diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
index 66b7e09e3..651982344 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.cpp
@@ -389,16 +389,6 @@ void FFmpeg_Decoder::readAll(std::vector<char> &output)
     }
 }
 
-void FFmpeg_Decoder::rewind()
-{
-    int stream_idx = mStream - mFormatCtx->streams;
-    if(av_seek_frame(mFormatCtx, stream_idx, 0, 0) < 0)
-        fail("Failed to seek in audio stream");
-    av_free_packet(&mPacket);
-    mFrameSize = mFramePos = 0;
-    mNextPts = 0.0;
-}
-
 size_t FFmpeg_Decoder::getSampleOffset()
 {
     int delay = (mFrameSize-mFramePos) / av_get_channel_layout_nb_channels(mOutputChannelLayout) /
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp
index b27e60c9f..cc553b161 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/ffmpeg_decoder.hpp
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ namespace MWSound
 
         virtual size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes);
         virtual void readAll(std::vector<char> &output);
-        virtual void rewind();
         virtual size_t getSampleOffset();
 
         void fail(const std::string &msg);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.cpp
index 326c59c07..19e5cd586 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.cpp
@@ -8,15 +8,16 @@
 namespace MWSound
 {
 
-void Sound_Loudness::analyzeLoudness(const std::vector< char >& data, int sampleRate, ChannelConfig chans, SampleType type, float valuesPerSecond)
+void Sound_Loudness::analyzeLoudness(const std::vector< char >& data)
 {
-    int samplesPerSegment = static_cast<int>(sampleRate / valuesPerSecond);
-    int numSamples = bytesToFrames(data.size(), chans, type);
-    int advance = framesToBytes(1, chans, type);
+    mQueue.insert( mQueue.end(), data.begin(), data.end() );
+    if (!mQueue.size())
+        return;
+
+    int samplesPerSegment = static_cast<int>(mSampleRate / mSamplesPerSec);
+    int numSamples = bytesToFrames(mQueue.size(), mChannelConfig, mSampleType);
+    int advance = framesToBytes(1, mChannelConfig, mSampleType);
 
-    mSamplesPerSec = valuesPerSecond;
-    mSamples.clear();
-    mSamples.reserve(numSamples/samplesPerSegment);
 
     int segment=0;
     int sample=0;
@@ -28,16 +29,16 @@ void Sound_Loudness::analyzeLoudness(const std::vector< char >& data, int sample
         {
             // get sample on a scale from -1 to 1
             float value = 0;
-            if (type == SampleType_UInt8)
-                value = ((char)(data[sample*advance]^0x80))/128.f;
-            else if (type == SampleType_Int16)
+            if (mSampleType == SampleType_UInt8)
+                value = ((char)(mQueue[sample*advance]^0x80))/128.f;
+            else if (mSampleType == SampleType_Int16)
             {
-                value = *reinterpret_cast<const int16_t*>(&data[sample*advance]);
+                value = *reinterpret_cast<const int16_t*>(&mQueue[sample*advance]);
                 value /= float(std::numeric_limits<int16_t>::max());
             }
-            else if (type == SampleType_Float32)
+            else if (mSampleType == SampleType_Float32)
             {
-                value = *reinterpret_cast<const float*>(&data[sample*advance]);
+                value = *reinterpret_cast<const float*>(&mQueue[sample*advance]);
                 value = std::max(-1.f, std::min(1.f, value)); // Float samples *should* be scaled to [-1,1] already.
             }
 
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ void Sound_Loudness::analyzeLoudness(const std::vector< char >& data, int sample
         ++segment;
     }
 
-    mReady = true;
+    mQueue.erase(mQueue.begin(), mQueue.begin() + sample*advance);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.hpp
index 366d29de5..939d83dee 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/loudness.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define GAME_SOUND_LOUDNESS_H
 
 #include <vector>
+#include <deque>
 
 #include "sound_decoder.hpp"
 
@@ -9,29 +10,45 @@ namespace MWSound
 {
 
 class Sound_Loudness {
-    // Loudness sample info
     float mSamplesPerSec;
+    int mSampleRate;
+    ChannelConfig mChannelConfig;
+    SampleType mSampleType;
+
+    // Loudness sample info
     std::vector<float> mSamples;
-    volatile bool mReady;
+
+    std::deque<char> mQueue;
 
 public:
-    Sound_Loudness() : mSamplesPerSec(0.0f), mReady(false) { }
+    /**
+     * @param samplesPerSecond How many loudness values per second of audio to compute.
+     * @param sampleRate the sample rate of the sound buffer
+     * @param chans channel layout of the buffer
+     * @param type sample type of the buffer
+    */
+    Sound_Loudness(float samplesPerSecond, int sampleRate, ChannelConfig chans, SampleType type)
+        : mSamplesPerSec(samplesPerSecond)
+        , mSampleRate(sampleRate)
+        , mChannelConfig(chans)
+        , mSampleType(type)
+    { }
 
     /**
      * Analyzes the energy (closely related to loudness) of a sound buffer.
      * The buffer will be divided into segments according to \a valuesPerSecond,
      * and for each segment a loudness value in the range of [0,1] will be computed.
+     * The computed values are then added to the mSamples vector. This method should be called continuously
+     * with chunks of audio until the whole audio file is processed.
+     * If the size of \a data does not exactly fit a number of loudness samples, the remainder
+     * will be kept in the mQueue and used in the next call to analyzeLoudness.
      * @param data the sound buffer to analyze, containing raw samples
-     * @param sampleRate the sample rate of the sound buffer
-     * @param chans channel layout of the buffer
-     * @param type sample type of the buffer
-     * @param valuesPerSecond How many loudness values per second of audio to compute.
      */
-    void analyzeLoudness(const std::vector<char>& data, int sampleRate,
-                         ChannelConfig chans, SampleType type,
-                         float valuesPerSecond);
+    void analyzeLoudness(const std::vector<char>& data);
 
-    bool isReady() { return mReady; }
+    /**
+     * Get loudness at a particular time. Before calling this, the stream has to be analyzed up to that point in time (see analyzeLoudness()).
+     */
     float getLoudnessAtTime(float sec) const;
 };
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp
index 554b62d26..af9932f74 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/movieaudiofactory.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ namespace MWSound
 
         virtual void open(const std::string &fname);
         virtual void close();
-        virtual void rewind();
         virtual std::string getName();
         virtual void getInfo(int *samplerate, ChannelConfig *chans, SampleType *type);
         virtual size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes);
@@ -102,7 +101,6 @@ namespace MWSound
         throw std::runtime_error("unimplemented");
     }
     void MWSoundDecoderBridge::close() {}
-    void MWSoundDecoderBridge::rewind() {}
 
     std::string MWSoundDecoderBridge::getName()
     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
index d44020632..71459e18c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <vector>
+#include <memory>
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 
@@ -212,6 +213,8 @@ private:
 
     DecoderPtr mDecoder;
 
+    std::auto_ptr<Sound_Loudness> mLoudnessAnalyzer;
+
     volatile bool mIsFinished;
 
     void updateAll(bool local);
@@ -222,13 +225,15 @@ private:
     friend class OpenAL_Output;
 
 public:
-    OpenAL_SoundStream(ALuint src, DecoderPtr decoder);
+    OpenAL_SoundStream(ALuint src, DecoderPtr decoder, bool getLoudnessData=false);
     ~OpenAL_SoundStream();
 
     bool isPlaying();
     double getStreamDelay() const;
     double getStreamOffset() const;
 
+    float getCurrentLoudness() const;
+
     bool process();
     ALint refillQueue();
 };
@@ -242,9 +247,6 @@ struct OpenAL_Output::StreamThread {
     typedef std::vector<OpenAL_SoundStream*> StreamVec;
     StreamVec mStreams;
 
-    typedef std::vector<std::pair<DecoderPtr,Sound_Loudness*> > DecoderLoudnessVec;
-    DecoderLoudnessVec mDecoderLoudness;
-
     volatile bool mQuitNow;
     boost::mutex mMutex;
     boost::condition_variable mCondVar;
@@ -277,32 +279,6 @@ struct OpenAL_Output::StreamThread {
                     ++iter;
             }
 
-            // Only do one loudness decode at a time, in case it takes particularly long we don't
-            // want to block up anything.
-            DecoderLoudnessVec::iterator dliter = mDecoderLoudness.begin();
-            if(dliter != mDecoderLoudness.end())
-            {
-                DecoderPtr decoder = dliter->first;
-                Sound_Loudness *loudness = dliter->second;
-                mDecoderLoudness.erase(dliter);
-                lock.unlock();
-
-                std::vector<char> data;
-                ChannelConfig chans = ChannelConfig_Mono;
-                SampleType type = SampleType_Int16;
-                int srate = 48000;
-                try {
-                    decoder->getInfo(&srate, &chans, &type);
-                    decoder->readAll(data);
-                }
-                catch(std::exception &e) {
-                    std::cerr<< "Failed to decode audio: "<<e.what() <<std::endl;
-                }
-
-                loudness->analyzeLoudness(data, srate, chans, type, static_cast<float>(sLoudnessFPS));
-                lock.lock();
-                continue;
-            }
             mCondVar.timed_wait(lock, boost::posix_time::milliseconds(50));
         }
     }
@@ -329,15 +305,6 @@ struct OpenAL_Output::StreamThread {
     {
         boost::lock_guard<boost::mutex> lock(mMutex);
         mStreams.clear();
-        mDecoderLoudness.clear();
-    }
-
-    void add(DecoderPtr decoder, Sound_Loudness *loudness)
-    {
-        boost::unique_lock<boost::mutex> lock(mMutex);
-        mDecoderLoudness.push_back(std::make_pair(decoder, loudness));
-        lock.unlock();
-        mCondVar.notify_all();
     }
 
 private:
@@ -346,7 +313,7 @@ private:
 };
 
 
-OpenAL_SoundStream::OpenAL_SoundStream(ALuint src, DecoderPtr decoder)
+OpenAL_SoundStream::OpenAL_SoundStream(ALuint src, DecoderPtr decoder, bool getLoudnessData)
   : mSource(src), mCurrentBufIdx(0), mFrameSize(0), mSilence(0), mDecoder(decoder), mIsFinished(false)
 {
     alGenBuffers(sNumBuffers, mBuffers);
@@ -371,6 +338,9 @@ OpenAL_SoundStream::OpenAL_SoundStream(ALuint src, DecoderPtr decoder)
         mFrameSize = framesToBytes(1, chans, type);
         mBufferSize = static_cast<ALuint>(sBufferLength*srate);
         mBufferSize *= mFrameSize;
+
+        if (getLoudnessData)
+            mLoudnessAnalyzer.reset(new Sound_Loudness(sLoudnessFPS, mSampleRate, chans, type));
     }
     catch(std::exception&)
     {
@@ -446,6 +416,15 @@ double OpenAL_SoundStream::getStreamOffset() const
     return t;
 }
 
+float OpenAL_SoundStream::getCurrentLoudness() const
+{
+    if (!mLoudnessAnalyzer.get())
+        return 0.f;
+
+    float time = getStreamOffset();
+    return mLoudnessAnalyzer->getLoudnessAtTime(time);
+}
+
 bool OpenAL_SoundStream::process()
 {
     try {
@@ -493,6 +472,9 @@ ALint OpenAL_SoundStream::refillQueue()
             }
             if(got > 0)
             {
+                if (mLoudnessAnalyzer.get())
+                    mLoudnessAnalyzer->analyzeLoudness(data);
+
                 ALuint bufid = mBuffers[mCurrentBufIdx];
                 alBufferData(bufid, mFormat, &data[0], data.size(), mSampleRate);
                 alSourceQueueBuffers(mSource, 1, &bufid);
@@ -981,7 +963,7 @@ void OpenAL_Output::streamSound(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound
     sound->mHandle = stream;
 }
 
-void OpenAL_Output::streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound)
+void OpenAL_Output::streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound, bool getLoudnessData)
 {
     OpenAL_SoundStream *stream = 0;
     ALuint source;
@@ -998,7 +980,7 @@ void OpenAL_Output::streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sou
                      sound->getRealVolume(), sound->getPitch(), false, sound->getUseEnv());
         throwALerror();
 
-        stream = new OpenAL_SoundStream(source, decoder);
+        stream = new OpenAL_SoundStream(source, decoder, getLoudnessData);
         mStreamThread->add(stream);
         mActiveStreams.push_back(sound);
     }
@@ -1045,6 +1027,14 @@ double OpenAL_Output::getStreamOffset(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound)
     return stream->getStreamOffset();
 }
 
+float OpenAL_Output::getStreamLoudness(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound)
+{
+    if(!sound->mHandle) return 0.0;
+    OpenAL_SoundStream *stream = reinterpret_cast<OpenAL_SoundStream*>(sound->mHandle);
+    boost::lock_guard<boost::mutex> lock(mStreamThread->mMutex);
+    return stream->getCurrentLoudness();
+}
+
 bool OpenAL_Output::isStreamPlaying(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound)
 {
     if(!sound->mHandle) return false;
@@ -1144,12 +1134,6 @@ void OpenAL_Output::resumeSounds(int types)
 }
 
 
-void OpenAL_Output::loadLoudnessAsync(DecoderPtr decoder, Sound_Loudness *loudness)
-{
-    mStreamThread->add(decoder, loudness);
-}
-
-
 OpenAL_Output::OpenAL_Output(SoundManager &mgr)
   : Sound_Output(mgr), mDevice(0), mContext(0)
   , mListenerPos(0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f), mListenerEnv(Env_Normal)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp
index 4986cd3a0..24c8609d6 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/openal_output.hpp
@@ -63,10 +63,11 @@ namespace MWSound
         virtual void updateSound(MWBase::SoundPtr sound);
 
         virtual void streamSound(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
-        virtual void streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
+        virtual void streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound, bool getLoudnessData);
         virtual void finishStream(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
         virtual double getStreamDelay(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
         virtual double getStreamOffset(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
+        virtual float getStreamLoudness(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
         virtual bool isStreamPlaying(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
         virtual void updateStream(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound);
 
@@ -78,8 +79,6 @@ namespace MWSound
         virtual void pauseSounds(int types);
         virtual void resumeSounds(int types);
 
-        virtual void loadLoudnessAsync(DecoderPtr decoder, Sound_Loudness *loudness);
-
         OpenAL_Output(SoundManager &mgr);
         virtual ~OpenAL_Output();
     };
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_buffer.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_buffer.hpp
index 8f8e43da4..5ca3a45da 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_buffer.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_buffer.hpp
@@ -3,11 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <string>
 
-#include "soundmanagerimp.hpp"
 #include "sound_output.hpp"
-#include "loudness.hpp"
-
-#include "../mwworld/ptr.hpp"
 
 namespace MWSound
 {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp
index 1be9dd374..34bae87d7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_decoder.hpp
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ namespace MWSound
 
         virtual size_t read(char *buffer, size_t bytes) = 0;
         virtual void readAll(std::vector<char> &output);
-        virtual void rewind() = 0;
         virtual size_t getSampleOffset() = 0;
 
         Sound_Decoder(const VFS::Manager* resourceMgr) : mResourceMgr(resourceMgr)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp
index 98eba8466..e34d888ee 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/sound_output.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ namespace MWSound
     class SoundManager;
     struct Sound_Decoder;
     class Sound;
-    class Sound_Loudness;
 
     // An opaque handle for the implementation's sound buffers.
     typedef void *Sound_Handle;
@@ -42,10 +41,11 @@ namespace MWSound
         virtual void updateSound(MWBase::SoundPtr sound) = 0;
 
         virtual void streamSound(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
-        virtual void streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
+        virtual void streamSound3D(DecoderPtr decoder, MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound, bool getLoudnessData) = 0;
         virtual void finishStream(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
         virtual double getStreamDelay(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
         virtual double getStreamOffset(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
+        virtual float getStreamLoudness(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
         virtual bool isStreamPlaying(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
         virtual void updateStream(MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound) = 0;
 
@@ -57,11 +57,6 @@ namespace MWSound
         virtual void pauseSounds(int types) = 0;
         virtual void resumeSounds(int types) = 0;
 
-        // HACK: The sound output implementation really shouldn't be handling
-        // asynchronous loudness data loading, but it's currently where we have
-        // a background processing thread.
-        virtual void loadLoudnessAsync(DecoderPtr decoder, Sound_Loudness *loudness) = 0;
-
         Sound_Output& operator=(const Sound_Output &rhs);
         Sound_Output(const Sound_Output &rhs);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
index 4d1aa0b4d..663f88852 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.cpp
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         return sfx;
     }
 
-    DecoderPtr SoundManager::loadVoice(const std::string &voicefile, Sound_Loudness **lipdata)
+    DecoderPtr SoundManager::loadVoice(const std::string &voicefile)
     {
         DecoderPtr decoder = getDecoder();
         // Workaround: Bethesda at some point converted some of the files to mp3, but the references were kept as .wav.
@@ -234,21 +234,6 @@ namespace MWSound
             decoder->open(file);
         }
 
-        NameLoudnessRefMap::iterator lipiter = mVoiceLipNameMap.find(voicefile);
-        if(lipiter != mVoiceLipNameMap.end())
-        {
-            *lipdata = lipiter->second;
-            return decoder;
-        }
-
-        mVoiceLipBuffers.insert(mVoiceLipBuffers.end(), Sound_Loudness());
-        lipiter = mVoiceLipNameMap.insert(
-            std::make_pair(voicefile, &mVoiceLipBuffers.back())
-        ).first;
-
-        mOutput->loadLoudnessAsync(decoder, lipiter->second);
-
-        *lipdata = lipiter->second;
         return decoder;
     }
 
@@ -273,7 +258,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         {
             sound.reset(new Stream(pos, 1.0f, basevol, 1.0f, minDistance, maxDistance,
                                    Play_Normal|Play_TypeVoice|Play_3D));
-            mOutput->streamSound3D(decoder, sound);
+            mOutput->streamSound3D(decoder, sound, true);
         }
         return sound;
     }
@@ -400,28 +385,22 @@ namespace MWSound
         {
             std::string voicefile = "Sound/"+filename;
 
-            Sound_Loudness *loudness;
             mVFS->normalizeFilename(voicefile);
-            DecoderPtr decoder = loadVoice(voicefile, &loudness);
+            DecoderPtr decoder = loadVoice(voicefile);
 
-            if(!loudness->isReady())
-                mPendingSaySounds[ptr] = std::make_pair(decoder, loudness);
-            else
+            MWBase::World *world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
+            const osg::Vec3f pos = world->getActorHeadTransform(ptr).getTrans();
+
+            SaySoundMap::iterator oldIt = mActiveSaySounds.find(ptr);
+            if (oldIt != mActiveSaySounds.end())
             {
-                MWBase::World *world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
-                const osg::Vec3f pos = world->getActorHeadTransform(ptr).getTrans();
-
-                SaySoundMap::iterator oldIt = mActiveSaySounds.find(ptr);
-                if (oldIt != mActiveSaySounds.end())
-                {
-                    mOutput->finishStream(oldIt->second.first);
-                    mActiveSaySounds.erase(oldIt);
-                }
-
-                MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = playVoice(decoder, pos, (ptr == MWMechanics::getPlayer()));
-
-                mActiveSaySounds.insert(std::make_pair(ptr, std::make_pair(sound, loudness)));
+                mOutput->finishStream(oldIt->second);
+                mActiveSaySounds.erase(oldIt);
             }
+
+            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = playVoice(decoder, pos, (ptr == MWMechanics::getPlayer()));
+
+            mActiveSaySounds.insert(std::make_pair(ptr, sound));
         }
         catch(std::exception &e)
         {
@@ -434,10 +413,8 @@ namespace MWSound
         SaySoundMap::const_iterator snditer = mActiveSaySounds.find(ptr);
         if(snditer != mActiveSaySounds.end())
         {
-            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = snditer->second.first;
-            Sound_Loudness *loudness = snditer->second.second;
-            float sec = mOutput->getStreamOffset(sound);
-            return loudness->getLoudnessAtTime(sec);
+            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = snditer->second;
+            return mOutput->getStreamLoudness(sound);
         }
 
         return 0.0f;
@@ -451,24 +428,18 @@ namespace MWSound
         {
             std::string voicefile = "Sound/"+filename;
 
-            Sound_Loudness *loudness;
             mVFS->normalizeFilename(voicefile);
-            DecoderPtr decoder = loadVoice(voicefile, &loudness);
+            DecoderPtr decoder = loadVoice(voicefile);
 
-            if(!loudness->isReady())
-                mPendingSaySounds[MWWorld::ConstPtr()] = std::make_pair(decoder, loudness);
-            else
+            SaySoundMap::iterator oldIt = mActiveSaySounds.find(MWWorld::ConstPtr());
+            if (oldIt != mActiveSaySounds.end())
             {
-                SaySoundMap::iterator oldIt = mActiveSaySounds.find(MWWorld::ConstPtr());
-                if (oldIt != mActiveSaySounds.end())
-                {
-                    mOutput->finishStream(oldIt->second.first);
-                    mActiveSaySounds.erase(oldIt);
-                }
-
-                mActiveSaySounds.insert(std::make_pair(MWWorld::ConstPtr(),
-                                                       std::make_pair(playVoice(decoder, osg::Vec3f(), true), loudness)));
+                mOutput->finishStream(oldIt->second);
+                mActiveSaySounds.erase(oldIt);
             }
+
+            mActiveSaySounds.insert(std::make_pair(MWWorld::ConstPtr(),
+                                                   playVoice(decoder, osg::Vec3f(), true)));
         }
         catch(std::exception &e)
         {
@@ -481,11 +452,11 @@ namespace MWSound
         SaySoundMap::const_iterator snditer = mActiveSaySounds.find(ptr);
         if(snditer != mActiveSaySounds.end())
         {
-            if(mOutput->isStreamPlaying(snditer->second.first))
+            if(mOutput->isStreamPlaying(snditer->second))
                 return false;
             return true;
         }
-        return mPendingSaySounds.find(ptr) == mPendingSaySounds.end();
+        return true;
     }
 
     void SoundManager::stopSay(const MWWorld::ConstPtr &ptr)
@@ -493,10 +464,9 @@ namespace MWSound
         SaySoundMap::iterator snditer = mActiveSaySounds.find(ptr);
         if(snditer != mActiveSaySounds.end())
         {
-            mOutput->finishStream(snditer->second.first);
+            mOutput->finishStream(snditer->second);
             mActiveSaySounds.erase(snditer);
         }
-        mPendingSaySounds.erase(ptr);
     }
 
 
@@ -691,7 +661,7 @@ namespace MWSound
                sayiter->first != MWMechanics::getPlayer() &&
                sayiter->first.getCell() == cell)
             {
-                mOutput->finishStream(sayiter->second.first);
+                mOutput->finishStream(sayiter->second);
             }
             ++sayiter;
         }
@@ -901,51 +871,11 @@ namespace MWSound
                 ++snditer;
         }
 
-        SayDecoderMap::iterator penditer = mPendingSaySounds.begin();
-        while(penditer != mPendingSaySounds.end())
-        {
-            Sound_Loudness *loudness = penditer->second.second;
-            if(loudness->isReady())
-            {
-                try {
-                    DecoderPtr decoder = penditer->second.first;
-                    decoder->rewind();
-
-                    MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound;
-                    MWWorld::ConstPtr ptr = penditer->first;
-
-                    SaySoundMap::iterator old = mActiveSaySounds.find(ptr);
-                    if (old != mActiveSaySounds.end())
-                    {
-                        mOutput->finishStream(old->second.first);
-                        mActiveSaySounds.erase(old);
-                    }
-
-                    if(ptr == MWWorld::ConstPtr())
-                        sound = playVoice(decoder, osg::Vec3f(), true);
-                    else
-                    {
-                        MWBase::World *world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
-                        const osg::Vec3f pos = world->getActorHeadTransform(ptr).getTrans();
-                        sound = playVoice(decoder, pos, (ptr == MWMechanics::getPlayer()));
-                    }
-                    mActiveSaySounds.insert(std::make_pair(ptr, std::make_pair(sound, loudness)));
-                }
-                catch(std::exception &e) {
-                    std::cerr<< "Sound Error: "<<e.what() <<std::endl;
-                }
-
-                mPendingSaySounds.erase(penditer++);
-            }
-            else
-                ++penditer;
-        }
-
         SaySoundMap::iterator sayiter = mActiveSaySounds.begin();
         while(sayiter != mActiveSaySounds.end())
         {
             MWWorld::ConstPtr ptr = sayiter->first;
-            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = sayiter->second.first;
+            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = sayiter->second;
             if(!ptr.isEmpty() && sound->getIs3D())
             {
                 MWBase::World *world = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld();
@@ -1040,7 +970,7 @@ namespace MWSound
         SaySoundMap::iterator sayiter = mActiveSaySounds.begin();
         for(;sayiter != mActiveSaySounds.end();++sayiter)
         {
-            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = sayiter->second.first;
+            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr sound = sayiter->second;
             sound->setBaseVolume(volumeFromType(sound->getPlayType()));
             mOutput->updateStream(sound);
         }
@@ -1080,16 +1010,9 @@ namespace MWSound
         SaySoundMap::iterator sayiter = mActiveSaySounds.find(old);
         if(sayiter != mActiveSaySounds.end())
         {
-            SoundLoudnessPair sndlist = sayiter->second;
+            MWBase::SoundStreamPtr stream = sayiter->second;
             mActiveSaySounds.erase(sayiter);
-            mActiveSaySounds[updated] = sndlist;
-        }
-        SayDecoderMap::iterator penditer = mPendingSaySounds.find(old);
-        if(penditer != mPendingSaySounds.end())
-        {
-            DecoderLoudnessPair dl = penditer->second;
-            mPendingSaySounds.erase(penditer);
-            mPendingSaySounds[updated] = dl;
+            mActiveSaySounds[updated] = stream;
         }
     }
 
@@ -1175,13 +1098,12 @@ namespace MWSound
         mActiveSounds.clear();
         SaySoundMap::iterator sayiter = mActiveSaySounds.begin();
         for(;sayiter != mActiveSaySounds.end();++sayiter)
-            mOutput->finishStream(sayiter->second.first);
+            mOutput->finishStream(sayiter->second);
         mActiveSaySounds.clear();
         TrackList::iterator trkiter = mActiveTracks.begin();
         for(;trkiter != mActiveTracks.end();++trkiter)
             mOutput->finishStream(*trkiter);
         mActiveTracks.clear();
-        mPendingSaySounds.clear();
         mUnderwaterSound.reset();
         stopMusic();
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp
index 695ca92a2..d499dce7d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwsound/soundmanagerimp.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 
 #include <components/settings/settings.hpp>
 
-#include "loudness.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/soundmanager.hpp"
 
 namespace VFS
@@ -69,12 +68,6 @@ namespace MWSound
         typedef std::map<std::string,Sound_Buffer*> NameBufferMap;
         NameBufferMap mBufferNameMap;
 
-        typedef std::deque<Sound_Loudness> LoudnessList;
-        LoudnessList mVoiceLipBuffers;
-
-        typedef std::map<std::string,Sound_Loudness*> NameLoudnessRefMap;
-        NameLoudnessRefMap mVoiceLipNameMap;
-
         // NOTE: unused buffers are stored in front-newest order.
         typedef std::deque<Sound_Buffer*> SoundList;
         SoundList mUnusedBuffers;
@@ -84,14 +77,9 @@ namespace MWSound
         typedef std::map<MWWorld::ConstPtr,SoundBufferRefPairList> SoundMap;
         SoundMap mActiveSounds;
 
-        typedef std::pair<MWBase::SoundStreamPtr,Sound_Loudness*> SoundLoudnessPair;
-        typedef std::map<MWWorld::ConstPtr,SoundLoudnessPair> SaySoundMap;
+        typedef std::map<MWWorld::ConstPtr,MWBase::SoundStreamPtr> SaySoundMap;
         SaySoundMap mActiveSaySounds;
 
-        typedef std::pair<DecoderPtr,Sound_Loudness*> DecoderLoudnessPair;
-        typedef std::map<MWWorld::ConstPtr,DecoderLoudnessPair> SayDecoderMap;
-        SayDecoderMap mPendingSaySounds;
-
         typedef std::vector<MWBase::SoundStreamPtr> TrackList;
         TrackList mActiveTracks;
 
@@ -112,9 +100,8 @@ namespace MWSound
         Sound_Buffer *lookupSound(const std::string &soundId) const;
         Sound_Buffer *loadSound(const std::string &soundId);
 
-        // Ensures the loudness/"lip" data gets loaded, and returns a decoder
-        // to start streaming
-        DecoderPtr loadVoice(const std::string &voicefile, Sound_Loudness **lipdata);
+        // returns a decoder to start streaming
+        DecoderPtr loadVoice(const std::string &voicefile);
 
         MWBase::SoundStreamPtr playVoice(DecoderPtr decoder, const osg::Vec3f &pos, bool playlocal);