diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2aae13d9..03ad112e 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -448,6 +448,7 @@ src/engine/brrUtils.c
 src/engine/safeReader.cpp
 src/engine/safeWriter.cpp
 src/engine/config.cpp
+src/engine/configEngine.cpp
 src/engine/dispatchContainer.cpp
 src/engine/engine.cpp
 src/engine/fileOps.cpp
diff --git a/src/engine/config.cpp b/src/engine/config.cpp
index 38cb2b04..f98c82a4 100644
--- a/src/engine/config.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/config.cpp
@@ -17,101 +17,13 @@
  * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
  */
 
-#include "engine.h"
+#include "config.h"
 #include "../ta-log.h"
 #include "../fileutils.h"
 #include <fmt/printf.h>
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-#include "winStuff.h"
-#define CONFIG_FILE "\\furnace.cfg"
-#else
-#ifdef __HAIKU__
-#include <support/SupportDefs.h>
-#include <storage/FindDirectory.h>
-#endif
-#include <unistd.h>
-#include <pwd.h>
-#include <sys/stat.h>
-#define CONFIG_FILE "/furnace.cfg"
-#endif
-
-#ifdef IS_MOBILE
-#ifdef HAVE_SDL2
-#include <SDL.h>
-#else
-#error "Furnace mobile requires SDL2!"
-#endif
-#endif
-
-void DivEngine::initConfDir() {
-#ifdef _WIN32
-  // maybe move this function in here instead?
-  configPath=getWinConfigPath();
-#elif defined(IS_MOBILE)
-  configPath=SDL_GetPrefPath("tildearrow","furnace");
-#else
-#ifdef __HAIKU__
-  char userSettingsDir[PATH_MAX];
-  status_t findUserDir = find_directory(B_USER_SETTINGS_DIRECTORY,0,true,userSettingsDir,PATH_MAX);
-  if (findUserDir==B_OK) {
-    configPath=userSettingsDir;
-  } else {
-    logW("unable to find/create user settings directory (%s)!",strerror(findUserDir));
-    configPath=".";
-    return;
-  }
-#else
-  // TODO this should check XDG_CONFIG_HOME first
-  char* home=getenv("HOME");
-  if (home==NULL) {
-    int uid=getuid();
-    struct passwd* entry=getpwuid(uid);
-    if (entry==NULL) {
-      logW("unable to determine home directory (%s)!",strerror(errno));
-      configPath=".";
-      return;
-    } else {
-      configPath=entry->pw_dir;
-    }
-  } else {
-    configPath=home;
-  }
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-  configPath+="/Library/Application Support";
-#else
-  // FIXME this doesn't honour XDG_CONFIG_HOME *at all*
-  configPath+="/.config";
-#endif // __APPLE__
-#endif // __HAIKU__
-#ifdef __APPLE__
-  configPath+="/Furnace";
-#else
-  configPath+="/furnace";
-#endif // __APPLE__
-  struct stat st;
-  std::string pathSep="/";
-  configPath+=pathSep;
-  size_t sepPos=configPath.find(pathSep,1);
-  while (sepPos!=std::string::npos) {
-    std::string subpath=configPath.substr(0,sepPos++);
-    if (stat(subpath.c_str(),&st)!=0) {
-      logI("creating config path element %s ...",subpath.c_str());
-      if (mkdir(subpath.c_str(),0755)!=0) {
-        logW("could not create config path element %s! (%s)",subpath.c_str(),strerror(errno));
-        configPath=".";
-        return;
-      }
-    }
-    sepPos=configPath.find(pathSep,sepPos);
-  }
-  configPath.resize(configPath.length()-pathSep.length());
-#endif // _WIN32
-}
-
-bool DivEngine::saveConf() {
-  configFile=configPath+String(CONFIG_FILE);
-  FILE* f=ps_fopen(configFile.c_str(),"wb");
+bool DivConfig::save(const char* path) {
+  FILE* f=ps_fopen(path,"wb");
   if (f==NULL) {
     logW("could not write config file! %s",strerror(errno));
     return false;
@@ -128,13 +40,12 @@ bool DivEngine::saveConf() {
   return true;
 }
 
-bool DivEngine::loadConf() {
+bool DivConfig::loadFromFile(const char* path, bool createOnFail) {
   char line[4096];
-  configFile=configPath+String(CONFIG_FILE);
-  FILE* f=ps_fopen(configFile.c_str(),"rb");
+  FILE* f=ps_fopen(path,"rb");
   if (f==NULL) {
     logI("creating default config.");
-    return saveConf();
+    return save(path);
   }
   logI("loading config.");
   while (!feof(f)) {
@@ -164,7 +75,7 @@ bool DivEngine::loadConf() {
   return true;
 }
 
-bool DivEngine::getConfBool(String key, bool fallback) {
+bool DivConfig::getConfBool(String key, bool fallback) {
   try {
     String val=conf.at(key);
     if (val=="true") {
@@ -177,7 +88,7 @@ bool DivEngine::getConfBool(String key, bool fallback) {
   return fallback;
 }
 
-int DivEngine::getConfInt(String key, int fallback) {
+int DivConfig::getConfInt(String key, int fallback) {
   try {
     String val=conf.at(key);
     int ret=std::stoi(val);
@@ -188,7 +99,7 @@ int DivEngine::getConfInt(String key, int fallback) {
   return fallback;
 }
 
-float DivEngine::getConfFloat(String key, float fallback) {
+float DivConfig::getConfFloat(String key, float fallback) {
   try {
     String val=conf.at(key);
     float ret=std::stof(val);
@@ -199,7 +110,7 @@ float DivEngine::getConfFloat(String key, float fallback) {
   return fallback;
 }
 
-double DivEngine::getConfDouble(String key, double fallback) {
+double DivConfig::getConfDouble(String key, double fallback) {
   try {
     String val=conf.at(key);
     double ret=std::stod(val);
@@ -210,7 +121,7 @@ double DivEngine::getConfDouble(String key, double fallback) {
   return fallback;
 }
 
-String DivEngine::getConfString(String key, String fallback) {
+String DivConfig::getConfString(String key, String fallback) {
   try {
     String val=conf.at(key);
     return val;
@@ -219,7 +130,7 @@ String DivEngine::getConfString(String key, String fallback) {
   return fallback;
 }
 
-void DivEngine::setConf(String key, bool value) {
+void DivConfig::setConf(String key, bool value) {
   if (value) {
     conf[key]="true";
   } else {
@@ -227,22 +138,22 @@ void DivEngine::setConf(String key, bool value) {
   }
 }
 
-void DivEngine::setConf(String key, int value) {
+void DivConfig::setConf(String key, int value) {
   conf[key]=fmt::sprintf("%d",value);
 }
 
-void DivEngine::setConf(String key, float value) {
+void DivConfig::setConf(String key, float value) {
   conf[key]=fmt::sprintf("%f",value);
 }
 
-void DivEngine::setConf(String key, double value) {
+void DivConfig::setConf(String key, double value) {
   conf[key]=fmt::sprintf("%f",value);
 }
 
-void DivEngine::setConf(String key, const char* value) {
+void DivConfig::setConf(String key, const char* value) {
   conf[key]=String(value);
 }
 
-void DivEngine::setConf(String key, String value) {
+void DivConfig::setConf(String key, String value) {
   conf[key]=value;
 }
diff --git a/src/engine/config.h b/src/engine/config.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c33494a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/engine/config.h
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/**
+ * Furnace Tracker - multi-system chiptune tracker
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2022 tildearrow and contributors
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#ifndef _DIVCONFIG_H
+#define _DIVCONFIG_H
+
+#include "../ta-utils.h"
+#include <map>
+
+class DivConfig {
+  std::map<String,String> conf;
+  public:
+    // config loading/saving
+    bool loadFromMemory(const char* buf);
+    bool loadFromFile(const char* path, bool createOnFail=true);
+    String toString();
+    bool save(const char* path);
+
+    // get a config value
+    bool getConfBool(String key, bool fallback);
+    int getConfInt(String key, int fallback);
+    float getConfFloat(String key, float fallback);
+    double getConfDouble(String key, double fallback);
+    String getConfString(String key, String fallback);
+
+    // set a config value
+    void setConf(String key, bool value);
+    void setConf(String key, int value);
+    void setConf(String key, float value);
+    void setConf(String key, double value);
+    void setConf(String key, const char* value);
+    void setConf(String key, String value);
+};
+
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/engine/configEngine.cpp b/src/engine/configEngine.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df93cc95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/engine/configEngine.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+/**
+ * Furnace Tracker - multi-system chiptune tracker
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2022 tildearrow and contributors
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along
+ * with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
+ * 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA.
+ */
+
+#include "engine.h"
+#include "../ta-log.h"
+
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include "winStuff.h"
+#define CONFIG_FILE "\\furnace.cfg"
+#else
+#ifdef __HAIKU__
+#include <support/SupportDefs.h>
+#include <storage/FindDirectory.h>
+#endif
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <pwd.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#define CONFIG_FILE "/furnace.cfg"
+#endif
+
+#ifdef IS_MOBILE
+#ifdef HAVE_SDL2
+#include <SDL.h>
+#else
+#error "Furnace mobile requires SDL2!"
+#endif
+#endif
+
+void DivEngine::initConfDir() {
+#ifdef _WIN32
+  // maybe move this function in here instead?
+  configPath=getWinConfigPath();
+#elif defined(IS_MOBILE)
+  configPath=SDL_GetPrefPath("tildearrow","furnace");
+#else
+#ifdef __HAIKU__
+  char userSettingsDir[PATH_MAX];
+  status_t findUserDir = find_directory(B_USER_SETTINGS_DIRECTORY,0,true,userSettingsDir,PATH_MAX);
+  if (findUserDir==B_OK) {
+    configPath=userSettingsDir;
+  } else {
+    logW("unable to find/create user settings directory (%s)!",strerror(findUserDir));
+    configPath=".";
+    return;
+  }
+#else
+  // TODO this should check XDG_CONFIG_HOME first
+  char* home=getenv("HOME");
+  if (home==NULL) {
+    int uid=getuid();
+    struct passwd* entry=getpwuid(uid);
+    if (entry==NULL) {
+      logW("unable to determine home directory (%s)!",strerror(errno));
+      configPath=".";
+      return;
+    } else {
+      configPath=entry->pw_dir;
+    }
+  } else {
+    configPath=home;
+  }
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+  configPath+="/Library/Application Support";
+#else
+  // FIXME this doesn't honour XDG_CONFIG_HOME *at all*
+  configPath+="/.config";
+#endif // __APPLE__
+#endif // __HAIKU__
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+  configPath+="/Furnace";
+#else
+  configPath+="/furnace";
+#endif // __APPLE__
+  struct stat st;
+  std::string pathSep="/";
+  configPath+=pathSep;
+  size_t sepPos=configPath.find(pathSep,1);
+  while (sepPos!=std::string::npos) {
+    std::string subpath=configPath.substr(0,sepPos++);
+    if (stat(subpath.c_str(),&st)!=0) {
+      logI("creating config path element %s ...",subpath.c_str());
+      if (mkdir(subpath.c_str(),0755)!=0) {
+        logW("could not create config path element %s! (%s)",subpath.c_str(),strerror(errno));
+        configPath=".";
+        return;
+      }
+    }
+    sepPos=configPath.find(pathSep,sepPos);
+  }
+  configPath.resize(configPath.length()-pathSep.length());
+#endif // _WIN32
+}
+
+bool DivEngine::saveConf() {
+  configFile=configPath+String(CONFIG_FILE);
+  return conf.save(configFile.c_str());
+}
+
+bool DivEngine::loadConf() {
+  configFile=configPath+String(CONFIG_FILE);
+  return conf.loadFromFile(configFile.c_str());
+}
+
+bool DivEngine::getConfBool(String key, bool fallback) {
+  return conf.getConfBool(key,fallback);
+}
+
+int DivEngine::getConfInt(String key, int fallback) {
+  return conf.getConfInt(key,fallback);
+}
+
+float DivEngine::getConfFloat(String key, float fallback) {
+  return conf.getConfFloat(key,fallback);
+}
+
+double DivEngine::getConfDouble(String key, double fallback) {
+  return conf.getConfDouble(key,fallback);
+}
+
+String DivEngine::getConfString(String key, String fallback) {
+  return conf.getConfString(key,fallback);
+}
+
+void DivEngine::setConf(String key, bool value) {
+  conf.setConf(key,value);
+}
+
+void DivEngine::setConf(String key, int value) {
+  conf.setConf(key,value);
+}
+
+void DivEngine::setConf(String key, float value) {
+  conf.setConf(key,value);
+}
+
+void DivEngine::setConf(String key, double value) {
+  conf.setConf(key,value);
+}
+
+void DivEngine::setConf(String key, const char* value) {
+  conf.setConf(key,value);
+}
+
+void DivEngine::setConf(String key, String value) {
+  conf.setConf(key,value);
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.h b/src/engine/engine.h
index 0cc05eef..895a89ea 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.h
+++ b/src/engine/engine.h
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 #ifndef _ENGINE_H
 #define _ENGINE_H
+#include "config.h"
 #include "instrument.h"
 #include "song.h"
 #include "dispatch.h"
@@ -366,7 +367,7 @@ class DivEngine {
   DivAudioEngines audioEngine;
   DivAudioExportModes exportMode;
   double exportFadeOut;
-  std::map<String,String> conf;
+  DivConfig conf;
   std::deque<DivNoteEvent> pendingNotes;
   // bitfield
   unsigned char walked[8192];