diff --git a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-26-audio-video-separated-controls-design.md b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-26-audio-video-separated-controls-design.md
index 6de6952..b80f7c1 100644
--- a/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-26-audio-video-separated-controls-design.md
+++ b/docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-26-audio-video-separated-controls-design.md
@@ -13,6 +13,16 @@
 > hide), and the soundtrack now plays on Safari/iOS (audio elements unlocked
 > synchronously inside the start gesture). Sections below describe the fuller
 > off/soundtrack/white-noise design; v1 live = off/soundtrack.
+>
+> **Startup revision (session 0022):** the tap-to-start wall is **removed** — the app
+> opens behind a **"Loading Universe…"** splash (shown until all media is preloaded
+> and the experience can run smoothly), then both toggles start **off** (black +
+> silent). Autoplay is satisfied without a wall: a **single** `<audio>` element is
+> played **synchronously inside the toggle's own click** (the reliable Safari unlock),
+> replacing the A/B-crossfade-after-gesture approach that failed on real Safari. The
+> first time **Video** is turned on, **Audio** turns on with it (one flip = the full
+> experience); turning Audio on first stays audio-only. Altitude changes swap the
+> single element's source with a brief fade.
 **Extends / reframes:** [`2026-06-26-networked-control-surface-design.md`](./2026-06-26-networked-control-surface-design.md)
 §3 (control inventory) and §5 (server contract) — its bundled **Content** selector
 is split into two orthogonal controls. Everything else in that spec (server-of-truth
diff --git a/simulator/static/app.js b/simulator/static/app.js
index b43aabe..dca6b71 100644
--- a/simulator/static/app.js
+++ b/simulator/static/app.js
@@ -141,7 +141,10 @@ async function preloadAllMedia(concurrency = 4) {
   let done = 0;
   const total = files.length;
   const chip = preloadChip();
-  const tick = () => { if (chip) chip.textContent = `⬇ caching clips ${done}/${total}`; };
+  const tick = () => {
+    if (chip) chip.textContent = `⬇ caching clips ${done}/${total}`;
+    setLoadingProgress(done, total);   // drive the "Loading Universe…" bar
+  };
   tick();
   let i = 0;
   async function worker() {
@@ -519,7 +522,6 @@ async function update() {
   if (!resp.ok) { readout.textContent = "invalid: " + resp.status; return; }
   const data = await resp.json();
   readout.textContent = JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
-  applyAudio(data.render.audio);                       // reconcile the audio layer
   if (!data.render.video.shown) {
     // Blank the screen. Cover with #black AND hide the video layers themselves —
     // the <video>/<canvas> are GPU-composited and can otherwise show through the
@@ -637,6 +639,7 @@ async function advance(delta) {
   } finally {
     busy = false;
     update();
+    applyAudio();             // soundtrack follows the Altitude dial (crossfade to the new scale)
   }
 }
 
@@ -909,107 +912,104 @@ function devLiveReload() {
   }, 1000);
 }
 
-// --- Audio layer: two <audio> elements, gain-crossfaded (audio spec §7/§8) ---
-const audA = $("audA"), audB = $("audB");
-let audActive = audA, audIdle = audB;   // which element is currently audible
-let audUrl = null;                      // the url currently playing (null = silence)
-let audioReady = false;                 // unlocked after the first user gesture (autoplay policy)
-const XFADE_MS = 600;                   // ~0.6s gain crossfade — "live", no busy ack (§7)
+// --- Audio layer: ONE <audio> element, started in-gesture (Safari-safe) ---
+// Real Safari/iOS only "unlocks" an <audio> element when play() is called
+// SYNCHRONOUSLY inside a user gesture (Chrome is lenient; Safari is not). So we use
+// a single element and start it directly from the Video/Audio toggle's click — not
+// via the async server roundtrip; once unlocked it can be re-played programmatically
+// (e.g. on an altitude change). audio on = the current scale's soundtrack.
+const aud = $("aud");
+let audUrl = null;                      // soundtrack url currently loaded (null = silent)
+const FADE_MS = 500;
 
-function fadeVolume(el, to, ms) {
+function fadeVolume(el, to, ms, done) {
   // setInterval (not requestAnimationFrame): rAF throttles/pauses when the tab is
   // backgrounded, which would stall the gain ramp; a timer fires regardless.
   const from = el.volume, steps = Math.max(1, Math.round(ms / 30));
   let i = 0;
-  return new Promise((resolve) => {
-    const iv = setInterval(() => {
-      i += 1;
-      const k = Math.min(1, i / steps);
-      el.volume = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, from + (to - from) * k));
-      if (k >= 1) { clearInterval(iv); resolve(); }
-    }, 30);
-  });
+  const iv = setInterval(() => {
+    i += 1;
+    const k = Math.min(1, i / steps);
+    el.volume = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, from + (to - from) * k));
+    if (k >= 1) { clearInterval(iv); if (done) done(); }
+  }, 30);
 }
 
-// Reconcile the audio layer to render.audio: crossfade the active element to the
-// new url (or fade to silence for off). White-noise and soundtrack are the same
-// mechanism — only the url differs; an unchanged url is a no-op so altitude
-// re-rolls on the same scale don't restart the bed.
-async function applyAudio(audio) {
-  const url = audio ? audio.url : null;
-  if (url === audUrl) return;
-  audUrl = url;
-  if (!audioReady) return;              // deferred until the start gesture (§8)
-  if (!url) {                           // fade current out to silence
-    await fadeVolume(audActive, 0, XFADE_MS);
-    audActive.pause();
-    return;
-  }
-  audIdle.src = mediaUrl(url);          // absolute /media/... passes through mediaUrl
-  audIdle.volume = 0;
-  audIdle.play().catch(() => {});       // start (fire-and-forget — awaiting can hang)
-  await Promise.all([fadeVolume(audIdle, 1, XFADE_MS), fadeVolume(audActive, 0, XFADE_MS)]);
-  audActive.pause();
-  [audActive, audIdle] = [audIdle, audActive];   // swap roles
-}
-
-// The current altitude's soundtrack url (the ring carries each scale's `audio`),
-// resolved client-side so the start gesture can unlock the elements synchronously.
+// The current altitude's soundtrack url (the ring carries each scale's `audio`).
 function soundtrackUrl() {
   const s = ring && ring.scales[ringIndex];
   return s && s.audio ? "/media/audio/" + s.audio : null;
 }
 
-// Browsers block autoplay until a user gesture. The renderer is launched
-// full-screen by the operator; a one-time tap unlocks audio, then it follows
-// state (audio spec §8 — the documented launch step).
-function showStartGesture() {
-  if (audioReady || document.getElementById("start-gesture")) return;
-  const ov = document.createElement("div");
-  ov.id = "start-gesture";
-  ov.textContent = "▶ tap to start sound";
-  ov.addEventListener("click", () => {
-    audioReady = true;
-    ov.remove();
-    // Safari unlocks an <audio> element ONLY when play() is called inside the
-    // user gesture itself — not in a later async continuation (Chrome is lenient;
-    // Safari/iOS is not). Prime BOTH A/B elements now, synchronously, at volume 0,
-    // so the async applyAudio() crossfades that follow are allowed to play.
-    const url = soundtrackUrl();
-    if (url) for (const el of [audA, audB]) {
-      try {
-        el.src = mediaUrl(url);
-        el.volume = 0;
-        const pr = el.play();
-        if (pr) pr.then(() => el.pause()).catch(() => {});
-      } catch (_) { /* priming is best-effort */ }
-    }
-    audUrl = null;                       // force the next applyAudio to (re)load
-    update();                            // re-apply current state, now with audio
-  }, { once: true });
-  document.body.appendChild(ov);
+// Load `url` into the single element and fade it in. Call this SYNCHRONOUSLY from
+// the toggle's click the first time so play() is allowed; later calls reuse the
+// now-unlocked element.
+function playUrl(url) {
+  aud.src = mediaUrl(url);
+  aud.volume = 0;
+  const pr = aud.play();
+  if (pr) pr.catch(() => {});
+  fadeVolume(aud, 1, FADE_MS);
 }
 
+// Reconcile audio to the Audio toggle + current altitude: on → the scale's
+// soundtrack, off → silence. Idempotent on an unchanged url (so a same-scale pool
+// re-roll doesn't restart it). MUST be called synchronously from the toggle gesture
+// the first time it plays.
+function applyAudio() {
+  const url = $("audio").checked ? soundtrackUrl() : null;
+  if (url === audUrl) return;
+  audUrl = url;
+  if (!url) { fadeVolume(aud, 0, FADE_MS, () => aud.pause()); return; }
+  if (aud.paused || !aud.src) playUrl(url);             // start fresh
+  else fadeVolume(aud, 0, 250, () => playUrl(url));      // dip out, then swap + fade in
+}
+
+// "Loading Universe…" splash — hidden once media is preloaded; reflects progress.
+function setLoadingProgress(done, total) {
+  const fill = document.getElementById("loading-fill");
+  if (fill && total) fill.style.width = Math.round((done / total) * 100) + "%";
+}
+function hideLoading() {
+  const el = document.getElementById("loading");
+  if (!el) return;
+  el.classList.add("done");
+  setTimeout(() => el.remove(), 700);
+}
+
+let videoEverOn = false;      // has Video ever been switched on this session?
+
 async function main() {
   devLiveReload();
   try { initPaint(); } catch (e) { paintOK = false; paint.style.display = "none"; showError("WebGL init: " + e.message); }
   await loadData();
   await landScale();          // pick the initial scale's pool member before first render
-  preloadAllMedia();          // background: cache every clip in memory for instant altitude swaps
   buildDial();                // draw the altitude knob from the ring's scales
   initDev();                  // wire the Dev Mode toggle + pool picker (reads persisted state)
   renderScaleReadout();
-  // Sliders stream on "input"; the Video/Audio toggles fire on "change" (matches
-  // the Dev Mode switch and is the reliable checkbox event across browsers).
+  // Sliders stream on "input"; the toggles fire on "change".
   for (const id of ["left", "right", "mood"]) $(id).addEventListener("input", debounced);
-  for (const id of ["visual", "audio"]) $(id).addEventListener("change", debounced);
-  showStartGesture();         // one-time tap unlocks audio (browser autoplay policy, §8)
+  // Audio toggle: start/stop the soundtrack SYNCHRONOUSLY in this gesture so it
+  // unlocks + plays on Safari (which blocks play() outside a user gesture).
+  $("audio").addEventListener("change", () => { applyAudio(); debounced(); });
+  // Video toggle: the FIRST time video turns on, bring audio with it (one flip = the
+  // full experience). Audio toggled on its own first stays audio-only. The audio is
+  // set + played in THIS gesture so it unlocks on Safari.
+  $("visual").addEventListener("change", () => {
+    if ($("visual").checked && !videoEverOn) {
+      videoEverOn = true;
+      if (!$("audio").checked) { $("audio").checked = true; applyAudio(); }
+    }
+    debounced();
+  });
   // Altitude knob: drag to turn (commit detents on release), scroll to step, tap a label to jump.
   dial.addEventListener("pointerdown", onDialDown);
   window.addEventListener("pointermove", onDialMove);
   window.addEventListener("pointerup", onDialUp);
   dial.addEventListener("wheel", onWheel, { passive: false });
   $("stage").addEventListener("wheel", onWheel, { passive: false });
-  update();
+  update();                   // render the initial state (both toggles off → black, silent)
+  await preloadAllMedia();    // download all media, updating the loading bar
+  hideLoading();              // experience is ready to run smoothly
 }
 main();
diff --git a/simulator/static/index.html b/simulator/static/index.html
index 649bbf6..974f3e1 100644
--- a/simulator/static/index.html
+++ b/simulator/static/index.html
@@ -7,13 +7,18 @@
   <link rel="stylesheet" href="/style.css" />
 </head>
 <body>
+  <div id="loading">
+    <div class="loading-inner">
+      <div class="loading-title">Loading Universe<span class="loading-dots"></span></div>
+      <div class="loading-bar"><div id="loading-fill"></div></div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
   <header><h1>Human Experience Filter — Alteration Preview</h1></header>
   <main>
     <section class="stage" id="stage">
       <div class="screen">
         <video id="vid" loop muted playsinline></video>
-        <audio id="audA" loop preload="auto"></audio>
-        <audio id="audB" loop preload="auto"></audio>
+        <audio id="aud" loop preload="auto"></audio>
         <canvas id="paint"></canvas>
         <div id="tint"></div>
         <svg id="overlay" viewBox="0 0 100 100" preserveAspectRatio="none"></svg>
@@ -26,7 +31,7 @@
       <fieldset>
         <legend>Output</legend>
         <label class="dev-switch" for="visual">
-          <input type="checkbox" id="visual" checked />
+          <input type="checkbox" id="visual" />
           <span class="dev-switch-track"><span class="dev-switch-thumb"></span></span>
           <span class="dev-switch-label">Video</span>
         </label>
diff --git a/simulator/static/style.css b/simulator/static/style.css
index 9fd6f8a..35d47cc 100644
--- a/simulator/static/style.css
+++ b/simulator/static/style.css
@@ -115,12 +115,28 @@ input[type=range], select { width: 100%; }
 .dev-anno .anno-meta { color: #678; }
 .dev-anno .anno-empty { color: #567; font-style: italic; }
 
-/* One-time tap-to-start overlay — unlocks audio under the browser autoplay
-   policy (audio spec §8). Removed after the first gesture. */
-#start-gesture {
+/* "Loading Universe…" splash — shown until all media is preloaded and the
+   experience is ready to run smoothly, then faded out. */
+#loading {
   position: fixed; inset: 0; z-index: 10000;
   display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;
-  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.82); color: #fff;
-  font: 600 28px/1.2 system-ui, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.02em;
-  cursor: pointer; user-select: none;
+  background: radial-gradient(ellipse at center, #0a1230 0%, #02030a 70%);
+  color: #cfe3ff; user-select: none;
+  transition: opacity 0.6s ease;
+}
+#loading.done { opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; }
+.loading-inner { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; gap: 1.1rem; }
+.loading-title { font: 600 30px/1.2 system-ui, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.04em; }
+.loading-dots::after {
+  content: ""; animation: loading-dots 1.4s steps(4, end) infinite;
+}
+@keyframes loading-dots { 0% { content: ""; } 25% { content: "."; } 50% { content: ".."; } 75% { content: "..."; } 100% { content: ""; } }
+.loading-bar {
+  width: 260px; height: 4px; border-radius: 2px;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.12); overflow: hidden;
+}
+#loading-fill {
+  height: 100%; width: 0%; border-radius: 2px;
+  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #4e9cff, #9af);
+  transition: width 0.25s ease;
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_e2e_audio.py b/tests/test_e2e_audio.py
index b19d6ce..1fd86de 100644
--- a/tests/test_e2e_audio.py
+++ b/tests/test_e2e_audio.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
-"""Playwright E2E for the audio layer (audio spec §9). Skips cleanly when
-Playwright or its browser binary is absent (the headless dev box) — the unit +
-contract tiers cover the logic; this asserts the rendered <audio> element src and
-playback survives a Visual fade. Runs at the PPE stage where a browser exists.
+"""Playwright E2E for the audio + Video/Audio toggles (audio spec §9). Skips
+cleanly when Playwright or its browser binary is absent.
+
+NOTE: headless engines relax BOTH autoplay and GPU compositing, so these assert
+the WIRING (toggle→play, the first-video-on→audio coupling, video-off blanking) —
+real Safari/iOS autoplay and real-GPU compositing still need a device by-ear/eye check.
 
 Install:  pip install -e '.[e2e]' && python -m playwright install chromium
 """
@@ -12,7 +14,6 @@ from contextlib import closing
 
 import pytest
 
-# Skip the whole module unless Playwright is importable.
 pytest.importorskip("playwright.sync_api")
 
 
@@ -50,50 +51,62 @@ def page(app_url):
 
     with sync_playwright() as p:
         try:
-            # Headless Chromium blocks media playback without a real audio device;
-            # this flag lets play() actually start so `paused` is meaningful (the
-            # spec §9 asserts playback via element src/paused, not a waveform).
+            # headless blocks media playback without a device; this flag lets play()
+            # actually start so `paused` is meaningful (spec §9 asserts src/paused)
             browser = p.chromium.launch(args=["--autoplay-policy=no-user-gesture-required"])
         except Exception as exc:                       # no browser binary installed
             pytest.skip(f"chromium not available: {exc}")
         pg = browser.new_page()
         pg.goto(app_url)
-        pg.click("#start-gesture")                     # unlock autoplay
+        # wait out the "Loading Universe…" splash (it overlays + blocks clicks)
+        pg.wait_for_selector("#loading", state="detached", timeout=60000)
         yield pg
         browser.close()
 
 
+def _toggle(page, which):
+    """Click the visible toggle track for #visual / #audio (the input is hidden)."""
+    page.click(f"label[for='{which}'] .dev-switch-track")
+
+
+def test_app_starts_blanked_and_silent(page):
+    # both toggles default off → black screen, no audio (no tap-to-start wall)
+    assert page.is_checked("#visual") is False
+    assert page.is_checked("#audio") is False
+    page.wait_for_selector("#black:not(.hidden)")
+    assert page.evaluate("document.getElementById('aud').paused") is True
+
+
 def test_audio_toggle_plays_the_current_scale_soundtrack(page):
-    # Audio on (toggle) → the current altitude's soundtrack (cosmos at index 0) plays
-    page.click("label[for='audio'] .dev-switch-track")
+    _toggle(page, "audio")
     page.wait_for_function(
-        "['audA','audB'].some(id => {"
-        "  const a = document.getElementById(id);"
-        "  return /\\/media\\/audio\\/.+\\.mp3/.test(a.src) && !a.paused;"
-        "})"
+        "(() => { const a = document.getElementById('aud');"
+        " return /\\/media\\/audio\\/.+\\.mp3/.test(a.src) && !a.paused; })()"
     )
 
 
-def test_video_toggle_off_blanks_the_screen_and_hides_layers(page):
-    page.click("label[for='visual'] .dev-switch-track")
-    page.wait_for_selector("#black:not(.hidden)")        # black cover shown
-    # the video layers themselves are hidden too (GPU-composite-proof blanking);
-    # wait for the opacity transition to settle to 0
+def test_first_video_on_also_enables_audio(page):
+    _toggle(page, "visual")                            # first video-on couples audio
+    page.wait_for_function("document.getElementById('audio').checked === true")
+    page.wait_for_function(
+        "(() => { const a = document.getElementById('aud'); return !!a.src && !a.paused; })()"
+    )
+    page.wait_for_selector("#black.hidden", state="attached")   # video showing (black hidden=display:none)
+
+
+def test_audio_before_video_stays_audio_only(page):
+    _toggle(page, "audio")                             # audio on first
+    page.wait_for_function("!document.getElementById('aud').paused")
+    assert page.is_checked("#visual") is False         # video untouched
+    page.wait_for_selector("#black:not(.hidden)")       # still blanked
+
+
+def test_video_off_blanks_after_being_on(page):
+    _toggle(page, "visual")                            # on
+    page.wait_for_selector("#black.hidden", state="attached")
+    _toggle(page, "visual")                            # off
+    page.wait_for_selector("#black:not(.hidden)")
+    # the GPU-composited video layers are hidden too (settle the opacity transition)
     page.wait_for_function(
         "['vid','paint'].every(id => getComputedStyle(document.getElementById(id)).opacity === '0')"
     )
-
-
-def test_audio_survives_video_off(page):
-    page.click("label[for='audio'] .dev-switch-track")
-    page.wait_for_function(
-        "['audA','audB'].some(id => !document.getElementById(id).paused "
-        "&& document.getElementById(id).src)"
-    )
-    page.click("label[for='visual'] .dev-switch-track")
-    page.wait_for_selector("#black:not(.hidden)")
-    playing = page.evaluate(
-        "['audA','audB'].some(id => "
-        "{const a = document.getElementById(id); return !a.paused && !!a.src;})"
-    )
-    assert playing is True                               # audio keeps playing with video off