diff --git a/data_only_viz/config.py b/data_only_viz/config.py
index 66ea59c..5c02726 100644
--- a/data_only_viz/config.py
+++ b/data_only_viz/config.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ ARKIT_BONE_MAX              0.5       float  max bone length (norm) for ARKit sk
 ARKIT_FULL_SKELETON         "1"       bool   draw full 91-joint ARKit body (!=0 = True)
 VIZ_HUD                     "0"       bool   show debug HUD overlay
 VIZ_SOURCE_KEYS             "0"       bool   wxcvbn source-bundle shortcuts (off: perf safety)
+VIZ_AUDIO_KEYS              "0"       bool   qsdfghjkl audio-scene shortcuts (off: perf safety; m stays)
 IPHONE_OSC_PORT             57128     int    UDP port for iPhone ARBodyTracker /body3d/kp
 CONCERT_MIRROR              "1"       bool   mirror video horizontally (!=0 = True)
 ICP_FUSION                  "0"       bool   enable ICP LiDAR fusion (only "1" = True)
@@ -137,6 +138,9 @@ class VizConfig:
     # keypress during a matrix performance switches the audio scene
     # (user-disabled live 2026-07-02). VIZ_SOURCE_KEYS=1 re-enables.
     viz_source_keys: bool = False
+    # Audio-scene row (qsdfghjkl): same perf-safety gate, same date. The
+    # special m key (matrix mode: scene stop + openpos viz) stays active.
+    viz_audio_keys: bool = False
 
     # ---- iPhone OSC ------------------------------------------------------
     iphone_osc_port: int = 57128
@@ -285,6 +289,7 @@ class VizConfig:
             arkit_full_skeleton=_bool_ne0("ARKIT_FULL_SKELETON", True),
             viz_hud=_bool_std("VIZ_HUD", False),
             viz_source_keys=_bool_std("VIZ_SOURCE_KEYS", False),
+            viz_audio_keys=_bool_std("VIZ_AUDIO_KEYS", False),
             iphone_osc_port=_int("IPHONE_OSC_PORT", 57128),
             concert_mirror=_bool_ne0("CONCERT_MIRROR", True),
             # ICP_FUSION / MULTIHMR_AUTOCAST use strict "1" convention
diff --git a/data_only_viz/main.py b/data_only_viz/main.py
index 2317c4c..5ba17db 100644
--- a/data_only_viz/main.py
+++ b/data_only_viz/main.py
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ class AppDelegate(NSObject):
         self._scClient = SimpleUDPClient("127.0.0.1", opts.sclang_port)
         self._pose_worker = None
         from .config import VizConfig as _VizConfig
-        self._source_keys = _VizConfig.from_env().viz_source_keys
+        _kcfg = _VizConfig.from_env()
+        self._source_keys = _kcfg.viz_source_keys
+        self._audio_keys = _kcfg.viz_audio_keys
         return self
 
     def applicationDidFinishLaunching_(self, notification):  # noqa: N802
@@ -635,8 +637,11 @@ class AppDelegate(NSObject):
             self._user_viz_lock_t = _t.monotonic()
             LOG.info("[key] m -> scene stop + viz openpos (matrix mode)")
             return None
-        # qsdfghjkl -> audio (scene SC)
-        for kk, scene in KEYMAP_AUDIO:
+        # qsdfghjkl -> audio (scene SC): gated OFF by default like wxcvbn
+        # (VIZ_AUDIO_KEYS=1 re-enables) — stray keys fire auto-synth scenes
+        # mid-performance. The m matrix-mode shortcut above stays active.
+        _audio_maps = KEYMAP_AUDIO if getattr(self, "_audio_keys", False) else ()
+        for kk, scene in _audio_maps:
             if k == kk:
                 self._scClient.send_message("/control/doScene", [scene])
                 with self._state.lock():
diff --git a/data_only_viz/tests/test_config.py b/data_only_viz/tests/test_config.py
index 9e07f35..e9edd19 100644
--- a/data_only_viz/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/data_only_viz/tests/test_config.py
@@ -413,3 +413,9 @@ def test_viz_source_keys_default_off():
     cfg = VizConfig.from_env({})
     assert cfg.viz_source_keys is False
     assert VizConfig.from_env({"VIZ_SOURCE_KEYS": "1"}).viz_source_keys is True
+
+
+def test_viz_audio_keys_default_off():
+    cfg = VizConfig.from_env({})
+    assert cfg.viz_audio_keys is False
+    assert VizConfig.from_env({"VIZ_AUDIO_KEYS": "1"}).viz_audio_keys is True