diff --git a/tools/chatgui/db/db_manager.cpp b/tools/chatgui/db/db_manager.cpp
index 845ae332..592732a3 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui/db/db_manager.cpp
+++ b/tools/chatgui/db/db_manager.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ QList<ChannelRow> DbManager::getChannels(ChannelSortMode sort) const {
         " FROM channels%s", orderBy);
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql);
     if (!stmt) return list;
-    while (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+    int rc;
+    while ((rc = sqlite3_step(stmt)) == SQLITE_ROW) {
         ChannelRow r;
         r.channelId       = colText(stmt, 0);
         r.name            = colText(stmt, 1);
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ QList<ChannelRow> DbManager::getChannels(ChannelSortMode sort) const {
         r.avatarHash      = colBlob(stmt, 13);
         list.append(r);
     }
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+    if (!finishRead(stmt, rc)) return {};
     for (auto& ch : list) {
         ch.lastReadMsgId = getUiStateInt64(
             QStringLiteral("ch_%1_last_read").arg(ch.channelId), 0);
@@ -165,11 +166,9 @@ bool DbManager::isChannelMember(const QString& chId, quint64 nodeId) const {
     const QByteArray sql = QStringLiteral("SELECT 1 FROM \"%1\" WHERE node_id=?").arg(peersTableName(chId)).toUtf8();
     sqlite3_stmt* statement = prepareOrNull(sql.constData());
     if (!statement) return false;
-    sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
-    const int result = sqlite3_step(statement);
-    if (result != SQLITE_ROW && result != SQLITE_DONE) GUI_ERROR("channel membership read failed ch=%s rc=%d", qPrintable(chId), result);
-    sqlite3_finalize(statement);
-    return result == SQLITE_ROW;
+    const int bound = sqlite3_bind_int64(statement, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
+    const int result = bound == SQLITE_OK ? sqlite3_step(statement) : bound;
+    return finishRead(statement, result) && result == SQLITE_ROW;
 }
 
 /* Формирует человекочитаемое тело превью последнего сообщения по content_type и "d"-полю. */
@@ -227,7 +226,8 @@ QString DbManager::getChannelLastMessage(const QString& channelId) const {
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql.toUtf8().constData());
     if (!stmt) return {};
     QString result;
-    if (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+    const int rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) {
         quint64 author = (quint64)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 0);
         QByteArray jdata = colBlob(stmt, 1);
         QString ct = QString::fromUtf8(parseJsonField(jdata, "ct"));
@@ -235,8 +235,7 @@ QString DbManager::getChannelLastMessage(const QString& channelId) const {
         QString nick = getDisplayName(author);
         result = nick + QStringLiteral(": ") + mediaPreviewBody(ct, d);
     }
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return result;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? result : QString();
 }
 
 /* ── messages (UI) ── */
@@ -265,7 +264,7 @@ static MessageRow readMessage(sqlite3_stmt* stmt, quint64 myId) {
 /* Окно вокруг оригинала выбирается одним SQL snapshot, включая одинаковые timestamp. */
 QList<MessageRow> DbManager::getMessages(const QString& chId, int limit, const QByteArray& around) const {
     QList<MessageRow> list;
-    if (!around.isEmpty() && (around.size() != 32 || limit <= 0)) {
+    if (limit <= 0 || (!around.isEmpty() && around.size() != 32)) {
         GUI_ERROR("history: invalid anchor/window bytes=%d limit=%d", int(around.size()), limit); return list;
     }
     QString sql = QStringLiteral(
@@ -277,19 +276,24 @@ QList<MessageRow> DbManager::getMessages(const QString& chId, int limit, const Q
         "max(0,(SELECT count(*) FROM \"%1\")-?1))").arg(msgTableName(chId));
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql.toUtf8().constData());
     if (!stmt) return list;
-    sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 1, limit);
-    if (!around.isEmpty()) sqlite3_bind_blob(stmt, 2, around.constData(), around.size(), SQLITE_TRANSIENT);
-    uint64_t myId = 0;
-    { sqlite3_stmt* ms = prepareOrNull("SELECT node_id FROM local_identity WHERE id=1");
-      if (ms) { if (sqlite3_step(ms) == SQLITE_ROW) myId = (uint64_t)sqlite3_column_int64(ms, 0); sqlite3_finalize(ms); } }
-    int rc;
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_int(stmt, 1, limit);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_OK && !around.isEmpty()) rc = sqlite3_bind_blob(stmt, 2, around.constData(), around.size(), SQLITE_TRANSIENT);
+    if (rc != SQLITE_OK) { finishRead(stmt, rc); return {}; }
+    uint64_t myId = m_myNodeId;
+    if (!myId) {
+        sqlite3_stmt* identity = prepareOrNull("SELECT node_id FROM local_identity WHERE id=1");
+        if (identity) {
+            const int row = sqlite3_step(identity);
+            if (row == SQLITE_ROW) myId = (uint64_t)sqlite3_column_int64(identity, 0);
+            if (!finishRead(identity, row)) { finishRead(stmt, SQLITE_ABORT); return {}; }
+        }
+    }
     while ((rc = sqlite3_step(stmt)) == SQLITE_ROW) {
         list.prepend(readMessage(stmt, myId));
     }
-    if (rc != SQLITE_DONE) GUI_ERROR("history: read failed ch=%s rc=%d", qPrintable(chId), rc);
+    if (!finishRead(stmt, rc)) return {};
     if (!around.isEmpty()) GUI_DEBUG("history: window loaded ch=%s anchor=%s rows=%d limit=%d",
                                     qPrintable(chId), around.toHex().constData(), int(list.size()), limit);
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
     return list;
 }
 
@@ -300,13 +304,13 @@ QList<MessageRow> DbManager::getMessagesSince(const QString& chId, qint64 sinceI
         " FROM \"%1\" WHERE id > ? ORDER BY id ASC").arg(msgTableName(chId));
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql.toUtf8().constData());
     if (!stmt) return list;
-    sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, sinceId);
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, sinceId);
+    if (rc != SQLITE_OK) { finishRead(stmt, rc); return {}; }
     uint64_t myId = m_myNodeId;
-    while (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+    while ((rc = sqlite3_step(stmt)) == SQLITE_ROW) {
         list.append(readMessage(stmt, myId));
     }
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return list;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? list : QList<MessageRow>();
 }
 
 MessageRow DbManager::getMessageById(const QString& chId, qint64 msgId) const {
@@ -316,12 +320,12 @@ MessageRow DbManager::getMessageById(const QString& chId, qint64 msgId) const {
         " FROM \"%1\" WHERE id = ?").arg(msgTableName(chId));
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql.toUtf8().constData());
     if (!stmt) return m;
-    sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, msgId);
-    if (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, msgId);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_OK) rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) {
         m = readMessage(stmt, m_myNodeId);
     }
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return m;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? m : MessageRow();
 }
 
 /* ── DM-беседы (UI, read-only) ── */
@@ -334,12 +338,10 @@ MessageRow DbManager::getMessageByKey(const QString& chId, const QByteArray& key
                                    "FROM \"%1\" WHERE message_id=?").arg(msgTableName(chId)).toUtf8();
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql.constData());
     if (!stmt) return message;
-    sqlite3_bind_blob(stmt, 1, key.constData(), key.size(), SQLITE_TRANSIENT);
-    const int rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_blob(stmt, 1, key.constData(), key.size(), SQLITE_TRANSIENT);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_OK) rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
     if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) message = readMessage(stmt, m_myNodeId);
-    else if (rc != SQLITE_DONE) GUI_ERROR("reply: lookup failed ch=%s rc=%d", qPrintable(chId), rc);
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return message;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? message : MessageRow();
 }
 
 /* Короткий обычный текст без рекурсивных цитат и служебного описания медиа. */
@@ -378,12 +380,7 @@ QList<DmConversation> DbManager::getDmConversations() const {
         c.generation = (quint64)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 6);
         list.append(c);
     }
-    if (rc != SQLITE_DONE) {
-        DEBUG_ERROR(DEBUG_CATEGORY_DM, "DM list: read failed rc=%d sql=%s", rc, sqlite3_errmsg(m_db));
-        list.clear();
-    }
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return list;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? list : QList<DmConversation>();
 }
 
 /* ── peers (UI) ── */
@@ -396,31 +393,21 @@ QMap<quint64, QString> DbManager::getLocalNicknames(const QString& chId) const {
     ).arg(peersTableName(chId));
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql.toUtf8().constData());
     if (!stmt) return m;
-    while (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW)
+    int rc;
+    while ((rc = sqlite3_step(stmt)) == SQLITE_ROW)
         m.insert((quint64)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 0), colText(stmt, 1));
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return m;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? m : QMap<quint64, QString>();
 }
 
 QString DbManager::getDisplayName(quint64 nodeId) const {
-    sqlite3_stmt* st = prepareOrNull(
-        "SELECT display_name FROM accounts WHERE node_id=?");
-    if (st) {
-        sqlite3_bind_int64(st, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
-        if (sqlite3_step(st) == SQLITE_ROW) {
-            QString s = colText(st, 0);
-            sqlite3_finalize(st);
-            if (!s.isEmpty()) return s;
-        } else sqlite3_finalize(st);
-    }
-    st = prepareOrNull("SELECT name FROM nodes WHERE node_id=?");
-    if (st) {
-        sqlite3_bind_int64(st, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
-        if (sqlite3_step(st) == SQLITE_ROW) {
-            QString s = colText(st, 0);
-            sqlite3_finalize(st);
-            if (!s.isEmpty()) return s;
-        } else sqlite3_finalize(st);
+    for (const char* sql : {"SELECT display_name FROM accounts WHERE node_id=?", "SELECT name FROM nodes WHERE node_id=?"}) {
+        sqlite3_stmt* st = prepareOrNull(sql);
+        if (!st) continue;
+        int rc = sqlite3_bind_int64(st, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
+        if (rc == SQLITE_OK) rc = sqlite3_step(st);
+        QString name = rc == SQLITE_ROW ? colText(st, 0) : QString();
+        if (!finishRead(st, rc)) break;
+        if (!name.isEmpty()) return name;
     }
     return QString("node_%1").arg(nodeId);
 }
@@ -428,10 +415,12 @@ QString DbManager::getDisplayName(quint64 nodeId) const {
 QByteArray DbManager::getNodeEdPub(quint64 nodeId) const {
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull("SELECT ed25519_pubkey FROM nodes WHERE node_id=?");
     if (!stmt) return {};
-    sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_OK) rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
     QByteArray r;
-    if (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) r = colBlob(stmt, 0);
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) r = colBlob(stmt, 0);
+    if (!finishRead(stmt, rc)) return {};
+    if (!r.isEmpty() && r.size() != 32) { GUI_ERROR("node signing key has invalid length=%d", int(r.size())); return {}; }
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -446,7 +435,8 @@ QList<AccountRow> DbManager::getAccounts(bool contactsOnly) const {
           " FROM accounts ORDER BY display_name";
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql);
     if (!stmt) return list;
-    while (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+    int rc;
+    while ((rc = sqlite3_step(stmt)) == SQLITE_ROW) {
         AccountRow a;
         a.nodeId       = (quint64)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 0);
         a.displayName  = colText(stmt, 1);
@@ -455,8 +445,7 @@ QList<AccountRow> DbManager::getAccounts(bool contactsOnly) const {
         a.isContact    = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 4) != 0;
         list.append(a);
     }
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return list;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? list : QList<AccountRow>();
 }
 
 AccountRow DbManager::getAccount(quint64 nodeId) const {
@@ -465,16 +454,16 @@ AccountRow DbManager::getAccount(quint64 nodeId) const {
         "SELECT node_id, display_name, avatar_color, avatar_letter, is_contact"
         " FROM accounts WHERE node_id=?");
     if (!stmt) return a;
-    sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
-    if (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) {
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, (sqlite3_int64)nodeId);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_OK) rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) {
         a.nodeId       = (quint64)sqlite3_column_int64(stmt, 0);
         a.displayName  = colText(stmt, 1);
         a.avatarColor  = colText(stmt, 2);
         a.avatarLetter = colText(stmt, 3);
         a.isContact    = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 4) != 0;
     }
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return a;
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? a : AccountRow();
 }
 
 /* ── ui_state ── */
@@ -482,11 +471,11 @@ AccountRow DbManager::getAccount(quint64 nodeId) const {
 QString DbManager::getUiState(const QString& key) const {
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull("SELECT value FROM ui_state WHERE key=?");
     if (!stmt) return {};
-    sqlite3_bind_text(stmt, 1, key.toUtf8().constData(), -1, SQLITE_TRANSIENT);
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_text(stmt, 1, key.toUtf8().constData(), -1, SQLITE_TRANSIENT);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_OK) rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
     QString val;
-    if (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) val = colText(stmt, 0);
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return val;
+    if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) val = colText(stmt, 0);
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? val : QString();
 }
 
 int DbManager::getUiStateInt(const QString& key, int defaultVal) const {
@@ -510,11 +499,11 @@ int DbManager::getUnreadCount(const QString& channelId, qint64 lastReadMsgId) co
         "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM \"%1\" WHERE id > ?").arg(msgTableName(channelId));
     sqlite3_stmt* stmt = prepareOrNull(sql.toUtf8().constData());
     if (!stmt) return 0;
-    sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, lastReadMsgId);
+    int rc = sqlite3_bind_int64(stmt, 1, lastReadMsgId);
+    if (rc == SQLITE_OK) rc = sqlite3_step(stmt);
     int count = 0;
-    if (sqlite3_step(stmt) == SQLITE_ROW) count = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 0);
-    sqlite3_finalize(stmt);
-    return count;
+    if (rc == SQLITE_ROW) count = sqlite3_column_int(stmt, 0);
+    return finishRead(stmt, rc) ? count : 0;
 }
 
 /* ── integrity checks ── */
diff --git a/tools/chatgui/src/messagedelegate.cpp b/tools/chatgui/src/messagedelegate.cpp
index e06617f1..97c1c313 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui/src/messagedelegate.cpp
+++ b/tools/chatgui/src/messagedelegate.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <QImageReader>
 #include <QPersistentModelIndex>
+#include <QPointer>
 
 /* Один layout для размеров, отрисовки, выделения и hit-test ссылок. */
 static qreal layoutMessageText(QTextLayout& layout, int width, const QString& compactLink = {}) {
@@ -92,7 +93,6 @@ struct VoicePlayState {
     bool loading = false;
     bool playing = false;
     bool paused = false;
-    qint64 startMs = 0;
     float durationSec = 0.0f;
     float pausedPosSec = 0.0f;
     float displayFrac = 0.0f;
@@ -111,19 +111,17 @@ static void ensureVoiceTimer() {
             bool anyActive = false;
             SoundManager* sm = SoundManager::instance();
             for (auto it = s_voiceStates.begin(); it != s_voiceStates.end(); ++it) {
-                if (it->loading) { anyActive = true; continue; }
-                if (!it->playing && !it->paused) {
-                    if (it->displayFrac > 0.001f || it->displayElapsed > 0.001f) anyActive = true;
-                    continue;
-                }
-                if (it->paused) { anyActive = true; continue; }
-                if (!sm->isPcmPlaying(it->playbackId)) {
-                    it->playing = false;
-                    it->paused = false;
-                    anyActive = true;
-                } else {
-                    anyActive = true;
-                }
+                if (it->loading && !VoicePlayer::isPreparing()) it->loading = false;
+                if (it->playing && !sm->isPcmPlaying(it->playbackId)) it->playing = false;
+                float elapsed = it->paused ? it->pausedPosSec : 0;
+                const int rate = sm->pcmSampleRate(it->playbackId);
+                if (it->playing && rate > 0) elapsed = float(double(sm->pcmCursor(it->playbackId)) / rate);
+                elapsed = qBound(0.0f, elapsed, it->durationSec);
+                const float fraction = it->durationSec > 0 ? elapsed / it->durationSec : 0;
+                const bool moving = std::fabs(fraction - it->displayFrac) > 0.001f || std::fabs(elapsed - it->displayElapsed) > 0.001f;
+                it->displayFrac = moving ? it->displayFrac + (fraction - it->displayFrac) * 0.15f : fraction;
+                it->displayElapsed = moving ? it->displayElapsed + (elapsed - it->displayElapsed) * 0.15f : elapsed;
+                anyActive |= it->loading || it->playing || moving;
             }
             if (!anyActive) s_voiceTimer->stop();
             if (s_voiceView) s_voiceView->viewport()->update();
@@ -288,7 +286,6 @@ bool MessageDelegate::editorEvent(QEvent *event, QAbstractItemModel *model,
         float clickFrac = (float)(localPos.x() - L.voiceWaveformRect.x()) / L.voiceWaveformRect.width();
         if (clickFrac < 0) clickFrac = 0; if (clickFrac > 1) clickFrac = 1;
         float targetSec = clickFrac * dur;
-        qint64 now = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
 
         if (!st.playing && !st.paused) {
             /* Start playback then seek */
@@ -300,7 +297,7 @@ bool MessageDelegate::editorEvent(QEvent *event, QAbstractItemModel *model,
                 MessageDelegate::startAutoPlay(filePath, actualDur, playbackId);
                 float position = clickFrac * actualDur;
                 auto& state = s_voiceStates[filePath];
-                state.startMs -= (qint64)(position * 1000); state.pausedPosSec = position;
+                state.pausedPosSec = position;
                 state.displayFrac = clickFrac; state.displayElapsed = position;
                 int rate = SoundManager::instance()->pcmSampleRate(playbackId);
                 if (rate > 0) SoundManager::instance()->seekPcm(playbackId, (unsigned long long)(position * rate));
@@ -309,7 +306,6 @@ bool MessageDelegate::editorEvent(QEvent *event, QAbstractItemModel *model,
             s_voiceTimer->start();
         } else {
             /* Currently playing or paused — seek */
-            st.startMs = now - (qint64)(targetSec * 1000.0);
             if (st.paused)
                 st.pausedPosSec = targetSec;
             else if (!st.playing)
@@ -332,8 +328,8 @@ bool MessageDelegate::editorEvent(QEvent *event, QAbstractItemModel *model,
 
     if (st.playing) {
         /* Playing → Pause */
-        qint64 now = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
-        st.pausedPosSec = (now - st.startMs) / 1000.0f;
+        const int rate = SoundManager::instance()->pcmSampleRate(st.playbackId);
+        st.pausedPosSec = rate > 0 ? float(double(SoundManager::instance()->pcmCursor(st.playbackId)) / rate) : 0;
         st.playing = false;
         st.paused = true;
         SoundManager::instance()->pausePcm(st.playbackId);
@@ -345,8 +341,6 @@ bool MessageDelegate::editorEvent(QEvent *event, QAbstractItemModel *model,
         /* Paused → Resume */
         st.paused = false;
         st.playing = true;
-        qint64 now = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
-        st.startMs = now - (qint64)(st.pausedPosSec * 1000.0);
         st.displayFrac = (dur > 0) ? (st.pausedPosSec / dur) : 0;
         st.displayElapsed = st.pausedPosSec;
         SoundManager::instance()->resumePcm(st.playbackId);
@@ -1108,29 +1102,11 @@ void MessageDelegate::paintBody(QPainter* painter, const QStyleOptionViewItem& o
         bool isPaused = st->paused;
 
         /* compute elapsed/frac for progress */
-        float elapsed = 0, targetFrac = 0, durSec = st->durationSec;
+        float durSec = st->durationSec;
         if (durSec <= 0) {
             QString ds = index.data(MsgVoiceDurationRole).toString();
             ds.remove('s'); durSec = ds.toFloat();
         }
-        if (isPaused) {
-            elapsed = st->pausedPosSec;
-        } else if (isPlaying) {
-            SoundManager* sm = SoundManager::instance();
-            if (sm->isPcmPlaying(st->playbackId)) {
-                int sr = sm->pcmSampleRate(st->playbackId);
-                if (sr > 0) elapsed = (float)((double)sm->pcmCursor(st->playbackId) / sr);
-            }
-            if (elapsed <= 0) {
-                qint64 now = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
-                elapsed = (now - st->startMs) / 1000.0f;
-            }
-            if (elapsed > durSec) elapsed = durSec;
-        }
-        targetFrac = (durSec > 0) ? (elapsed / durSec) : 0;
-        if (targetFrac < 0) targetFrac = 0; if (targetFrac > 1) targetFrac = 1;
-        st->displayFrac += (targetFrac - st->displayFrac) * 0.15f;
-        st->displayElapsed += (elapsed - st->displayElapsed) * 0.15f;
         float frac = st->displayFrac;
 
         QRectF playR = L.voicePlayBtnRect;
@@ -1714,14 +1690,14 @@ void MessageDelegate::drawAvatar(QPainter *p, const Layout &L,
 }
 
 void MessageDelegate::startAutoPlay(const QString& filePath, float actualDurationSec, uint64_t playbackId) {
-    if (actualDurationSec <= 0) return;
+    if (actualDurationSec <= 0 || !playbackId) { GUI_WARN("voice delegate: invalid playback duration/id"); return; }
     ensureVoiceTimer();
+    s_voiceStates.clear();
     VoicePlayState& st = s_voiceStates[filePath];
     st.playbackId = playbackId;
     st.playing = true;
     st.paused = false;
     st.durationSec = (actualDurationSec > 0) ? actualDurationSec : 1.0f;
-    st.startMs = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
     st.pausedPosSec = 0.0f;
     st.displayFrac = 0.0f;
     st.displayElapsed = 0.0f;