diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 56404185..f8078859 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ TEXTURE_FIX ?= 0
 EXT_OPTIONS_MENU ?= 1
 # Disable text-based save-files by default
 TEXTSAVES ?= 0
-# Load textures from external PNG files
-EXTERNAL_TEXTURES ?= 0
+# Load resources from external files
+EXTERNAL_DATA ?= 0
 
 # Various workarounds for weird toolchains
 
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ else
 ifeq ($(VERSION),sh)
   OPT_FLAGS := -O2
 else
-  OPT_FLAGS := -g
+  OPT_FLAGS := -O2
 endif
 endif
 
@@ -555,9 +555,9 @@ ifeq ($(LEGACY_GL),1)
 endif
 
 # Load external textures
-ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_TEXTURES),1)
-  CC_CHECK += -DEXTERNAL_TEXTURES
-  CFLAGS += -DEXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_DATA),1)
+  CC_CHECK += -DEXTERNAL_DATA
+  CFLAGS += -DEXTERNAL_DATA
   # tell skyconv to write names instead of actual texture data and save the split tiles so we can use them later
   SKYCONV_ARGS := --store-names --write-tiles "$(BUILD_DIR)/textures/skybox_tiles"
 endif
@@ -617,15 +617,20 @@ ZEROTERM = $(PYTHON) $(TOOLS_DIR)/zeroterm.py
 
 all: $(EXE)
 
-ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_TEXTURES),1)
+ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_DATA),1)
 # depend on resources as well
 all: res
 
 # prepares the resource folder for external data
 res: $(EXE)
 	@mkdir -p $(BUILD_DIR)/res
+	@mkdir -p $(BUILD_DIR)/res/sound
 	@cp -r -f textures/ $(BUILD_DIR)/res/
 	@cp -r -f $(BUILD_DIR)/textures/skybox_tiles/ $(BUILD_DIR)/res/textures/
+	@cp -f $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.ctl $(BUILD_DIR)/res/sound/
+	@cp -f $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.tbl $(BUILD_DIR)/res/sound/
+	@cp -f $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sequences.bin $(BUILD_DIR)/res/sound/
+	@cp -f $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/bank_sets $(BUILD_DIR)/res/sound/
 	@find actors -name \*.png -exec cp --parents {} $(BUILD_DIR)/res/ \;
 	@find levels -name \*.png -exec cp --parents {} $(BUILD_DIR)/res/ \;
 endif
@@ -724,7 +729,7 @@ endif
 ################################################################
 
 # RGBA32, RGBA16, IA16, IA8, IA4, IA1, I8, I4
-ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_TEXTURES),1)
+ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_DATA),1)
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%: %.png
 	$(ZEROTERM) "$(patsubst %.png,%,$^)" > $@
 else
@@ -736,7 +741,7 @@ $(BUILD_DIR)/%.inc.c: $(BUILD_DIR)/% %.png
 	hexdump -v -e '1/1 "0x%X,"' $< > $@
 	echo >> $@
 
-ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_TEXTURES),0)
+ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_DATA),0)
 # Color Index CI8
 $(BUILD_DIR)/%.ci8: %.ci8.png
 	$(N64GRAPHICS_CI) -i $@ -g $< -f ci8
@@ -787,6 +792,18 @@ $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/%.m64: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/%.o
 $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/%.o: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/%.s
 	$(AS) $(ASFLAGS) -o $@ $<
 
+ifeq ($(EXTERNAL_DATA),1)
+
+$(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.ctl.c: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.ctl
+	echo "unsigned char gSoundDataADSR[] = \"sound/sound_data.ctl\";" > $@
+$(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.tbl.c: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.tbl
+	echo "unsigned char gSoundDataRaw[] = \"sound/sound_data.tbl\";" > $@
+$(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sequences.bin.c: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sequences.bin
+	echo "unsigned char gMusicData[] = \"sound/sequences.bin\";" > $@
+$(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/bank_sets.c: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/bank_sets
+	echo "unsigned char gBankSetsData[] = \"sound/bank_sets\";" > $@
+
+else
 
 $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.ctl.c: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/sound_data.ctl
 	echo "unsigned char gSoundDataADSR[] = {" > $@
@@ -808,6 +825,8 @@ $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/bank_sets.c: $(SOUND_BIN_DIR)/bank_sets
 	hexdump -v -e '1/1 "0x%X,"' $< >> $@
 	echo "};" >> $@
 
+endif
+
 $(BUILD_DIR)/levels/scripts.o: $(BUILD_DIR)/include/level_headers.h
 
 $(BUILD_DIR)/include/level_headers.h: levels/level_headers.h.in
diff --git a/src/audio/load.c b/src/audio/load.c
index 146863c1..affc6081 100644
--- a/src/audio/load.c
+++ b/src/audio/load.c
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 #include "data.h"
 #include "seqplayer.h"
 
+#include "../pc/platform.h"
+
 #define ALIGN16(val) (((val) + 0xF) & ~0xF)
 
 struct SharedDma {
@@ -868,6 +870,24 @@ void load_sequence_internal(u32 player, u32 seqId, s32 loadAsync) {
     seqPlayer->scriptState.pc = sequenceData;
 }
 
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
+# define LOAD_DATA(x) load_sound_res((const char *)x)
+# include <stdio.h>
+# include <stdlib.h>
+static inline void *load_sound_res(const char *path) {
+    void *data = sys_load_res(path);
+    if (!data) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "could not load sound data from '%s'\n", path);
+        abort();
+    }
+    // FIXME: figure out where it is safe to free this shit
+    //        can't free it immediately after in audio_init()
+    return data;
+}
+#else
+# define LOAD_DATA(x) x
+#endif
+
 void audio_init() {
 #ifdef VERSION_EU
     UNUSED s8 pad[16];
@@ -966,7 +986,7 @@ void audio_init() {
 
     // Load header for sequence data (assets/music_data.sbk.s)
     gSeqFileHeader = (ALSeqFile *) buf;
-    data = gMusicData;
+    data = LOAD_DATA(gMusicData);
     audio_dma_copy_immediate((uintptr_t) data, gSeqFileHeader, 0x10);
     gSequenceCount = gSeqFileHeader->seqCount;
 #ifdef VERSION_EU
@@ -981,7 +1001,7 @@ void audio_init() {
 
     // Load header for CTL (assets/sound_data.ctl.s, i.e. ADSR)
     gAlCtlHeader = (ALSeqFile *) buf;
-    data = gSoundDataADSR;
+    data = LOAD_DATA(gSoundDataADSR);
     audio_dma_copy_immediate((uintptr_t) data, gAlCtlHeader, 0x10);
     size = gAlCtlHeader->seqCount * sizeof(ALSeqData) + 4;
     size = ALIGN16(size);
@@ -996,14 +1016,16 @@ void audio_init() {
     size = gAlTbl->seqCount * sizeof(ALSeqData) + 4;
     size = ALIGN16(size);
     gAlTbl = soundAlloc(&gAudioInitPool, size);
-    audio_dma_copy_immediate((uintptr_t) gSoundDataRaw, gAlTbl, size);
-    alSeqFileNew(gAlTbl, gSoundDataRaw);
+
+    data = LOAD_DATA(gSoundDataRaw);
+    audio_dma_copy_immediate((uintptr_t) data, gAlTbl, size);
+    alSeqFileNew(gAlTbl, data);
 
     // Load bank sets for each sequence (assets/bank_sets.s)
+    data = LOAD_DATA(gBankSetsData);
     gAlBankSets = soundAlloc(&gAudioInitPool, 0x100);
-    audio_dma_copy_immediate((uintptr_t) gBankSetsData, gAlBankSets, 0x100);
+    audio_dma_copy_immediate((uintptr_t) data, gAlBankSets, 0x100);
 
     init_sequence_players();
     gAudioLoadLock = AUDIO_LOCK_NOT_LOADING;
 }
-
diff --git a/src/game/ingame_menu.c b/src/game/ingame_menu.c
index 9711ec7e..7c28c293 100644
--- a/src/game/ingame_menu.c
+++ b/src/game/ingame_menu.c
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ u8 gMenuHoldKeyIndex = 0;
 u8 gMenuHoldKeyTimer = 0;
 s32 gDialogResponse = 0;
 
-#if !defined(EXTERNAL_TEXTURES) && (defined(VERSION_JP) || defined(VERSION_SH) || defined(VERSION_EU))
+#if !defined(EXTERNAL_DATA) && (defined(VERSION_JP) || defined(VERSION_SH) || defined(VERSION_EU))
 #ifdef VERSION_EU
 #define CHCACHE_BUFLEN (8 * 8)  // EU only converts 8x8
 #else
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ static inline void alloc_ia8_text_from_i1(u8 *out, u16 *in, s16 width, s16 heigh
 }
 
 static inline u8 *convert_ia8_char(u8 c, u16 *tex, s16 w, s16 h) {
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
     return (u8 *)tex; // the data's just a name
 #else
     if (!tex) return NULL;
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ static void alloc_ia4_tex_from_i1(u8 *out, u8 *in, s16 width, s16 height) {
 }
 
 static u8 *convert_ia4_char(u8 c, u8 *tex, s16 w, s16 h) {
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
     return tex; // the data's just a name
 #else
     if (!tex) return NULL;
diff --git a/src/pc/configfile.c b/src/pc/configfile.c
index 9c9038a4..f404773a 100644
--- a/src/pc/configfile.c
+++ b/src/pc/configfile.c
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ unsigned int configKeyStickDown[MAX_BINDS]  = { 0x001F,   VK_INVALID, VK_INVALID
 unsigned int configKeyStickLeft[MAX_BINDS]  = { 0x001E,   VK_INVALID, VK_INVALID };
 unsigned int configKeyStickRight[MAX_BINDS] = { 0x0020,   VK_INVALID, VK_INVALID };
 unsigned int configStickDeadzone = 16; // 16*DEADZONE_STEP=4960 (the original default deadzone)
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
 bool configPrecacheRes = false;
 #endif
 #ifdef BETTERCAMERA
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static const struct ConfigOption options[] = {
     {.name = "key_stickleft",        .type = CONFIG_TYPE_BIND, .uintValue = configKeyStickLeft},
     {.name = "key_stickright",       .type = CONFIG_TYPE_BIND, .uintValue = configKeyStickRight},
     {.name = "stick_deadzone",       .type = CONFIG_TYPE_UINT, .uintValue = &configStickDeadzone},
-    #ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+    #ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
     {.name = "precache",             .type = CONFIG_TYPE_BOOL, .boolValue = &configPrecacheRes},
     #endif
     #ifdef BETTERCAMERA
diff --git a/src/pc/configfile.h b/src/pc/configfile.h
index d6087612..3802d07b 100644
--- a/src/pc/configfile.h
+++ b/src/pc/configfile.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ extern unsigned int configKeyStickDown[];
 extern unsigned int configKeyStickLeft[];
 extern unsigned int configKeyStickRight[];
 extern unsigned int configStickDeadzone;
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
 extern bool         configPrecacheRes;
 #endif
 #ifdef BETTERCAMERA
diff --git a/src/pc/gfx/gfx_pc.c b/src/pc/gfx/gfx_pc.c
index 6bd2fca4..1e86ec5a 100644
--- a/src/pc/gfx/gfx_pc.c
+++ b/src/pc/gfx/gfx_pc.c
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
 #define STB_IMAGE_IMPLEMENTATION
 #include <stb/stb_image.h>
 #endif
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 #define MAX_LIGHTS 2
 #define MAX_VERTICES 64
 
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
 # define MAX_CACHED_TEXTURES 4096 // for preloading purposes
 # define HASH_SHIFT 0
 #else
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ static size_t buf_vbo_num_tris;
 static struct GfxWindowManagerAPI *gfx_wapi;
 static struct GfxRenderingAPI *gfx_rapi;
 
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
 static inline size_t string_hash(const uint8_t *str) {
     size_t h = 0;
     for (const uint8_t *p = str; *p; p++)
@@ -275,9 +275,9 @@ static struct ColorCombiner *gfx_lookup_or_create_color_combiner(uint32_t cc_id)
 }
 
 static bool gfx_texture_cache_lookup(int tile, struct TextureHashmapNode **n, const uint8_t *orig_addr, uint32_t fmt, uint32_t siz) {
-    #ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES // hash and compare the data (i.e. the texture name) itself
+    #ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA // hash and compare the data (i.e. the texture name) itself
     size_t hash = string_hash(orig_addr);
-    #define CMPADDR(x, y) (x && !sys_strcasecmp(x, y))
+    #define CMPADDR(x, y) (x && !sys_strcasecmp((const char *)x, (const char *)y))
     #else // hash and compare the address
     size_t hash = (uintptr_t)orig_addr;
     #define CMPADDR(x, y) x == y
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ static bool gfx_texture_cache_lookup(int tile, struct TextureHashmapNode **n, co
     #undef CMPADDR
 }
 
-#ifndef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifndef EXTERNAL_DATA
 
 static void import_texture_rgba32(int tile) {
     uint32_t width = rdp.texture_tile.line_size_bytes / 2;
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ static void import_texture_ci8(int tile) {
     gfx_rapi->upload_texture(rgba32_buf, width, height);
 }
 
-#else // EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#else // EXTERNAL_DATA
 
 // this is taken straight from n64graphics
 static bool texname_to_texformat(const char *name, u8 *fmt, u8 *siz) {
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ static inline void load_texture(const char *name) {
     stbi_image_free(data); // don't need this anymore
 }
 
-#endif // EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#endif // EXTERNAL_DATA
 
 static void import_texture(int tile) {
     uint8_t fmt = rdp.texture_tile.fmt;
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ static void import_texture(int tile) {
         return;
     }
 
-#ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+#ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
     // the "texture data" is actually a C string with the path to our texture in it
     // load it from an external image in our data path
     load_texture((const char*)rdp.loaded_texture[tile].addr);
@@ -1761,7 +1761,7 @@ void gfx_init(struct GfxWindowManagerAPI *wapi, struct GfxRenderingAPI *rapi) {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < sizeof(precomp_shaders) / sizeof(uint32_t); i++) {
         gfx_lookup_or_create_shader_program(precomp_shaders[i]);
     }
-    #ifdef EXTERNAL_TEXTURES
+    #ifdef EXTERNAL_DATA
     // preload all textures if needed
     if (configPrecacheRes) {
         printf("Precaching textures from `%s`\n", sys_data_path());
diff --git a/src/pc/platform.c b/src/pc/platform.c
index 00cfa289..80c0eb74 100644
--- a/src/pc/platform.c
+++ b/src/pc/platform.c
@@ -86,6 +86,29 @@ bool sys_dir_walk(const char *base, walk_fn_t walk, const bool recur) {
     return ret;
 }
 
+void *sys_load_res(const char *name) {
+    char path[SYS_MAX_PATH] = { 0 };
+    snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s", sys_data_path(), name);
+
+    FILE *f = fopen(path, "rb");
+    if (!f) return NULL;
+
+    fseek(f, 0, SEEK_END);
+    size_t size = ftell(f);
+    fseek(f, 0, SEEK_SET);
+
+    void *buf = malloc(size);
+    if (!buf) {
+        fclose(f);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
+    fread(buf, 1, size, f);
+    fclose(f);
+
+    return buf;
+}
+
 bool sys_mkdir(const char *name) {
     #ifdef _WIN32
     return _mkdir(name) == 0;
diff --git a/src/pc/platform.h b/src/pc/platform.h
index 9b498470..30b33dcc 100644
--- a/src/pc/platform.h
+++ b/src/pc/platform.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ int sys_strcasecmp(const char *s1, const char *s2);
 bool sys_mkdir(const char *name); // creates with 0777 by default
 bool sys_file_exists(const char *name);
 bool sys_dir_exists(const char *name);
+void *sys_load_res(const char *name);
 
 // receives the full path
 // should return `true` if traversal should continue