diff --git a/bsnes/sfc/cpu/timing.cpp b/bsnes/sfc/cpu/timing.cpp
index 46f80245..d7b8c056 100644
--- a/bsnes/sfc/cpu/timing.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/sfc/cpu/timing.cpp
@@ -242,6 +242,6 @@ auto CPU::lastCycle() -> void {
   if(!status.irqLock) {
     if(nmiTest()) status.nmiPending = true;
     if(irqTest()) status.irqPending = true;
-    status.interruptPending = (status.nmiPending || status.irqPending);
+    status.interruptPending = status.nmiPending || status.irqPending;
   }
 }
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/input/hotkeys.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/input/hotkeys.cpp
index 9febe88c..5a0eb95b 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/input/hotkeys.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/input/hotkeys.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ auto InputManager::bindHotkeys() -> void {
     }
     volume = Emulator::audio.volume();
     if(settings.rewind.mute) {
-      Emulator::audio.setVolume(0.0);
+      program.mute |= Program::Mute::Rewind;
     } else {
       Emulator::audio.setVolume(volume * 0.65);
     }
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ auto InputManager::bindHotkeys() -> void {
     rewinding = false;
     if(!emulator->loaded()) return;
     program.rewindMode(Program::Rewind::Mode::Playing);
+    program.mute &= ~Program::Mute::Rewind;
     Emulator::audio.setVolume(volume);
   }));
 
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ auto InputManager::bindHotkeys() -> void {
       Emulator::audio.setFrequency(frequency / settings.fastForward.limiter);
     }
     if(settings.fastForward.mute) {
-      Emulator::audio.setVolume(0.0);
+      program.mute |= Program::Mute::FastForward;
     } else if(settings.fastForward.limiter) {
       Emulator::audio.setVolume(volume * 0.65);
     }
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ auto InputManager::bindHotkeys() -> void {
     if(settings.fastForward.limiter) {
       Emulator::audio.setFrequency(frequency);
     }
+    program.mute &= ~Program::Mute::FastForward;
     Emulator::audio.setVolume(volume);
   }));
 
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/presentation/presentation.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/presentation/presentation.cpp
index 076078af..b0b37fc2 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/presentation/presentation.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/presentation/presentation.cpp
@@ -86,8 +86,12 @@ auto Presentation::create() -> void {
   shaderMenu.setIcon(Icon::Emblem::Image).setText("Shader");
   muteAudio.setText("Mute Audio").setChecked(settings.audio.mute).onToggle([&] {
     settings.audio.mute = muteAudio.checked();
-    program.updateAudioEffects();
-  });
+    if(settings.audio.mute) {
+      program.mute |= Program::Mute::Always;
+    } else {
+      program.mute &= ~Program::Mute::Always;
+    }
+  }).doToggle();  //set initial mute state flag
   showStatusBar.setText("Show Status Bar").setChecked(settings.general.statusBar).onToggle([&] {
     settings.general.statusBar = showStatusBar.checked();
     if(!showStatusBar.checked()) {
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/audio.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/audio.cpp
index a0aaf80e..1644eb11 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/audio.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/audio.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ auto Program::updateAudioLatency() -> void {
 }
 
 auto Program::updateAudioEffects() -> void {
-  double volume = settings.audio.mute ? 0.0 : settings.audio.volume * 0.01;
+  double volume = settings.audio.volume * 0.01;
   Emulator::audio.setVolume(volume);
 
   double balance = max(-1.0, min(+1.0, (settings.audio.balance - 50) / 50.0));
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/platform.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/platform.cpp
index 9b7f5723..18062e88 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/platform.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/platform.cpp
@@ -229,7 +229,6 @@ auto Program::videoFrame(const uint16* data, uint pitch, uint width, uint height
 
   uint filterWidth = width, filterHeight = height;
   auto filterRender = filterSelect(filterWidth, filterHeight, scale);
-
   if(auto [output, length] = video.acquire(filterWidth, filterHeight); output) {
     filterRender(palette, output, length, (const uint16_t*)data, pitch << 1, width, height);
     video.release();
@@ -256,6 +255,11 @@ auto Program::videoFrame(const uint16* data, uint pitch, uint width, uint height
 }
 
 auto Program::audioFrame(const float* samples, uint channels) -> void {
+  if(mute) {
+    double silence[] = {0.0, 0.0};
+    return audio.output(silence);
+  }
+
   double frame[] = {samples[0], samples[1]};
   audio.output(frame);
 }
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/program.hpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/program.hpp
index b2072257..2ca1185e 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/program.hpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/program.hpp
@@ -188,6 +188,14 @@ public:
   string statusFrameRate;
 
   bool startFullScreen = false;
+
+  struct Mute { enum : uint {
+    Always      = 1 << 1,
+    Unfocused   = 1 << 2,
+    FastForward = 1 << 3,
+    Rewind      = 1 << 4,
+  };};
+  uint mute = 0;
 };
 
 extern Program program;
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/utility.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/utility.cpp
index d8b645e1..76201c0a 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/utility.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/utility.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,15 @@ auto Program::inactive() -> bool {
 
 auto Program::focused() -> bool {
   //exclusive mode creates its own top-level window: presentation window will not have focus
-  if(video && video.exclusive()) return true;
-  if(presentation.focused()) return true;
-  return false;
+  if(video.exclusive() || presentation.focused()) {
+    mute &= ~Mute::Unfocused;
+    return true;
+  } else {
+    if(settings.audio.muteUnfocused) {
+      mute |= Mute::Unfocused;
+    } else {
+      mute &= ~Mute::Unfocused;
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/viewport.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/viewport.cpp
index 8335f5ef..e1f32394 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/viewport.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/program/viewport.cpp
@@ -78,9 +78,13 @@ auto Program::viewportRefresh() -> void {
       do {
         uint x = uint8_t(SnowData[i * 2 + 0] >> 8) * snowX;
         uint y = uint8_t(SnowData[i * 2 + 1] >> 8) * snowY;
-        if((SnowVelDist[i * 2] & 8) != 0) {
-          uint8_t color = 228 + (SnowVelDist[i * 2] & 0x03);
-          if(y) output[y * length + x] = color << 16 | color << 8 | color << 0;
+        if((SnowVelDist[i * 2] & 8) != 0 && y) {
+          uint32_t pixel = output[y * length + x];
+          float   a = SnowVelDist[i * 2] / 255.0;
+          uint8_t r = (pixel >> 16 & 0xff) * a + 255 * (1.0 - a);
+          uint8_t g = (pixel >>  8 & 0xff) * a + 255 * (1.0 - a);
+          uint8_t b = (pixel >>  0 & 0xff) * a + 255 * (1.0 - a);
+          output[y * length + x] = 255u << 24 | r << 16 | g << 8 | b << 0;
         }
       } while(++i != 200);
 
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/audio.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/audio.cpp
index 18364a9f..62d0fe38 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/audio.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/audio.cpp
@@ -45,4 +45,8 @@ auto AudioSettings::create() -> void {
     balanceValue.setText(value);
     program.updateAudioEffects();
   }).doChange();
+
+  muteUnfocused.setText("Mute when unfocused").setChecked(settings.audio.muteUnfocused).onToggle([&] {
+    settings.audio.muteUnfocused = muteUnfocused.checked();
+  });
 }
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.cpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.cpp
index 9204888b..06a460f7 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.cpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.cpp
@@ -71,10 +71,11 @@ auto Settings::process(bool load) -> void {
   bind(natural, "Audio/Frequency", audio.frequency);
   bind(natural, "Audio/Latency",   audio.latency);
 
-  bind(boolean, "Audio/Mute",    audio.mute);
-  bind(integer, "Audio/Skew",    audio.skew);
-  bind(natural, "Audio/Volume",  audio.volume);
-  bind(natural, "Audio/Balance", audio.balance);
+  bind(boolean, "Audio/Mute",          audio.mute);
+  bind(boolean, "Audio/MuteUnfocused", audio.muteUnfocused);
+  bind(integer, "Audio/Skew",          audio.skew);
+  bind(natural, "Audio/Volume",        audio.volume);
+  bind(natural, "Audio/Balance",       audio.balance);
 
   bind(text,    "Input/Driver",          input.driver);
   bind(natural, "Input/Frequency",       input.frequency);
diff --git a/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.hpp b/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.hpp
index 0e0570da..9e64eccb 100644
--- a/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.hpp
+++ b/bsnes/target-bsnes/settings/settings.hpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ struct Settings : Markup::Node {
     uint latency = 0;
 
     bool mute = false;
+    bool muteUnfocused = false;
     int skew = 0;
     uint volume = 100;
     uint balance = 50;
@@ -170,6 +171,8 @@ private:
     Label balanceLabel{&effectsLayout, Size{0, 0}};
     Label balanceValue{&effectsLayout, Size{50_sx, 0}};
     HorizontalSlider balanceSlider{&effectsLayout, Size{~0, 0}};
+  //
+  CheckLabel muteUnfocused{this, Size{~0, 0}};
 };
 
 struct InputSettings : VerticalLayout {