / sizeof(float); // Loop end
+  float*	 end = in + data->samples * data->nch;
   int 		 i   = s->i;	// Filter queue index
   int 		 ri  = s->ri;	// Read index for delay queue
   int 		 wi  = s->wi;	// Write index for delay queue
 
-  if (AF_OK != RESIZE_LOCAL_BUFFER(af, data))
-    return NULL;
+  mp_audio_realloc_min(af->data, data->samples);
 
-  out = af->data->audio;
+  out = af->data->planes[0];
 
   while(in < end){
     /* Dominance:
@@ -237,8 +233,7 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data){
   s->i  = i; s->ri = ri; s->wi = wi;
 
   // Set output data
-  data->audio = af->data->audio;
-  data->len   *= 2;
+  data->planes[0] = af->data->planes[0];
   mp_audio_set_channels_old(data, af->data->nch);
 
   return data;
@@ -248,10 +243,8 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=2;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_surround_t));
-  if(af->data == NULL || af->setup == NULL)
+  if(af->setup == NULL)
     return AF_ERROR;
   ((af_surround_t*)af->setup)->d = 20;
   return AF_OK;
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_sweep.c b/audio/filter/af_sweep.c
index 0a140dcb65..c153d4261a 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_sweep.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_sweep.c
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ static int control(struct af_instance* af, int cmd, void* arg)
 // Deallocate memory
 static void uninit(struct af_instance* af)
 {
-    free(af->data);
     free(af->setup);
 }
 
@@ -67,9 +66,9 @@ static struct mp_audio* play(struct af_instance* af, struct mp_audio* data)
 {
   af_sweept *s = af->setup;
   int i, j;
-  int16_t *in = (int16_t*)data->audio;
+  int16_t *in = (int16_t*)data->planes[0];
   int chans   = data->nch;
-  int in_len  = data->len/(2*chans);
+  int in_len  = data->samples;
 
   for(i=0; i<in_len; i++){
       for(j=0; j<chans; j++)
@@ -85,8 +84,6 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance* af){
   af->control=control;
   af->uninit=uninit;
   af->play=play;
-  af->mul=1;
-  af->data=calloc(1,sizeof(struct mp_audio));
   af->setup=calloc(1,sizeof(af_sweept));
   return AF_OK;
 }
diff --git a/audio/filter/af_volume.c b/audio/filter/af_volume.c
index 9639ffb5c4..b0eef1865c 100644
--- a/audio/filter/af_volume.c
+++ b/audio/filter/af_volume.c
@@ -41,15 +41,21 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
     struct priv *s = af->priv;
 
     switch (cmd) {
-    case AF_CONTROL_REINIT:
-        mp_audio_copy_config(af->data, (struct mp_audio *)arg);
+    case AF_CONTROL_REINIT: {
+        struct mp_audio *in = arg;
 
-        if (s->fast && (((struct mp_audio *)arg)->format != AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE))
+        mp_audio_copy_config(af->data, in);
+        mp_audio_force_interleaved_format(af->data);
+
+        if (s->fast && af_fmt_from_planar(in->format) != AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE) {
             mp_audio_set_format(af->data, AF_FORMAT_S16_NE);
-        else {
+        } else {
             mp_audio_set_format(af->data, AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE);
         }
-        return af_test_output(af, (struct mp_audio *)arg);
+        if (af_fmt_is_planar(in->format))
+            mp_audio_set_format(af->data, af_fmt_to_planar(af->data->format));
+        return af_test_output(af, in);
+    }
     case AF_CONTROL_VOLUME_LEVEL | AF_CONTROL_SET:
         s->level = *(float *)arg;
         return AF_OK;
@@ -60,33 +66,37 @@ static int control(struct af_instance *af, int cmd, void *arg)
     return AF_UNKNOWN;
 }
 
-static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
+static void filter_plane(struct af_instance *af, void *ptr, int num_samples)
 {
-    struct mp_audio *c = data;
     struct priv *s = af->priv;
 
-    if (af->data->format == AF_FORMAT_S16_NE) {
-        int16_t *a = c->audio;
-        int len = c->len / 2;
+    if (af_fmt_from_planar(af->data->format) == AF_FORMAT_S16_NE) {
+        int16_t *a = ptr;
         int vol = 256.0 * s->level;
         if (vol != 256) {
-            for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            for (int i = 0; i < num_samples; i++) {
                 int x = (a[i] * vol) >> 8;
                 a[i] = MPCLAMP(x, SHRT_MIN, SHRT_MAX);
             }
         }
-    } else if (af->data->format == AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE) {
-        float *a = c->audio;
-        int len = c->len / 4;
+    } else if (af_fmt_from_planar(af->data->format) == AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE) {
+        float *a = ptr;
         float vol = s->level;
         if (vol != 1.0) {
-            for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+            for (int i = 0; i < num_samples; i++) {
                 float x = a[i] * vol;
                 a[i] = s->soft ? af_softclip(x) : MPCLAMP(x, -1.0, 1.0);
             }
         }
     }
-    return c;
+}
+
+static struct mp_audio *play(struct af_instance *af, struct mp_audio *data)
+{
+    for (int n = 0; n < data->num_planes; n++)
+        filter_plane(af, data->planes[n], data->samples * data->spf);
+
+    return data;
 }
 
 static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
@@ -94,8 +104,6 @@ static int af_open(struct af_instance *af)
     struct priv *s = af->priv;
     af->control = control;
     af->play = play;
-    af->mul = 1;
-    af->data = talloc_zero(af, struct mp_audio);
     af_from_dB(1, &s->cfg_volume, &s->level, 20.0, -200.0, 60.0);
     return AF_OK;
 }
diff --git a/audio/fmt-conversion.c b/audio/fmt-conversion.c
index 94f1fbd1f3..93fda3eaa0 100644
--- a/audio/fmt-conversion.c
+++ b/audio/fmt-conversion.c
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ static const struct {
     {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLT,   AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE},
     {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_DBL,   AF_FORMAT_DOUBLE_NE},
 
+    {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_U8P,   AF_FORMAT_U8P},
+    {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S16P,  AF_FORMAT_S16P},
+    {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_S32P,  AF_FORMAT_S32P},
+    {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_FLTP,  AF_FORMAT_FLOATP},
+    {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_DBLP,  AF_FORMAT_DOUBLEP},
+
     {AV_SAMPLE_FMT_NONE,  0},
 };
 
diff --git a/audio/format.c b/audio/format.c
index 448b670671..d0cd04cb88 100644
--- a/audio/format.c
+++ b/audio/format.c
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <limits.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 
+#include "mpvcore/mp_common.h"
 #include "audio/filter/af.h"
 
 int af_fmt2bits(int format)
@@ -62,6 +64,46 @@ int af_fmt_change_bits(int format, int bits)
     return af_fmt_is_valid(format) ? format : 0;
 }
 
+static const int planar_formats[][2] = {
+    {AF_FORMAT_U8P,     AF_FORMAT_U8},
+    {AF_FORMAT_S16P,    AF_FORMAT_S16},
+    {AF_FORMAT_S32P,    AF_FORMAT_S32},
+    {AF_FORMAT_FLOATP,  AF_FORMAT_FLOAT},
+    {AF_FORMAT_DOUBLEP, AF_FORMAT_DOUBLE},
+};
+
+// Return the planar format corresponding to the given format.
+// If the format is already planar, return it.
+// Return 0 if there's no equivalent.
+int af_fmt_to_planar(int format)
+{
+    for (int n = 0; n < MP_ARRAY_SIZE(planar_formats); n++) {
+        if (planar_formats[n][1] == format)
+            return planar_formats[n][0];
+        if (planar_formats[n][0] == format)
+            return format;
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+// Return the interleaved format corresponding to the given format.
+// If the format is already interleaved, return it.
+// Always succeeds if format is actually planar; otherwise return 0.
+int af_fmt_from_planar(int format)
+{
+    for (int n = 0; n < MP_ARRAY_SIZE(planar_formats); n++) {
+        if (planar_formats[n][0] == format)
+            return planar_formats[n][1];
+    }
+    return format;
+}
+
+// false for interleaved and AF_FORMAT_UNKNOWN
+bool af_fmt_is_planar(int format)
+{
+    return !!(format & AF_FORMAT_PLANAR);
+}
+
 #define FMT(string, id)                                 \
     {string,            id},
 
@@ -87,6 +129,12 @@ const struct af_fmt_entry af_fmtstr_table[] = {
     FMT_ENDIAN("float",         AF_FORMAT_FLOAT)
     FMT_ENDIAN("double",        AF_FORMAT_DOUBLE)
 
+    FMT("u8p",                  AF_FORMAT_U8P)
+    FMT("s16p",                 AF_FORMAT_S16P)
+    FMT("s32p",                 AF_FORMAT_S32P)
+    FMT("floatp",               AF_FORMAT_FLOATP)
+    FMT("doublep",              AF_FORMAT_DOUBLEP)
+
     {0}
 };
 
@@ -111,6 +159,7 @@ const char *af_fmt_to_str(int format)
 
 int af_fmt_seconds_to_bytes(int format, float seconds, int channels, int samplerate)
 {
+    assert(!af_fmt_is_planar(format));
     int bps      = (af_fmt2bits(format) / 8);
     int framelen = channels * bps;
     int bytes    = seconds  * bps * samplerate;
diff --git a/audio/format.h b/audio/format.h
index 95e792340c..9b855e4689 100644
--- a/audio/format.h
+++ b/audio/format.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #ifndef MPLAYER_AF_FORMAT_H
 #define MPLAYER_AF_FORMAT_H
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include "config.h"
 #include "mpvcore/bstr.h"
@@ -64,9 +65,15 @@
 #define AF_FORMAT_F             (2<<9) // Foating point
 #define AF_FORMAT_POINT_MASK    (3<<9)
 
-#define AF_FORMAT_MASK          ((1<<11)-1)
+// Interleaving (planar formats have data for each channel in separate planes)
+#define AF_FORMAT_INTERLEAVED        (0<<11) // must be 0
+#define AF_FORMAT_PLANAR             (1<<11)
+#define AF_FORMAT_INTERLEAVING_MASK  (1<<11)
 
-// PREDEFINED formats
+#define AF_FORMAT_MASK          ((1<<12)-1)
+
+#define AF_INTP (AF_FORMAT_I|AF_FORMAT_PLANAR)
+#define AF_FLTP (AF_FORMAT_F|AF_FORMAT_PLANAR)
 
 // actual sample formats
 enum af_format {
@@ -101,6 +108,13 @@ enum af_format {
 
     AF_FORMAT_MPEG2     = (AF_FORMAT_S_MPEG2),
 
+    // Planar variants
+    AF_FORMAT_U8P       = (AF_INTP|AF_FORMAT_US|AF_FORMAT_8BIT|AF_FORMAT_NE),
+    AF_FORMAT_S16P      = (AF_INTP|AF_FORMAT_SI|AF_FORMAT_16BIT|AF_FORMAT_NE),
+    AF_FORMAT_S32P      = (AF_INTP|AF_FORMAT_US|AF_FORMAT_32BIT|AF_FORMAT_NE),
+    AF_FORMAT_FLOATP    = (AF_FLTP|AF_FORMAT_32BIT|AF_FORMAT_NE),
+    AF_FORMAT_DOUBLEP   = (AF_FLTP|AF_FORMAT_32BIT|AF_FORMAT_NE),
+
     // Native endian variants
     AF_FORMAT_U16       = AF_SELECT_LE_BE(AF_FORMAT_U16_LE, AF_FORMAT_U16_BE),
     AF_FORMAT_S16       = AF_SELECT_LE_BE(AF_FORMAT_S16_LE, AF_FORMAT_S16_BE),
@@ -150,6 +164,10 @@ const char *af_fmt_to_str(int format);
 int af_fmt2bits(int format);
 int af_fmt_change_bits(int format, int bits);
 
+int af_fmt_to_planar(int format);
+int af_fmt_from_planar(int format);
+bool af_fmt_is_planar(int format);
+
 // Amount of bytes that contain audio of the given duration, aligned to frames.
 int af_fmt_seconds_to_bytes(int format, float seconds, int channels, int samplerate);
 
diff --git a/audio/out/ao.c b/audio/out/ao.c
index 55db34becb..50c95830c3 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao.c
@@ -159,7 +159,10 @@ static struct ao *ao_create(bool probing, struct mpv_global *global,
     talloc_free(chmap);
     if (ao->driver->init(ao) < 0)
         goto error;
-    ao->bps = ao->channels.num * ao->samplerate * af_fmt2bits(ao->format) / 8;
+    ao->sstride = af_fmt2bits(ao->format) / 8;
+    if (!af_fmt_is_planar(ao->format))
+        ao->sstride *= ao->channels.num;
+    ao->bps = ao->samplerate * ao->sstride;
     return ao;
 error:
     talloc_free(ao);
@@ -206,9 +209,9 @@ void ao_uninit(struct ao *ao, bool cut_audio)
     talloc_free(ao);
 }
 
-int ao_play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+int ao_play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
-    return ao->driver->play(ao, data, len, flags);
+    return ao->driver->play(ao, data, samples, flags);
 }
 
 int ao_control(struct ao *ao, enum aocontrol cmd, void *arg)
@@ -254,10 +257,12 @@ int ao_play_silence(struct ao *ao, int samples)
 {
     if (samples <= 0 || AF_FORMAT_IS_SPECIAL(ao->format))
         return 0;
-    int s = ao->channels.num * (af_fmt2bits(ao->format) / 8);
-    char *p = talloc_size(NULL, samples * s);
-    af_fill_silence(p, samples * s, ao->format);
-    int r = ao_play(ao, p, samples * s, 0);
+    char *p = talloc_size(NULL, samples * ao->sstride);
+    af_fill_silence(p, samples * ao->sstride, ao->format);
+    void *tmp[MP_NUM_CHANNELS];
+    for (int n = 0; n < MP_NUM_CHANNELS; n++)
+        tmp[n] = p;
+    int r = ao_play(ao, tmp, samples, 0);
     talloc_free(p);
     return r;
 }
diff --git a/audio/out/ao.h b/audio/out/ao.h
index 159a6adc0f..dff9ad6a8b 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao.h
+++ b/audio/out/ao.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ struct ao_driver {
     void (*uninit)(struct ao *ao, bool cut_audio);
     void (*reset)(struct ao*ao);
     int (*get_space)(struct ao *ao);
-    int (*play)(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags);
+    int (*play)(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags);
     float (*get_delay)(struct ao *ao);
     void (*pause)(struct ao *ao);
     void (*resume)(struct ao *ao);
@@ -73,9 +73,11 @@ struct ao {
     struct mp_chmap channels;
     int format;
     int bps;                    // bytes per second
+    int sstride;                // size of a sample on each plane
+                                // (format_size*num_channels/num_planes)
     double pts;                 // some mplayer.c state (why is this here?)
-    struct bstr buffer;
-    int buffer_playable_size;   // part of the part of the buffer the AO hasn't
+    struct mp_audio_buffer *buffer; // queued audio; passed to play() later
+    int buffer_playable_samples;// part of the part of the buffer the AO hasn't
                                 // accepted yet with play()
     bool probing;               // if true, don't fail loudly on init
     bool untimed;
@@ -95,7 +97,7 @@ struct ao *ao_init_best(struct mpv_global *global,
                         struct encode_lavc_context *encode_lavc_ctx,
                         int samplerate, int format, struct mp_chmap channels);
 void ao_uninit(struct ao *ao, bool cut_audio);
-int ao_play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags);
+int ao_play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags);
 int ao_control(struct ao *ao, enum aocontrol cmd, void *arg);
 double ao_get_delay(struct ao *ao);
 int ao_get_space(struct ao *ao);
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_alsa.c b/audio/out/ao_alsa.c
index 5816ee5f5f..2ef35db6cf 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_alsa.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_alsa.c
@@ -52,12 +52,11 @@
 struct priv {
     snd_pcm_t *alsa;
     snd_pcm_format_t alsa_fmt;
-    size_t bytes_per_sample;
     int can_pause;
     snd_pcm_sframes_t prepause_frames;
     float delay_before_pause;
-    int buffersize;
-    int outburst;
+    int buffersize; // in frames
+    int outburst; // in frames
 
     int cfg_block;
     char *cfg_device;
@@ -251,6 +250,7 @@ static const int mp_to_alsa_format[][2] = {
 
 static int find_alsa_format(int af_format)
 {
+    af_format = af_fmt_from_planar(af_format);
     for (int n = 0; mp_to_alsa_format[n][0] != AF_FORMAT_UNKNOWN; n++) {
         if (mp_to_alsa_format[n][0] == af_format)
             return mp_to_alsa_format[n][1];
@@ -432,10 +432,6 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     err = snd_pcm_hw_params_any(p->alsa, alsa_hwparams);
     CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to get initial parameters");
 
-    err = snd_pcm_hw_params_set_access
-            (p->alsa, alsa_hwparams, SND_PCM_ACCESS_RW_INTERLEAVED);
-    CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to set access type");
-
     p->alsa_fmt = find_alsa_format(ao->format);
     if (p->alsa_fmt == SND_PCM_FORMAT_UNKNOWN) {
         p->alsa_fmt = SND_PCM_FORMAT_S16;
@@ -458,6 +454,12 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     err = snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(p->alsa, alsa_hwparams, p->alsa_fmt);
     CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to set format");
 
+    snd_pcm_access_t access = af_fmt_is_planar(ao->format)
+                                    ? SND_PCM_ACCESS_RW_NONINTERLEAVED
+                                    : SND_PCM_ACCESS_RW_INTERLEAVED;
+    err = snd_pcm_hw_params_set_access(p->alsa, alsa_hwparams, access);
+    CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to set access type");
+
     int num_channels = ao->channels.num;
     err = snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels_near
             (p->alsa, alsa_hwparams, &num_channels);
@@ -478,9 +480,6 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
             (p->alsa, alsa_hwparams, &ao->samplerate, NULL);
     CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to set samplerate-2");
 
-    p->bytes_per_sample = af_fmt2bits(ao->format) / 8;
-    p->bytes_per_sample *= ao->channels.num;
-
     err = snd_pcm_hw_params_set_buffer_time_near
             (p->alsa, alsa_hwparams, &(unsigned int){BUFFER_TIME}, NULL);
     CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to set buffer time near");
@@ -499,14 +498,14 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     err = snd_pcm_hw_params_get_buffer_size(alsa_hwparams, &bufsize);
     CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to get buffersize");
 
-    p->buffersize = bufsize * p->bytes_per_sample;
-    MP_VERBOSE(ao, "got buffersize=%i\n", p->buffersize);
+    p->buffersize = bufsize;
+    MP_VERBOSE(ao, "got buffersize=%i samples\n", p->buffersize);
 
     err = snd_pcm_hw_params_get_period_size(alsa_hwparams, &chunk_size, NULL);
     CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("Unable to get period size");
 
     MP_VERBOSE(ao, "got period size %li\n", chunk_size);
-    p->outburst = chunk_size * p->bytes_per_sample;
+    p->outburst = chunk_size;
 
     /* setting software parameters */
     err = snd_pcm_sw_params_current(p->alsa, alsa_swparams);
@@ -537,8 +536,8 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
 
     p->can_pause = snd_pcm_hw_params_can_pause(alsa_hwparams);
 
-    MP_VERBOSE(ao, "opened: %d Hz/%d channels/%d bpf/%d bytes buffer/%s\n",
-               ao->samplerate, ao->channels.num, (int)p->bytes_per_sample,
+    MP_VERBOSE(ao, "opened: %d Hz/%d channels/%d bps/%d samples buffer/%s\n",
+               ao->samplerate, ao->channels.num, af_fmt2bits(ao->format),
                p->buffersize, snd_pcm_format_description(p->alsa_fmt));
 
     return 0;
@@ -634,32 +633,27 @@ static void reset(struct ao *ao)
 alsa_error: ;
 }
 
-/*
-    plays 'len' bytes of 'data'
-    returns: number of bytes played
-    modified last at 29.06.02 by jp
-    thanxs for marius <marius@rospot.com> for giving us the light ;)
- */
-
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    int num_frames;
     snd_pcm_sframes_t res = 0;
     if (!(flags & AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK))
-        len = len / p->outburst * p->outburst;
-    num_frames = len / p->bytes_per_sample;
+        samples = samples / p->outburst * p->outburst;
 
     if (!p->alsa) {
         MP_ERR(ao, "Device configuration error.");
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if (num_frames == 0)
+    if (samples == 0)
         return 0;
 
     do {
-        res = snd_pcm_writei(p->alsa, data, num_frames);
+        if (af_fmt_is_planar(ao->format)) {
+            res = snd_pcm_writen(p->alsa, data, samples);
+        } else {
+            res = snd_pcm_writei(p->alsa, data[0], samples);
+        }
 
         if (res == -EINTR) {
             /* nothing to do */
@@ -678,7 +672,7 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
         }
     } while (res == 0);
 
-    return res < 0 ? -1 : res * p->bytes_per_sample;
+    return res < 0 ? -1 : res;
 
 alsa_error:
     return -1;
@@ -696,7 +690,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     err = snd_pcm_status(p->alsa, status);
     CHECK_ALSA_ERROR("cannot get pcm status");
 
-    unsigned space = snd_pcm_status_get_avail(status) * p->bytes_per_sample;
+    unsigned space = snd_pcm_status_get_avail(status);
     if (space > p->buffersize) // Buffer underrun?
         space = p->buffersize;
     return space;
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio.c b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio.c
index da526ada20..d61ce63d01 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_coreaudio.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_coreaudio.c
@@ -285,6 +285,8 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     // Save selected device id
     p->device = selected_device;
 
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     bool supports_digital = false;
     /* Probe whether device support S/PDIF stream output if input is AC3 stream. */
     if (AF_FORMAT_IS_AC3(ao->format)) {
@@ -576,10 +578,12 @@ coreaudio_error:
     return CONTROL_ERROR;
 }
 
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *output_samples, int num_bytes, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *p   = ao->priv;
     struct priv_d *d = p->digital;
+    void *output_samples = data[0];
+    int num_bytes = samples * ao->sstride;
 
     // Check whether we need to reset the digital output stream.
     if (p->is_digital && d->stream_asbd_changed) {
@@ -597,7 +601,7 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *output_samples, int num_bytes, int flags)
     int wrote = mp_ring_write(p->buffer, output_samples, num_bytes);
     audio_resume(ao);
 
-    return wrote;
+    return wrote / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static void reset(struct ao *ao)
@@ -610,7 +614,7 @@ static void reset(struct ao *ao)
 static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    return mp_ring_available(p->buffer);
+    return mp_ring_available(p->buffer) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_dsound.c b/audio/out/ao_dsound.c
index 464947c0dc..f828a210dc 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_dsound.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_dsound.c
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     WAVEFORMATEXTENSIBLE wformat;
     DSBUFFERDESC dsbpridesc;
     DSBUFFERDESC dsbdesc;
-    int format = ao->format;
+    int format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
     int rate = ao->samplerate;
 
     if (AF_FORMAT_IS_AC3(format))
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     int space = check_free_buffer_size(ao);
     if (space < p->min_free_space)
         return 0;
-    return space - p->min_free_space;
+    return (space - p->min_free_space) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -606,9 +606,10 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 \param flags currently unused
 \return number of played bytes
 */
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
+    int len = samples * ao->sstride;
 
     int space = check_free_buffer_size(ao);
     if (space < len)
@@ -616,7 +617,7 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
 
     if (!(flags & AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK))
         len = (len / p->outburst) * p->outburst;
-    return write_buffer(ao, data, len);
+    return write_buffer(ao, data[0], len) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_jack.c b/audio/out/ao_jack.c
index 20dd0d4aab..8a55a54239 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_jack.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_jack.c
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
  * Copyleft 2001 by Felix Bünemann (atmosfear@users.sf.net)
  * and Reimar Döffinger (Reimar.Doeffinger@stud.uni-karlsruhe.de)
  *
+ * Copyleft 2013 by William Light <wrl@illest.net> for the mpv project
+ *
  * This file is part of MPlayer.
  *
  * MPlayer is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -38,20 +40,19 @@
 
 #include <jack/jack.h>
 
-//! maximum number of channels supported, avoids lots of mallocs
-#define MAX_CHANS MP_NUM_CHANNELS
-
 //! size of one chunk, if this is too small MPlayer will start to "stutter"
 //! after a short time of playback
-#define CHUNK_SIZE (24 * 1024)
+#define CHUNK_SIZE (8 * 1024)
 //! number of "virtual" chunks the buffer consists of
 #define NUM_CHUNKS 8
 
+struct port_ring {
+    jack_port_t *port;
+    struct mp_ring *ring;
+};
+
 struct priv {
-    jack_port_t * ports[MAX_CHANS];
-    int num_ports; // Number of used ports == number of channels
     jack_client_t *client;
-    int outburst;
     float jack_latency;
     char *cfg_port;
     char *cfg_client_name;
@@ -60,76 +61,49 @@ struct priv {
     int autostart;
     int stdlayout;
     volatile int paused;
-    volatile int underrun; // signals if an underrun occured
+    volatile int underrun;
     volatile float callback_interval;
     volatile float callback_time;
-    struct mp_ring *ring; // buffer for audio data
-};
-
-static void silence(float **bufs, int cnt, int num_bufs);
 
-struct deinterleave {
-    float **bufs;
-    int num_bufs;
-    int cur_buf;
-    int pos;
+    int num_ports;
+    struct port_ring ports[MP_NUM_CHANNELS];
 };
 
-static void deinterleave(void *info, void *src, int len)
-{
-    struct deinterleave *di = info;
-    float *s = src;
-    int i;
-    len /= sizeof(float);
-    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-        di->bufs[di->cur_buf++][di->pos] = s[i];
-        if (di->cur_buf >= di->num_bufs) {
-            di->cur_buf = 0;
-            di->pos++;
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- * \brief read data from buffer and splitting it into channels
- * \param bufs num_bufs float buffers, each will contain the data of one channel
- * \param cnt number of samples to read per channel
- * \param num_bufs number of channels to split the data into
- * \return number of samples read per channel, equals cnt unless there was too
- *         little data in the buffer
- *
- * Assumes the data in the buffer is of type float, the number of bytes
- * read is res * num_bufs * sizeof(float), where res is the return value.
- * If there is not enough data in the buffer remaining parts will be filled
- * with silence.
- */
-static int read_buffer(struct mp_ring *ring, float **bufs, int cnt, int num_bufs)
-{
-    struct deinterleave di = {
-        bufs, num_bufs, 0, 0
-    };
-    int buffered = mp_ring_buffered(ring);
-    if (cnt * sizeof(float) * num_bufs > buffered) {
-        silence(bufs, cnt, num_bufs);
-        cnt = buffered / sizeof(float) / num_bufs;
-    }
-    mp_ring_read_cb(ring, &di, cnt * num_bufs * sizeof(float), deinterleave);
-    return cnt;
-}
-
-// end ring buffer stuff
-
 /**
  * \brief fill the buffers with silence
  * \param bufs num_bufs float buffers, each will contain the data of one channel
  * \param cnt number of samples in each buffer
  * \param num_bufs number of buffers
  */
-static void silence(float **bufs, int cnt, int num_bufs)
+static void
+silence(float *buf, jack_nframes_t nframes)
 {
-    int i;
-    for (i = 0; i < num_bufs; i++)
-        memset(bufs[i], 0, cnt * sizeof(float));
+    memset(buf, 0, nframes * sizeof(*buf));
+}
+
+static int
+process_port(struct ao *ao, struct port_ring *pr, jack_nframes_t nframes)
+{
+    struct priv *p = ao->priv;
+    int buffered;
+    float *buf;
+
+    buf = jack_port_get_buffer(pr->port, nframes);
+
+    if (p->paused || p->underrun) {
+        silence(buf, nframes);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    buffered = mp_ring_buffered(pr->ring) / sizeof(float);
+    if (buffered < nframes) {
+        mp_ring_read(pr->ring, (void *) buf, buffered * sizeof(float));
+        silence(&buf[buffered], nframes - buffered);
+        return 1;
+    }
+
+    mp_ring_read(pr->ring, (void *) buf, nframes * sizeof(float));
+    return 0;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -140,18 +114,23 @@ static void silence(float **bufs, int cnt, int num_bufs)
  *
  * Write silence into buffers if paused or an underrun occured
  */
-static int outputaudio(jack_nframes_t nframes, void *arg)
+static int
+process(jack_nframes_t nframes, void *arg)
 {
     struct ao *ao = arg;
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    float *bufs[MAX_CHANS];
-    int i;
-    for (i = 0; i < p->num_ports; i++)
-        bufs[i] = jack_port_get_buffer(p->ports[i], nframes);
-    if (p->paused || p->underrun || !p->ring)
-        silence(bufs, nframes, p->num_ports);
-    else if (read_buffer(p->ring, bufs, nframes, p->num_ports) < nframes)
+    int i, underrun;
+
+    underrun = 0;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < p->num_ports; i++) {
+        if (process_port(ao, &p->ports[i], nframes))
+            underrun = 1;
+    }
+
+    if (underrun)
         p->underrun = 1;
+
     if (p->estimate) {
         float now = mp_time_us() / 1000000.0;
         float diff = p->callback_time + p->callback_interval - now;
@@ -161,117 +140,163 @@ static int outputaudio(jack_nframes_t nframes, void *arg)
             p->callback_time = now;
         p->callback_interval = (float)nframes / (float)ao->samplerate;
     }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
-static int init(struct ao *ao)
+static int
+connect_to_outports(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
+
+    char *port_name = (p->cfg_port && p->cfg_port[0]) ? p->cfg_port : NULL;
     const char **matching_ports = NULL;
-    char *port_name = p->cfg_port && p->cfg_port[0] ? p->cfg_port : NULL;
-    jack_options_t open_options = JackNullOption;
     int port_flags = JackPortIsInput;
     int i;
 
+    if (!port_name)
+        port_flags |= JackPortIsPhysical;
+
+    matching_ports = jack_get_ports(p->client, port_name, NULL, port_flags);
+
+    if (!matching_ports || !matching_ports[0]) {
+        MP_FATAL(ao, "no ports to connect to\n");
+        goto err_get_ports;
+    }
+
+    for (i = 0; i < p->num_ports && matching_ports[i]; i++) {
+        if (jack_connect(p->client, jack_port_name(p->ports[i].port),
+                         matching_ports[i])) {
+            MP_FATAL(ao, "connecting failed\n");
+            goto err_connect;
+        }
+    }
+
+    free(matching_ports);
+    return 0;
+
+err_connect:
+    free(matching_ports);
+err_get_ports:
+    return -1;
+}
+
+static int
+create_ports(struct ao *ao, int nports)
+{
+    struct priv *p = ao->priv;
+    struct port_ring *pr;
+    char pname[30];
+    int i;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < nports; i++) {
+        pr = &p->ports[i];
+
+        snprintf(pname, sizeof(pname), "out_%d", i);
+        pr->port = jack_port_register(p->client, pname, JACK_DEFAULT_AUDIO_TYPE,
+                                      JackPortIsOutput, 0);
+
+        if (!pr->port) {
+            MP_FATAL(ao, "not enough ports available\n");
+            goto err_port_register;
+        }
+
+        pr->ring = mp_ring_new(p, NUM_CHUNKS * CHUNK_SIZE);
+    }
+
+    p->num_ports = nports;
+    return 0;
+
+err_port_register:
+    return -1;
+}
+
+static int init(struct ao *ao)
+{
+    struct priv *p = ao->priv;
     struct mp_chmap_sel sel = {0};
+    jack_options_t open_options;
 
-    if (p->stdlayout == 0) {
+    ao->format = AF_FORMAT_FLOATP;
+
+    switch (p->stdlayout) {
+    case 0:
         mp_chmap_sel_add_waveext(&sel);
-    } else if (p->stdlayout == 1) {
+        break;
+
+    case 1:
         mp_chmap_sel_add_alsa_def(&sel);
-    } else {
+        break;
+
+    default:
         mp_chmap_sel_add_any(&sel);
     }
 
     if (!ao_chmap_sel_adjust(ao, &sel, &ao->channels))
-        goto err_out;
+        goto err_chmap;
 
+    open_options = JackNullOption;
     if (!p->autostart)
         open_options |= JackNoStartServer;
+
     p->client = jack_client_open(p->cfg_client_name, open_options, NULL);
     if (!p->client) {
         MP_FATAL(ao, "cannot open server\n");
-        goto err_out;
-    }
-    jack_set_process_callback(p->client, outputaudio, ao);
-
-    // list matching ports if connections should be made
-    if (p->connect) {
-        if (!port_name)
-            port_flags |= JackPortIsPhysical;
-        matching_ports = jack_get_ports(p->client, port_name, NULL, port_flags);
-        if (!matching_ports || !matching_ports[0]) {
-            MP_FATAL(ao, "no physical ports available\n");
-            goto err_out;
-        }
-        i = 1;
-        p->num_ports = ao->channels.num;
-        while (matching_ports[i])
-            i++;
-        if (p->num_ports > i)
-            p->num_ports = i;
+        goto err_client_open;
     }
 
-    // create out output ports
-    for (i = 0; i < p->num_ports; i++) {
-        char pname[30];
-        snprintf(pname, 30, "out_%d", i);
-        p->ports[i] =
-            jack_port_register(p->client, pname, JACK_DEFAULT_AUDIO_TYPE,
-                               JackPortIsOutput, 0);
-        if (!p->ports[i]) {
-            MP_FATAL(ao, "not enough ports available\n");
-            goto err_out;
-        }
-    }
+    if (create_ports(ao, ao->channels.num))
+        goto err_create_ports;
+
+    jack_set_process_callback(p->client, process, ao);
+
     if (jack_activate(p->client)) {
         MP_FATAL(ao, "activate failed\n");
-        goto err_out;
-    }
-    for (i = 0; i < p->num_ports; i++) {
-        if (jack_connect(p->client, jack_port_name(p->ports[i]),
-                         matching_ports[i]))
-        {
-            MP_FATAL(ao, "connecting failed\n");
-            goto err_out;
-        }
+        goto err_activate;
     }
+
     ao->samplerate = jack_get_sample_rate(p->client);
+
+    if (p->connect)
+        if (connect_to_outports(ao))
+            goto err_connect;
+
     jack_latency_range_t jack_latency_range;
-    jack_port_get_latency_range(p->ports[0], JackPlaybackLatency,
+    jack_port_get_latency_range(p->ports[0].port, JackPlaybackLatency,
                                 &jack_latency_range);
     p->jack_latency = (float)(jack_latency_range.max + jack_get_buffer_size(p->client))
                       / (float)ao->samplerate;
     p->callback_interval = 0;
 
     if (!ao_chmap_sel_get_def(ao, &sel, &ao->channels, p->num_ports))
-        goto err_out;
+        goto err_chmap_sel_get_def;
 
-    ao->format = AF_FORMAT_FLOAT_NE;
-    int unitsize = ao->channels.num * sizeof(float);
-    p->outburst = (CHUNK_SIZE + unitsize - 1) / unitsize * unitsize;
-    p->ring = mp_ring_new(p, NUM_CHUNKS * p->outburst);
-    free(matching_ports);
     return 0;
 
-err_out:
-    free(matching_ports);
-    if (p->client)
-        jack_client_close(p->client);
+err_chmap_sel_get_def:
+err_connect:
+    jack_deactivate(p->client);
+err_activate:
+err_create_ports:
+    jack_client_close(p->client);
+err_client_open:
+err_chmap:
     return -1;
 }
 
 static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    int buffered = mp_ring_buffered(p->ring); // could be less
+    int buffered = mp_ring_buffered(p->ports[0].ring); // could be less
     float in_jack = p->jack_latency;
+
     if (p->estimate && p->callback_interval > 0) {
         float elapsed = mp_time_us() / 1000000.0 - p->callback_time;
         in_jack += p->callback_interval - elapsed;
         if (in_jack < 0)
             in_jack = 0;
     }
+
     return (float)buffered / (float)ao->bps + in_jack;
 }
 
@@ -281,8 +306,12 @@ static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
 static void reset(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
+    int i;
     p->paused = 1;
-    mp_ring_reset(p->ring);
+
+    for (i = 0; i < p->num_ports; i++)
+        mp_ring_reset(p->ports[i].ring);
+
     p->paused = 0;
 }
 
@@ -290,10 +319,10 @@ static void reset(struct ao *ao)
 static void uninit(struct ao *ao, bool immed)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
+
     if (!immed)
         mp_sleep_us(get_delay(ao) * 1000 * 1000);
-    // HACK, make sure jack doesn't loop-output dirty buffers
-    reset(ao);
+
     mp_sleep_us(100 * 1000);
     jack_client_close(p->client);
 }
@@ -319,19 +348,28 @@ static void audio_resume(struct ao *ao)
 static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    return mp_ring_available(p->ring);
+    return mp_ring_available(p->ports[0].ring) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 /**
  * \brief write data into buffer and reset underrun flag
  */
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    if (!(flags & AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK))
-        len -= len % p->outburst;
+    struct port_ring *pr;
+    int i, len, ret;
+
+    len = samples * ao->sstride;
+    ret = 0;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < p->num_ports; i++) {
+        pr  = &p->ports[i];
+        ret = mp_ring_write(pr->ring, data[i], len);
+    }
+
     p->underrun = 0;
-    return mp_ring_write(p->ring, data, len);
+    return ret / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 #define OPT_BASE_STRUCT struct priv
@@ -360,7 +398,7 @@ const struct ao_driver audio_out_jack = {
         OPT_FLAG("autostart", autostart, 0),
         OPT_FLAG("connect", connect, 0),
         OPT_CHOICE("std-channel-layout", stdlayout, 0,
-                   ({"waveext", 0}, {"alsa", 1}, {"any", 2})),
+                ({"waveext", 0}, {"alsa", 1}, {"any", 2})),
         {0}
     },
 };
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_lavc.c b/audio/out/ao_lavc.c
index 153d5b92a0..c1fce6a715 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_lavc.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_lavc.c
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     ac->stream->codec->channel_layout = mp_chmap_to_lavc(&ao->channels);
 
     ac->stream->codec->sample_fmt = AV_SAMPLE_FMT_NONE;
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
 
     {
         // first check if the selected format is somewhere in the list of
@@ -290,8 +291,6 @@ static void fill_with_padding(void *buf, int cnt, int sz, const void *padding)
 }
 
 // close audio device
-static int encode(struct ao *ao, double apts, void *data);
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags);
 static void uninit(struct ao *ao, bool cut_audio)
 {
     struct encode_lavc_context *ectx = ao->encode_lavc_ctx;
@@ -309,7 +308,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *ac = ao->priv;
 
-    return ac->aframesize * ac->sample_size * ao->channels.num * ac->framecount;
+    return ac->aframesize * ac->framecount;
 }
 
 // must get exactly ac->aframesize amount of data
@@ -438,10 +437,10 @@ static int encode(struct ao *ao, double apts, void *data)
     return packet.size;
 }
 
-// plays 'len' bytes of 'data'
+// plays 'samples' samples of 'ni_data[0]'
 // it should round it down to frame sizes
-// return: number of bytes played
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+// return: number of samples played
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **ni_data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *ac = ao->priv;
     struct encode_lavc_context *ectx = ao->encode_lavc_ctx;
@@ -450,6 +449,8 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
     double nextpts;
     double pts = ao->pts;
     double outpts;
+    void *data = ni_data[0];
+    int len = samples * ao->sstride;
     int bytelen = len;
 
     len /= ac->sample_size * ao->channels.num;
@@ -470,8 +471,9 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
                               extralen / ac->sample_size,
                               ac->sample_size, ac->sample_padding);
             // No danger of recursion, because AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK not set
-            written = play(ao, paddingbuf, bytelen + extralen, 0);
-            if (written < bytelen) {
+            written =
+                play(ao, &paddingbuf, (bytelen + extralen) / ao->sstride, 0);
+            if (written * ao->sstride < bytelen) {
                 MP_ERR(ao, "did not write enough data at the end\n");
             }
             talloc_free(paddingbuf);
@@ -485,7 +487,7 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
 
         while (encode(ao, outpts, NULL) > 0) ;
 
-        return FFMIN(written, bytelen);
+        return (FFMIN(written, bytelen)) / ao->sstride;
     }
 
     if (pts == MP_NOPTS_VALUE) {
@@ -576,7 +578,7 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
             ectx->next_in_pts = nextpts;
     }
 
-    return bufpos * ac->sample_size * ao->channels.num;
+    return bufpos;
 }
 
 const struct ao_driver audio_out_lavc = {
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_null.c b/audio/out/ao_null.c
index ff6b12a1a6..9fe289e3e4 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_null.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_null.c
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@
 
 struct priv {
     double last_time;
-    float buffered_bytes;
+    // All values are in samples
+    float buffered;
     int buffersize;
     int outburst;
 };
@@ -40,9 +41,9 @@ static void drain(struct ao *ao)
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
 
     double now = mp_time_sec();
-    priv->buffered_bytes -= (now - priv->last_time) * ao->bps;
-    if (priv->buffered_bytes < 0)
-        priv->buffered_bytes = 0;
+    priv->buffered -= (now - priv->last_time) * ao->samplerate;
+    if (priv->buffered < 0)
+        priv->buffered = 0;
     priv->last_time = now;
 }
 
@@ -56,10 +57,15 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     if (!ao_chmap_sel_adjust(ao, &sel, &ao->channels))
         return -1;
 
-    int samplesize = af_fmt2bits(ao->format) / 8;
-    priv->outburst = 256 * ao->channels.num * samplesize;
+    // Minimal unit of audio samples that can be written at once. If play() is
+    // called with sizes not aligned to this, a rounded size will be returned.
+    // (This is not needed by the AO API, but many AOs behave this way.)
+    priv->outburst = 256;
+
     // A "buffer" for about 0.2 seconds of audio
-    priv->buffersize = (int)(ao->samplerate * 0.2 / 256 + 1) * priv->outburst;
+    int bursts = (int)(ao->samplerate * 0.2 + 1) / priv->outburst;
+    priv->buffersize = priv->outburst * bursts;
+
     priv->last_time = mp_time_sec();
 
     return 0;
@@ -74,7 +80,7 @@ static void uninit(struct ao *ao, bool cut_audio)
 static void reset(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
-    priv->buffered_bytes = 0;
+    priv->buffered = 0;
 }
 
 // stop playing, keep buffers (for pause)
@@ -94,17 +100,17 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
 
     drain(ao);
-    return priv->buffersize - priv->buffered_bytes;
+    return priv->buffersize - priv->buffered;
 }
 
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
 
-    int maxbursts = (priv->buffersize - priv->buffered_bytes) / priv->outburst;
-    int playbursts = len / priv->outburst;
+    int maxbursts = (priv->buffersize - priv->buffered) / priv->outburst;
+    int playbursts = samples / priv->outburst;
     int bursts = playbursts > maxbursts ? maxbursts : playbursts;
-    priv->buffered_bytes += bursts * priv->outburst;
+    priv->buffered += bursts * priv->outburst;
     return bursts * priv->outburst;
 }
 
@@ -113,7 +119,7 @@ static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
 
     drain(ao);
-    return priv->buffered_bytes / ao->bps;
+    return priv->buffered / (double)ao->samplerate;
 }
 
 const struct ao_driver audio_out_null = {
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_openal.c b/audio/out/ao_openal.c
index 6fdc388711..c126852389 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_openal.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_openal.c
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@
 #define MAX_CHANS MP_NUM_CHANNELS
 #define NUM_BUF 128
 #define CHUNK_SIZE 512
+#define CHUNK_SAMPLES (CHUNK_SIZE / 2)
 static ALuint buffers[MAX_CHANS][NUM_BUF];
 static ALuint sources[MAX_CHANS];
 
 static int cur_buf[MAX_CHANS];
 static int unqueue_buf[MAX_CHANS];
-static int16_t *tmpbuf;
 
 static struct ao *ao_data;
 
@@ -169,8 +169,7 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     alcGetIntegerv(dev, ALC_FREQUENCY, 1, &freq);
     if (alcGetError(dev) == ALC_NO_ERROR && freq)
         ao->samplerate = freq;
-    ao->format = AF_FORMAT_S16_NE;
-    tmpbuf = malloc(CHUNK_SIZE);
+    ao->format = AF_FORMAT_S16P;
     return 0;
 
 err_out:
@@ -182,7 +181,6 @@ static void uninit(struct ao *ao, bool immed)
 {
     ALCcontext *ctx = alcGetCurrentContext();
     ALCdevice *dev = alcGetContextsDevice(ctx);
-    free(tmpbuf);
     if (!immed) {
         ALint state;
         alGetSourcei(sources[0], AL_SOURCE_STATE, &state);
@@ -251,34 +249,30 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     queued = NUM_BUF - queued - 3;
     if (queued < 0)
         return 0;
-    return queued * CHUNK_SIZE * ao->channels.num;
+    return queued * CHUNK_SAMPLES;
 }
 
 /**
  * \brief write data into buffer and reset underrun flag
  */
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     ALint state;
-    int i, j, k;
-    int ch;
-    int16_t *d = data;
-    len /= ao->channels.num * CHUNK_SIZE;
-    for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
-        for (ch = 0; ch < ao->channels.num; ch++) {
-            for (j = 0, k = ch; j < CHUNK_SIZE / 2; j++, k += ao->channels.num)
-                tmpbuf[j] = d[k];
-            alBufferData(buffers[ch][cur_buf[ch]], AL_FORMAT_MONO16, tmpbuf,
+    int num = samples / CHUNK_SAMPLES;
+    for (int i = 0; i < num; i++) {
+        for (int ch = 0; ch < ao->channels.num; ch++) {
+            int16_t *d = data[ch];
+            d += i * CHUNK_SAMPLES;
+            alBufferData(buffers[ch][cur_buf[ch]], AL_FORMAT_MONO16, d,
                          CHUNK_SIZE, ao->samplerate);
             alSourceQueueBuffers(sources[ch], 1, &buffers[ch][cur_buf[ch]]);
             cur_buf[ch] = (cur_buf[ch] + 1) % NUM_BUF;
         }
-        d += ao->channels.num * CHUNK_SIZE / 2;
     }
     alGetSourcei(sources[0], AL_SOURCE_STATE, &state);
     if (state != AL_PLAYING) // checked here in case of an underrun
         alSourcePlayv(ao->channels.num, sources);
-    return len * ao->channels.num * CHUNK_SIZE;
+    return num * CHUNK_SAMPLES;
 }
 
 static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
@@ -286,7 +280,7 @@ static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
     ALint queued;
     unqueue_buffers();
     alGetSourcei(sources[0], AL_BUFFERS_QUEUED, &queued);
-    return queued * CHUNK_SIZE / 2 / (float)ao->samplerate;
+    return queued * CHUNK_SAMPLES / (float)ao->samplerate;
 }
 
 #define OPT_BASE_STRUCT struct priv
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_oss.c b/audio/out/ao_oss.c
index db9847851d..09a2951629 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_oss.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_oss.c
@@ -261,6 +261,8 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     fcntl(p->audio_fd, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC);
 #endif
 
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     if (AF_FORMAT_IS_AC3(ao->format)) {
         ioctl(p->audio_fd, SNDCTL_DSP_SPEED, &ao->samplerate);
     }
@@ -455,7 +457,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     if (ioctl(p->audio_fd, SNDCTL_DSP_GETOSPACE, &p->zz) != -1) {
         // calculate exact buffer space:
         playsize = p->zz.fragments * p->zz.fragsize;
-        return playsize;
+        return playsize / ao->sstride;
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -473,14 +475,14 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     }
 #endif
 
-    return p->outburst;
+    return p->outburst / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 // stop playing, keep buffers (for pause)
 static void audio_pause(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
-    p->prepause_space = get_space(ao);
+    p->prepause_space = get_space(ao) * ao->sstride;
 #ifdef SNDCTL_DSP_RESET
     ioctl(p->audio_fd, SNDCTL_DSP_RESET, NULL);
 #else
@@ -491,17 +493,18 @@ static void audio_pause(struct ao *ao)
 // plays 'len' bytes of 'data'
 // it should round it down to outburst*n
 // return: number of bytes played
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
+    int len = samples * ao->sstride;
     if (len == 0)
         return len;
     if (len > p->outburst || !(flags & AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK)) {
         len /= p->outburst;
         len *= p->outburst;
     }
-    len = write(p->audio_fd, data, len);
-    return len;
+    len = write(p->audio_fd, data[0], len);
+    return len / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 // resume playing, after audio_pause()
@@ -511,8 +514,7 @@ static void audio_resume(struct ao *ao)
 #ifndef SNDCTL_DSP_RESET
     reset(ao);
 #endif
-    int fillframes = (get_space(ao) - p->prepause_space) /
-                     (af_fmt2bits(ao->format) / 8 * ao->channels.num);
+    int fillframes = get_space(ao) - p->prepause_space / ao->sstride;
     if (fillframes > 0)
         ao_play_silence(ao, fillframes);
 }
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_pcm.c b/audio/out/ao_pcm.c
index f7d793700d..1d88fc6665 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_pcm.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_pcm.c
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     if (!priv->outputfilename)
         priv->outputfilename =
             talloc_strdup(priv, priv->waveheader ? "audiodump.wav" : "audiodump.pcm");
+
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     if (priv->waveheader) {
         // WAV files must have one of the following formats
 
@@ -193,13 +196,14 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     return 65536;
 }
 
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
+    int len = samples * ao->sstride;
 
-    fwrite(data, len, 1, priv->fp);
+    fwrite(data[0], len, 1, priv->fp);
     priv->data_length += len;
-    return len;
+    return len / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 #define OPT_BASE_STRUCT struct priv
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_portaudio.c b/audio/out/ao_portaudio.c
index 8b235f8806..9c0d7804f8 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_portaudio.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_portaudio.c
@@ -242,6 +242,8 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
             = Pa_GetDeviceInfo(pa_device)->defaultHighOutputLatency,
     };
 
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     const struct format_map *fmt = format_maps;
     while (fmt->pa_format) {
         if (fmt->mp_format == ao->format) {
@@ -278,13 +280,13 @@ error_exit:
     return -1;
 }
 
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
 
     pthread_mutex_lock(&priv->ring_mutex);
 
-    int write_len = mp_ring_write(priv->ring, data, len);
+    int write_len = mp_ring_write(priv->ring, data[0], samples * ao->sstride);
     if (flags & AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK)
         priv->play_remaining = true;
 
@@ -293,7 +295,7 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
     if (Pa_IsStreamStopped(priv->stream) == 1)
         check_pa_ret(Pa_StartStream(priv->stream));
 
-    return write_len;
+    return write_len / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
@@ -306,7 +308,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 
     pthread_mutex_unlock(&priv->ring_mutex);
 
-    return free;
+    return free / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_pulse.c b/audio/out/ao_pulse.c
index a4da2a179b..f1800f279c 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_pulse.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_pulse.c
@@ -286,6 +286,8 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     ss.channels = ao->channels.num;
     ss.rate = ao->samplerate;
 
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     const struct format_map *fmt_map = format_maps;
     while (fmt_map->mp_format != ao->format) {
         if (fmt_map->mp_format == AF_FORMAT_UNKNOWN) {
@@ -375,14 +377,14 @@ static void cork(struct ao *ao, bool pause)
 }
 
 // Play the specified data to the pulseaudio server
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
     pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(priv->mainloop);
-    if (pa_stream_write(priv->stream, data, len, NULL, 0,
+    if (pa_stream_write(priv->stream, data[0], samples * ao->sstride, NULL, 0,
                         PA_SEEK_RELATIVE) < 0) {
         GENERIC_ERR_MSG("pa_stream_write() failed");
-        len = -1;
+        samples = -1;
     }
     if (flags & AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK) {
         // Force start in case the stream was too short for prebuf
@@ -390,7 +392,7 @@ static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
         pa_operation_unref(op);
     }
     pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(priv->mainloop);
-    return len;
+    return samples;
 }
 
 // Reset the audio stream, i.e. flush the playback buffer on the server side
@@ -425,14 +427,14 @@ static void resume(struct ao *ao)
     cork(ao, false);
 }
 
-// Return number of bytes that may be written to the server without blocking
+// Return number of samples that may be written to the server without blocking
 static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
     pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(priv->mainloop);
     size_t space = pa_stream_writable_size(priv->stream);
     pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(priv->mainloop);
-    return space;
+    return space / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 // Return the current latency in seconds
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_rsound.c b/audio/out/ao_rsound.c
index 162fb21feb..123ee14ef5 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_rsound.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_rsound.c
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
     rsd_set_param(priv->rd, RSD_SAMPLERATE, &ao->samplerate);
     rsd_set_param(priv->rd, RSD_CHANNELS, &ao->channels.num);
 
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     int rsd_format = set_format(ao);
     rsd_set_param(priv->rd, RSD_FORMAT, &rsd_format);
 
@@ -161,13 +163,13 @@ static void audio_resume(struct ao *ao)
 static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
-    return rsd_get_avail(priv->rd);
+    return rsd_get_avail(priv->rd) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
-    return rsd_write(priv->rd, data, len);
+    return rsd_write(priv->rd, data[0], samples * ao->sstride) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_sdl.c b/audio/out/ao_sdl.c
index a42c0812cb..c2b1c9d947 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_sdl.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_sdl.c
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
         return -1;
     }
 
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     SDL_AudioSpec desired, obtained;
 
     switch (ao->format) {
@@ -259,7 +261,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     SDL_LockMutex(priv->buffer_mutex);
     int space = av_fifo_space(priv->buffer);
     SDL_UnlockMutex(priv->buffer_mutex);
-    return space;
+    return space / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static void pause(struct ao *ao)
@@ -290,20 +292,21 @@ static void resume(struct ao *ao)
         do_resume(ao);
 }
 
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *priv = ao->priv;
+    int len = samples * ao->sstride;
     SDL_LockMutex(priv->buffer_mutex);
     int free = av_fifo_space(priv->buffer);
     if (len > free) len = free;
-    av_fifo_generic_write(priv->buffer, data, len, NULL);
+    av_fifo_generic_write(priv->buffer, data[0], len, NULL);
     SDL_CondSignal(priv->underrun_cond);
     SDL_UnlockMutex(priv->buffer_mutex);
     if (priv->unpause) {
         priv->unpause = 0;
         do_resume(ao);
     }
-    return len;
+    return len / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_sndio.c b/audio/out/ao_sndio.c
index ab9eaf8197..cfe0616943 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_sndio.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_sndio.c
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@ static int init(struct ao *ao)
         MP_ERR(ao, "can't open sndio %s\n", p->dev);
         goto error;
     }
+
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
+
     sio_initpar(&p->par);
     for (i = 0, ap = af_to_par;; i++, ap++) {
         if (i == sizeof(af_to_par) / sizeof(struct af_to_par)) {
@@ -239,16 +242,16 @@ static void reset(struct ao *ao)
 /*
  * play given number of bytes until sio_write() blocks
  */
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
     struct priv *p = ao->priv;
     int n;
 
-    n = sio_write(p->hdl, data, len);
+    n = sio_write(p->hdl, data[0], samples * ao->sstride);
     p->delay += n;
     if (flags & AOPLAY_FINAL_CHUNK)
         reset(ao);
-    return n;
+    return n / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -268,7 +271,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
         ; /* nothing */
     sio_revents(p->hdl, p->pfd);
 
-    return p->par.bufsz * p->par.pchan * p->par.bps - p->delay;
+    return (p->par.bufsz * p->par.pchan * p->par.bps - p->delay) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/audio/out/ao_wasapi.c b/audio/out/ao_wasapi.c
index c605e1cd5d..b43bf04753 100644
--- a/audio/out/ao_wasapi.c
+++ b/audio/out/ao_wasapi.c
@@ -1197,7 +1197,7 @@ static int get_space(struct ao *ao)
     if (!ao || !ao->priv)
         return -1;
     struct wasapi_state *state = (struct wasapi_state *)ao->priv;
-    return mp_ring_available(state->ringbuff);
+    return mp_ring_available(state->ringbuff) / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static void reset_buffers(struct wasapi_state *state)
@@ -1231,6 +1231,7 @@ static void uninit(struct ao *ao, bool immed)
 static int init(struct ao *ao)
 {
     mp_msg(MSGT_AO, MSGL_V, "ao-wasapi: init!\n");
+    ao->format = af_fmt_from_planar(ao->format);
     struct mp_chmap_sel sel = {0};
     mp_chmap_sel_add_waveext(&sel);
     if (!ao_chmap_sel_adjust(ao, &sel, &ao->channels))
@@ -1338,25 +1339,24 @@ static void reset(struct ao *ao)
     reset_buffers(state);
 }
 
-static int play(struct ao *ao, void *data, int len, int flags)
+static int play(struct ao *ao, void **data, int samples, int flags)
 {
-    int ret = 0;
     if (!ao || !ao->priv)
-        return ret;
+        return 0;
     struct wasapi_state *state = (struct wasapi_state *)ao->priv;
     if (WaitForSingleObject(state->fatal_error, 0) == WAIT_OBJECT_0) {
         /* something bad happened */
-        return ret;
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    ret = mp_ring_write(state->ringbuff, data, len);
+    int ret = mp_ring_write(state->ringbuff, data[0], samples * ao->sstride);
 
     if (!state->is_playing) {
         /* start playing */
         state->is_playing = 1;
         SetEvent(state->hPlay);
     }
-    return ret;
+    return ret / ao->sstride;
 }
 
 static float get_delay(struct ao *ao)
diff --git a/audio/reorder_ch.c b/audio/reorder_ch.c
index 57cb664a6f..b99731e6bf 100644
--- a/audio/reorder_ch.c
+++ b/audio/reorder_ch.c
@@ -63,38 +63,6 @@ void reorder_to_planar(void *restrict out, const void *restrict in,
         reorder_to_planar_(out, in, size, nchan, nmemb);
 }
 
-static inline void reorder_to_packed_(uint8_t *out, uint8_t **in,
-                                      size_t size, size_t nchan, size_t nmemb)
-{
-    size_t outstep = nchan * size;
-
-    for (size_t c = 0; c < nchan; ++c) {
-        char *outptr = out + c * size;
-        char *inptr = in[c];
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < nmemb; ++i, outptr += outstep, inptr += size) {
-            memcpy(outptr, inptr, size);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-// out = destination array of packed samples of given size, nmemb frames
-// in[channel] = source array of samples for the given channel
-void reorder_to_packed(uint8_t *out, uint8_t **in,
-                       size_t size, size_t nchan, size_t nmemb)
-{
-    if (nchan == 1)
-        memcpy(out, in, size * nchan * nmemb);
-    // See reorder_to_planar() why this is done this way
-    else if (size == 1)
-        reorder_to_packed_(out, in, 1, nchan, nmemb);
-    else if (size == 2)
-        reorder_to_packed_(out, in, 2, nchan, nmemb);
-    else if (size == 4)
-        reorder_to_packed_(out, in, 4, nchan, nmemb);
-    else
-        reorder_to_packed_(out, in, size, nchan, nmemb);
-}
-
 #define MAX_SAMPLESIZE 8
 
 static void reorder_channels_(uint8_t *restrict data, int *restrict ch_order,
diff --git a/audio/reorder_ch.h b/audio/reorder_ch.h
index 6b5902c1b6..d81aab7dfa 100644
--- a/audio/reorder_ch.h
+++ b/audio/reorder_ch.h
@@ -27,8 +27,6 @@
 
 void reorder_to_planar(void *restrict out, const void *restrict in,
                        size_t size, size_t nchan, size_t nmemb);
-void reorder_to_packed(uint8_t *out, uint8_t **in,
-                       size_t size, size_t nchan, size_t nmemb);
 
 void reorder_channels(void *restrict data, int *restrict ch_order,
                       size_t sample_size, size_t num_ch, size_t num_frames);