diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/Controller.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/Controller.cs
index 849ec2e519..1a5533b1b9 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/Controller.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/Controller.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 {
 	public class Controller : IController
 	{
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public Controller(ControllerDefinition definition)
 		{
 			Definition = definition;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/DisplayManager/OSDManager.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/DisplayManager/OSDManager.cs
index 234bd78ef4..464e654fe0 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/DisplayManager/OSDManager.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/DisplayManager/OSDManager.cs
@@ -182,12 +182,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 
 		public string InputStrMovie()
 		{
-			return MakeStringFor(_movieSession.MovieController);
+			return MakeStringFor(_movieSession.MovieController, cache: true);
 		}
 
 		public string InputStrImmediate()
 		{
-			return MakeStringFor(_inputManager.AutofireStickyXorAdapter);
+			return MakeStringFor(_inputManager.AutofireStickyXorAdapter, cache: true);
 		}
 
 		public string InputPrevious()
@@ -205,13 +205,19 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 		}
 
 		public string InputStrOrAll()
-			=> MakeStringFor(_movieSession.Movie.IsPlayingOrRecording() && _emulator.Frame > 0
-				? _inputManager.AutofireStickyXorAdapter.Or(_movieSession.Movie.GetInputState(_emulator.Frame - 1))
-				: _inputManager.AutofireStickyXorAdapter);
+			=> _movieSession.Movie.IsPlayingOrRecording() && _emulator.Frame > 0
+				? MakeStringFor(_inputManager.AutofireStickyXorAdapter.Or(_movieSession.Movie.GetInputState(_emulator.Frame - 1)))
+				: InputStrImmediate();
 
-		private string MakeStringFor(IController controller)
+		private string MakeStringFor(IController controller, bool cache = false)
 		{
-			return new Bk2InputDisplayGenerator(_emulator.SystemId, controller).Generate();
+			var idg = controller.InputDisplayGenerator;
+			if (idg is null)
+			{
+				idg = new Bk2InputDisplayGenerator(_emulator.SystemId, controller);
+				if (cache) controller.InputDisplayGenerator = idg;
+			}
+			return idg.Generate();
 		}
 
 		public string MakeIntersectImmediatePrevious()
@@ -300,7 +306,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 					// basically we're tinting whatever is pressed because it's sticky specially
 					// in order to achieve this we want to avoid drawing anything pink that isn't actually held down right now
 					// so we make an AND adapter and combine it using immediate & sticky
-					var autoString = MakeStringFor(_inputManager.StickyXorAdapter.Source.Xor(_inputManager.AutofireStickyXorAdapter).And(_inputManager.AutofireStickyXorAdapter));
+					// (adapter creation moved to InputManager)
+					var autoString = MakeStringFor(_inputManager.WeirdStickyControllerForInputDisplay, cache: true);
 					g.DrawString(autoString, MessageFont, autoColor, point.X, point.Y);
 
 					//recolor everything that's changed from the previous input
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/AutofireController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/AutofireController.cs
index 6c7ff21e14..854562f323 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/AutofireController.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/AutofireController.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 {
 	public class AutofireController : IController
 	{
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public AutofireController(IEmulator emulator, int on, int off)
 		{
 			On = on < 1 ? 0 : on;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/ClickyVirtualPadController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/ClickyVirtualPadController.cs
index cb9636d0d9..2c39ea7122 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/ClickyVirtualPadController.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/ClickyVirtualPadController.cs
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition { get; set; }
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button) => _pressed.Contains(button);
 
 		public int AxisValue(string name) => 0;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/SimpleController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/SimpleController.cs
index 90565d8122..9eae0f18f9 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/SimpleController.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/controllers/SimpleController.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition { get; }
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		protected WorkingDictionary<string, bool> Buttons { get; private set; } = new WorkingDictionary<string, bool>();
 		protected WorkingDictionary<string, int> Axes { get; private set; } = new WorkingDictionary<string, int>();
 		protected WorkingDictionary<string, int> HapticFeedback { get; private set; } = new WorkingDictionary<string, int>();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/display/IInputDisplayGenerator.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/display/IInputDisplayGenerator.cs
index 8bead2a010..8c641defe4 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/display/IInputDisplayGenerator.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/display/IInputDisplayGenerator.cs
@@ -4,19 +4,11 @@ using BizHawk.Emulation.Common;
 
 namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 {
-	public interface IInputDisplayGenerator
-	{
-		/// <summary>
-		/// Generates a display friendly version of the input log entry
-		/// </summary>
-		string Generate();
-	}
-
 	/// <summary>
 	/// An implementation of <see cref="IInputDisplayGenerator"/> that
 	/// uses .bk2 mnemonics as the basis for display
 	/// </summary>
-	public class Bk2InputDisplayGenerator
+	public class Bk2InputDisplayGenerator : IInputDisplayGenerator
 	{
 		private readonly string _systemId;
 		private readonly IController _source;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/BitwiseAdapters.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/BitwiseAdapters.cs
index 6eddac0f04..d26fae5ab0 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/BitwiseAdapters.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/BitwiseAdapters.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition => Source.Definition;
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button)
 		{
 			if (Source != null && SourceAnd != null)
@@ -34,6 +36,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition => Source.Definition;
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button)
 		{
 			if (Source != null && SourceXor != null)
@@ -60,6 +64,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition => Source.Definition;
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button)
 		{
 			return (Source?.IsPressed(button) ?? false)
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/CopyController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/CopyController.cs
index 7385fbec11..449e537370 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/CopyController.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/CopyController.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition => Curr.Definition;
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button) => Curr.IsPressed(button);
 
 		public int AxisValue(string name) => Curr.AxisValue(name);
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/InputManager.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/InputManager.cs
index 7b1fe65644..81209ab2a2 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/InputManager.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/InputManager.cs
@@ -24,13 +24,15 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 
 		private UdlrControllerAdapter UdLRControllerAdapter { get; } = new UdlrControllerAdapter();
 
-		public AutoFireStickyXorAdapter AutofireStickyXorAdapter { get; } = new AutoFireStickyXorAdapter();
+		public AutoFireStickyXorAdapter AutofireStickyXorAdapter { get; private set; } = new AutoFireStickyXorAdapter();
 
 		/// <summary>
 		/// provides an opportunity to mutate the player's input in an autohold style
 		/// </summary>
 		public StickyXorAdapter StickyXorAdapter { get; } = new StickyXorAdapter();
 
+		public IController WeirdStickyControllerForInputDisplay { get; private set; }
+
 		/// <summary>
 		/// Used to AND to another controller, used for <see cref="IJoypadApi.Set(IReadOnlyDictionary{string, bool}, int?)">JoypadApi.Set</see>
 		/// </summary>
@@ -72,8 +74,10 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 			UdLRControllerAdapter.Source = ActiveController.Or(AutoFireController);
 			UdLRControllerAdapter.AllowUdlr = config.AllowUdlr;
 
+			// these are all reference types which don't change so this SHOULD be a no-op, but I'm not brave enough to move it to the ctor --yoshi
 			StickyXorAdapter.Source = UdLRControllerAdapter;
-			AutofireStickyXorAdapter.Source = StickyXorAdapter;
+			AutofireStickyXorAdapter = new() { Source = StickyXorAdapter };
+			WeirdStickyControllerForInputDisplay = StickyXorAdapter.Source.Xor(AutofireStickyXorAdapter).And(AutofireStickyXorAdapter);
 
 			session.MovieIn = AutofireStickyXorAdapter;
 			session.StickySource = AutofireStickyXorAdapter;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/OverrideAdapter.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/OverrideAdapter.cs
index fd72390cb2..9373b86d92 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/OverrideAdapter.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/OverrideAdapter.cs
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition { get; private set; }
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		private readonly Dictionary<string, bool> _overrides = new Dictionary<string, bool>();
 		private readonly Dictionary<string, int> _axisOverrides = new Dictionary<string, int>();
 		private readonly List<string> _inverses = new List<string>();
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/StickyAdapters.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/StickyAdapters.cs
index 988f7023e9..69fbeb89e1 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/StickyAdapters.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/StickyAdapters.cs
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition => Source.Definition;
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button)
 		{
 			var source = Source.IsPressed(button);
@@ -115,6 +117,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition => Source.Definition;
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button)
 		{
 			var source = Source.IsPressed(button);
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/UDLRController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/UDLRController.cs
index d65810f162..05cb48263e 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/UDLRController.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/inputAdapters/UDLRController.cs
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition => Source.Definition;
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool AllowUdlr { get; set; }
 
 		public bool IsPressed(string button)
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/bk2/Bk2Controller.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/bk2/Bk2Controller.cs
index b261b29fff..db66dce95e 100755
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/bk2/Bk2Controller.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/bk2/Bk2Controller.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 			})
 			.ToList();
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public Bk2Controller(string key, ControllerDefinition definition) : this(definition)
 		{
 			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(key))
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/import/bkm/BkmControllerAdapter.cs b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/import/bkm/BkmControllerAdapter.cs
index 0235bd8261..6734a7b62e 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/import/bkm/BkmControllerAdapter.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Client.Common/movie/import/bkm/BkmControllerAdapter.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 {
 	internal class BkmControllerAdapter : IController
 	{
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public BkmControllerAdapter(ControllerDefinition definition, string systemId)
 		{
 			// We do need to map the definition name to the legacy
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Base Implementations/NullController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Base Implementations/NullController.cs
index fdab4a2281..3017554fe5 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Base Implementations/NullController.cs	
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Base Implementations/NullController.cs	
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Common
 	{
 		public ControllerDefinition Definition { get; } = new ControllerDefinition("Null Controller").MakeImmutable();
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public bool IsPressed(string button) => false;
 
 		public int AxisValue(string name) => 0;
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/ControllerDefinitionMerger.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/ControllerDefinitionMerger.cs
index 683be0ed51..4d7fa28b82 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/ControllerDefinitionMerger.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/ControllerDefinitionMerger.cs
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Common
 
 			private readonly IController _src;
 
+			public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 			public DummyController(
 				IController src,
 				IReadOnlyDictionary<string, string> buttonAxisRemaps)
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Interfaces/IController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Interfaces/IController.cs
index 0e17cec7a6..58da36b7da 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Interfaces/IController.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Interfaces/IController.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Common
 		/// </summary>
 		ControllerDefinition Definition { get; }
 
+		/// <summary>used as cache by frontend; implement as autoprop w/ initial value <see langword="null"/></summary>
+		IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; }
+
 		/// <seealso cref="SetHapticChannelStrength"/>
 		IReadOnlyCollection<(string Name, int Strength)> GetHapticsSnapshot();
 
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Interfaces/IInputDisplayGenerator.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Interfaces/IInputDisplayGenerator.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5987ae421c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/Interfaces/IInputDisplayGenerator.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Common
+{
+	public interface IInputDisplayGenerator
+	{
+		/// <summary>
+		/// Generates a display friendly version of the input log entry
+		/// </summary>
+		string Generate();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/SaveController.cs b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/SaveController.cs
index ca268b909f..ff366e3c34 100644
--- a/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/SaveController.cs
+++ b/src/BizHawk.Emulation.Common/SaveController.cs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.Emulation.Common
 	{
 		private readonly WorkingDictionary<string, int> _buttons = new WorkingDictionary<string, int>();
 
+		public IInputDisplayGenerator InputDisplayGenerator { get; set; } = null;
+
 		public SaveController()
 		{
 			Definition = null;