diff --git a/src/doomdef.h b/src/doomdef.h
index d4a5bf465..d3f2e1234 100644
--- a/src/doomdef.h
+++ b/src/doomdef.h
@@ -566,10 +566,10 @@ extern int compuncommitted;
 #define NO_PNG_LUMPS
 #endif
 
-/// Divide volume of music and sounds by this much (loudest sounds on earth)
-#define VOLUME_DIVIDER 4
-#define USER_VOLUME_SCALE 2
-#define MAX_VOLUME ( 100 * VOLUME_DIVIDER / USER_VOLUME_SCALE )
+// Volume scale is 0-100 in new mixer. 100 is treated as -0dB or 100% gain. No more weirdness to work around SDL_mixer
+// problems
+
+#define MAX_VOLUME 100
 
 #ifdef HAVE_CURL
 #define MASTERSERVER
diff --git a/src/i_sound.h b/src/i_sound.h
index 591aa8dc4..3857ea5ce 100644
--- a/src/i_sound.h
+++ b/src/i_sound.h
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ void I_UpdateSoundParams(INT32 handle, UINT8 vol, UINT8 sep, UINT8 pitch);
 
 	\return	void
 */
-void I_SetSfxVolume(int volume);
+void I_SetSfxVolume(UINT8 volume);
 
 /// ------------------------
 //  MUSIC SYSTEM
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ void I_ResumeSong(void);
 
 	\return	void
 */
-void I_SetMusicVolume(int volume);
+void I_SetMusicVolume(UINT8 volume);
 
 boolean I_SetSongTrack(INT32 track);
 
diff --git a/src/s_sound.c b/src/s_sound.c
index 6d3e3828b..1c3ffabd5 100644
--- a/src/s_sound.c
+++ b/src/s_sound.c
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ consvar_t stereoreverse = CVAR_INIT ("stereoreverse", "Off", CV_SAVE, CV_OnOff,
 static consvar_t precachesound = CVAR_INIT ("precachesound", "Off", CV_SAVE, CV_OnOff, NULL);
 
 // actual general (maximum) sound & music volume, saved into the config
-consvar_t cv_soundvolume = CVAR_INIT ("soundvolume", "50", CV_SAVE, soundvolume_cons_t, NULL);
-consvar_t cv_digmusicvolume = CVAR_INIT ("musicvolume", "50", CV_SAVE, soundvolume_cons_t, NULL);
+consvar_t cv_soundvolume = CVAR_INIT ("soundvolume", "80", CV_SAVE, soundvolume_cons_t, NULL);
+consvar_t cv_digmusicvolume = CVAR_INIT ("musicvolume", "80", CV_SAVE, soundvolume_cons_t, NULL);
 
 // number of channels available
 consvar_t cv_numChannels = CVAR_INIT ("snd_channels", "64", CV_SAVE|CV_CALL, CV_Unsigned, SetChannelsNum);
@@ -117,8 +117,6 @@ static CV_PossibleValue_t interpolationfilter_cons_t[] = {{0, "Default"}, {1, "N
 consvar_t cv_modfilter = CVAR_INIT ("modfilter", "0", CV_SAVE|CV_CALL, interpolationfilter_cons_t, ModFilter_OnChange);
 #endif
 
-#define S_MAX_VOLUME 127
-
 // when to clip out sounds
 // Does not fit the large outdoor areas.
 // added 2-2-98 in 8 bit volume control (before (1200*0x10000))
@@ -778,9 +776,9 @@ void S_UpdateSounds(void)
 	mobj_t *listenmobj[MAXSPLITSCREENPLAYERS];
 
 	// Update sound/music volumes, if changed manually at console
-	if (actualsfxvolume != cv_soundvolume.value * USER_VOLUME_SCALE)
+	if (actualsfxvolume != cv_soundvolume.value)
 		S_SetSfxVolume (cv_soundvolume.value);
-	if (actualdigmusicvolume != cv_digmusicvolume.value * USER_VOLUME_SCALE)
+	if (actualdigmusicvolume != cv_digmusicvolume.value)
 		S_SetDigMusicVolume (cv_digmusicvolume.value);
 
 	memset(listener, 0, sizeof(listener));
@@ -976,8 +974,7 @@ void S_UpdateClosedCaptions(void)
 
 void S_SetSfxVolume(INT32 volume)
 {
-	//CV_SetValue(&cv_soundvolume, volume);
-	actualsfxvolume = cv_soundvolume.value * USER_VOLUME_SCALE;
+	actualsfxvolume = volume;
 
 #ifdef HW3SOUND
 	hws_mode == HWS_DEFAULT_MODE ? I_SetSfxVolume(volume&0x1F) : HW3S_SetSfxVolume(volume&0x1F);
@@ -1454,7 +1451,7 @@ ReadMusicDefFields
 				}
 
 				def->numtracks = i;
-				def->volume = DEFAULT_MUSICDEF_VOLUME;
+				def->volume = MAX_VOLUME;
 				def->legacy = true;
 
 				def->next = musicdefstart;
@@ -1524,7 +1521,7 @@ ReadMusicDefFields
 			}
 			else if (!stricmp(stoken, "volume"))
 			{
-				def->volume = atoi(textline) / VOLUME_DIVIDER;
+				def->volume = atoi(textline);
 				def->legacy = false;
 			}
 			else if (!stricmp(stoken, "contentidunsafe"))
@@ -2413,7 +2410,7 @@ void S_ChangeMusicEx(const char *mmusic, UINT16 mflags, boolean looping, UINT32
 		music_flags = mflags;
 		music_looping = looping;
 
-		musicdef_volume = DEFAULT_MUSICDEF_VOLUME;
+		musicdef_volume = MAX_VOLUME;
 
 		{
 			UINT8 i = 0;
@@ -2518,8 +2515,7 @@ void S_SetMusicVolume(INT32 digvolume)
 	if (digvolume < 0)
 		digvolume = cv_digmusicvolume.value;
 
-	//CV_SetValue(&cv_digmusicvolume, digvolume);
-	actualdigmusicvolume = cv_digmusicvolume.value * USER_VOLUME_SCALE;
+	actualdigmusicvolume = digvolume;
 	I_SetMusicVolume(digvolume);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/s_sound.h b/src/s_sound.h
index cd9168c5d..84cb6489e 100644
--- a/src/s_sound.h
+++ b/src/s_sound.h
@@ -35,12 +35,6 @@ extern openmpt_module *openmpt_mhandle;
 // mask used to indicate sound origin is player item pickup
 #define PICKUP_SOUND 0x8000
 
-//
-#define SOUND_VOLUME_RANGE 256
-#define MAX_SOUND_VOLUME 255
-
-#define DEFAULT_MUSICDEF_VOLUME ( 100 / VOLUME_DIVIDER )
-
 extern consvar_t stereoreverse;
 extern consvar_t cv_soundvolume, cv_closedcaptioning, cv_digmusicvolume; 
 
diff --git a/src/sdl/al_sound.c b/src/sdl/al_sound.c
index dc11a55ca..38cd05548 100644
--- a/src/sdl/al_sound.c
+++ b/src/sdl/al_sound.c
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@
 #define BUFFERSIZE 4096
 #define BUFFERCOUNT 8
 
+// don't set gain too high, avoids clipping with multiple sounds playing
+#define VOLUME_DIV 200.f
+
 typedef enum
 {
 	Int16,
@@ -202,7 +205,7 @@ void I_StartupSound(void)
 	// enable the limiter and disable hrtf
 	// idk if either is necessary tbh but fuckit
 	ALCint attrs[] = {
-		ALC_OUTPUT_LIMITER_SOFT, ALC_TRUE,
+		ALC_OUTPUT_LIMITER_SOFT, ALC_FALSE, // G: too noticeable
 		ALC_HRTF_SOFT, ALC_FALSE,
 		0
 	};
@@ -222,7 +225,7 @@ void I_StartupSound(void)
 
 	for (size_t i = 0; i < BUFFERCOUNT; i++)
 		audio.musicbuffers[i] = INVALID_HANDLE;
-	music_volume = sfx_volume = 0;
+	music_volume = sfx_volume = 0.f;
 
 #ifdef HAVE_OPENMPT
 	CONS_Printf("libopenmpt version: %s\n", openmpt_get_string("library_version"));
@@ -285,7 +288,7 @@ void I_ShutdownSound(void)
 static boolean I_UpdateMusicVolume(void)
 {
 	LOCKAUDIO;
-	return TRY(alSourcef, audio.music, AL_GAIN, music_volume*internal_volume*(musicdef_volume/100.f));
+	return TRY(alSourcef, audio.music, AL_GAIN, music_volume*internal_volume*(musicdef_volume/(float)MAX_VOLUME));
 }
 
 static boolean I_QueueNextSample(boolean unqueue)
@@ -853,8 +856,8 @@ void I_UpdateSoundParams(INT32 handle, UINT8 vol, UINT8 sep, UINT8 pitch)
 		return;
 
 	ALuint source = handle;
-	TRY(alSourcef, source, AL_GAIN, (sfx_volume * (float)vol / 255.0f)/4.0f);
-	TRY(alSourcef, source, AL_PITCH, (float)pitch / 128.0f);
+	TRY(alSourcef, source, AL_GAIN, sfx_volume * (vol / 255.0f));
+	TRY(alSourcef, source, AL_PITCH, pitch / 128.0f);
 	(void)sep;
 }
 
@@ -912,9 +915,9 @@ boolean I_SoundIsPlaying(INT32 handle)
 	return value == AL_PLAYING;
 }
 
-void I_SetSfxVolume(int volume)
+void I_SetSfxVolume(UINT8 volume)
 {
-	sfx_volume = (float)volume / 100.f;
+	sfx_volume = volume / VOLUME_DIV;
 }
 
 void I_InitMusic(void)
@@ -1051,7 +1054,7 @@ boolean I_SetSongPosition(UINT32 position)
 	if (audio.music == INVALID_HANDLE)
 		return false;
 
-	if (!TRY(alSourcef, audio.music, AL_SEC_OFFSET, (float)position / 1000.0f))
+	if (!TRY(alSourcef, audio.music, AL_SEC_OFFSET, position / 1000.0f))
 		return false;
 
 	return true;
@@ -1359,11 +1362,11 @@ void I_ResumeSong(void)
 	alSourcePlay(audio.music);
 }
 
-void I_SetMusicVolume(int volume)
+void I_SetMusicVolume(UINT8 volume)
 {
 	LOCKAUDIO;
 
-	music_volume = (float)volume / 100.f;
+	music_volume = volume / VOLUME_DIV;
 	if (audio.music != INVALID_HANDLE)
 		I_UpdateMusicVolume();
 }
@@ -1382,7 +1385,7 @@ void I_SetInternalMusicVolume(UINT8 volume)
 {
 	LOCKAUDIO;
 
-	internal_volume = volume / 100.0f;
+	internal_volume = volume / (float)MAX_VOLUME; // don't divide by VOLUME_DIV, this is a multiplier on music volume
 	if (audio.music != INVALID_HANDLE)
 		I_UpdateMusicVolume();
 }
diff --git a/src/sdl/mixer_sound.c b/src/sdl/mixer_sound.c
index 6fdd09c38..2cc9ae7ca 100644
--- a/src/sdl/mixer_sound.c
+++ b/src/sdl/mixer_sound.c
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ write netcode into the sound code, OKAY?
 static UINT16 BUFFERSIZE = 2048;
 static UINT16 SAMPLERATE = 44100;
 
+// don't set gain too high, avoids clipping with multiple sounds playing
+#define VOLUME_DIV (200*FRACUNIT)
+
 #ifdef HAVE_OPENMPT
 #include "libopenmpt/libopenmpt.h"
 #endif
@@ -145,7 +148,7 @@ static void var_cleanup(void)
 	else
 		fading_nocleanup = false; // use it once, set it back immediately
 
-	internal_volume = 100;
+	internal_volume = MAX_VOLUME;
 }
 
 #if defined (HAVE_GME) && defined (HAVE_ZLIB)
@@ -261,13 +264,9 @@ void I_UpdateSound(void)
 /// SFX
 /// ------------------------
 
-static int
-get_real_sfx_volume (int vol)
+static UINT8 get_real_sfx_volume(UINT8 vol)
 {
-	const int scale   = SOUND_VOLUME_RANGE / MIX_MAX_VOLUME;
-	const int divider = VOLUME_DIVIDER * scale;
-	const int volume  = ( vol + 1 ) / divider * sfx_volume / 100;
-	return volume;
+	return FixedMul(vol, FixedMul(FixedDiv2(MIX_MAX_VOLUME, 255), FixedDiv2(sfx_volume*FRACUNIT, VOLUME_DIV)));
 }
 
 // this is as fast as I can possibly make it.
@@ -551,7 +550,6 @@ void I_FreeSfx(sfxinfo_t *sfx)
 
 INT32 I_StartSound(sfxenum_t id, UINT8 vol, UINT8 sep, UINT8 pitch, UINT8 priority, INT32 channel)
 {
-	//UINT8 volume = (((UINT16)vol + 1) * (UINT16)sfx_volume) / 62; // (256 * 31) / 62 == 127
 	UINT8 volume = get_real_sfx_volume(vol);
 	INT32 handle = Mix_PlayChannel(channel, S_sfx[id].data, 0);
 	Mix_Volume(handle, volume);
@@ -573,14 +571,13 @@ boolean I_SoundIsPlaying(INT32 handle)
 
 void I_UpdateSoundParams(INT32 handle, UINT8 vol, UINT8 sep, UINT8 pitch)
 {
-	//UINT8 volume = (((UINT16)vol + 1) * (UINT16)sfx_volume) / 62; // (256 * 31) / 62 == 127
 	UINT8 volume = get_real_sfx_volume(vol);
 	Mix_Volume(handle, volume);
 	Mix_SetPanning(handle, min((UINT16)(0xff-sep)<<1, 0xff), min((UINT16)(sep)<<1, 0xff));
 	(void)pitch;
 }
 
-void I_SetSfxVolume(int volume)
+void I_SetSfxVolume(UINT8 volume)
 {
 	sfx_volume = volume;
 }
@@ -592,10 +589,10 @@ void I_SetSfxVolume(int volume)
 static int attenuate(int scale)
 {
 	// attenuate scale by all volumes as percentages
-	return scale
-		* musicdef_volume / 100
-		* internal_volume / 100
-		*    music_volume / 100;
+	fixed_t vol = FixedDiv2(music_volume*FRACUNIT, VOLUME_DIV);
+	vol = FixedMul(vol, FixedDiv2(internal_volume, MAX_VOLUME));
+	vol = FixedMul(vol, FixedDiv2(musicdef_volume, MAX_VOLUME));
+	return FixedMul(scale, vol);
 }
 
 static UINT32 get_adjusted_position(UINT32 position)
@@ -1464,7 +1461,7 @@ void I_ResumeSong(void)
 	songpaused = false;
 }
 
-void I_SetMusicVolume(int volume)
+void I_SetMusicVolume(UINT8 volume)
 {
 	if (!I_SongPlaying())
 		return;
@@ -1560,7 +1557,7 @@ boolean I_FadeSongFromVolume(UINT8 target_volume, UINT8 source_volume, UINT32 ms
 {
 	INT16 volume_delta;
 
-	source_volume = min(source_volume, 100);
+	source_volume = min(source_volume, MAX_VOLUME);
 	volume_delta = (INT16)(target_volume - source_volume);
 
 	I_StopFadingSong();
@@ -1630,7 +1627,7 @@ boolean I_FadeOutStopSong(UINT32 ms)
 boolean I_FadeInPlaySong(UINT32 ms, boolean looping)
 {
 	if (I_PlaySong(looping))
-		return I_FadeSongFromVolume(100, 0, ms, NULL);
+		return I_FadeSongFromVolume(MAX_VOLUME, 0, ms, NULL);
 
 	return false;
 }