diff --git a/src/common/audio/sound/s_soundinternal.h b/src/common/audio/sound/s_soundinternal.h
index dbcffe0908..93bbba79eb 100644
--- a/src/common/audio/sound/s_soundinternal.h
+++ b/src/common/audio/sound/s_soundinternal.h
@@ -27,10 +27,6 @@ class FSoundID
 public:
 	FSoundID() = default;
 
-	static FSoundID byResId(int ndx)
-	{
-		return FSoundID(S_FindSoundByResID(ndx)); 
-	}
 	constexpr FSoundID(int id) : ID(id)
 	{
 	}
diff --git a/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp b/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
index 3bdcfe3ad0..b6a7ca03bb 100644
--- a/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/vmthunks_actors.cpp
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ void A_StartSoundIfNotSame(AActor *self, int soundid, int checksoundid, int chan
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, A_StartSoundIfNotSame, A_StartSoundIfNotSame)
 {
 	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AActor);
-	PARAM_SOUND(soundid);
-	PARAM_SOUND(checksoundid);
+	PARAM_INT(soundid);
+	PARAM_INT(checksoundid);
 	PARAM_INT(channel);
 	PARAM_INT(flags);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(volume);
@@ -220,7 +220,13 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, A_StartSoundIfNotSame, A_StartSoundIfNotSa
 	return 0;
 }
 
-DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, IsActorPlayingSound, S_IsActorPlayingSomething)
+// direct native scripting export.
+static int S_IsActorPlayingSomethingID(AActor* actor, int channel, int sound_id)
+{
+	return S_IsActorPlayingSomething(actor, channel, FSoundID::fromInt(sound_id));
+}
+
+DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION_NATIVE(AActor, IsActorPlayingSound, S_IsActorPlayingSomethingID)
 {
 	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AActor);
 	PARAM_INT(channel);
diff --git a/src/sound/s_advsound.cpp b/src/sound/s_advsound.cpp
index 9db16f2d08..cc79c44cc6 100644
--- a/src/sound/s_advsound.cpp
+++ b/src/sound/s_advsound.cpp
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ struct FSavedPlayerSoundInfo
 {
 	FName pclass;
 	int gender;
-	int refid;
+	FSoundID refid;
 	int lumpnum;
 	bool alias;
 };
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ extern bool IsFloat (const char *str);
 // PRIVATE FUNCTION PROTOTYPES ---------------------------------------------
 
 static int SortPlayerClasses (const void *a, const void *b);
-static int S_DupPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int aliasref);
-static void S_SavePlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int lumpnum, bool alias);
+static FSoundID S_DupPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, FSoundID refid, FSoundID aliasref);
+static void S_SavePlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, FSoundID refid, int lumpnum, bool alias);
 static void S_RestorePlayerSounds();
 static int S_AddPlayerClass (const char *name);
 static int S_AddPlayerGender (int classnum, int gender);
@@ -468,8 +468,7 @@ static FSoundID S_AddSound (const char *logicalname, int lumpnum, FScanner *sc)
 // Adds the given sound lump to the player sound lists.
 //==========================================================================
 
-int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid,
-	const char *lumpname)
+int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, FSoundID refid, const char *lumpname)
 {
 	int lump=-1;
 	
@@ -481,7 +480,7 @@ int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid,
 	return S_AddPlayerSound (pclass, gender, refid, lump);
 }
 
-int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int lumpnum, bool fromskin)
+int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, FSoundID refid, int lumpnum, bool fromskin)
 {
 	FString fakename;
 	int id;
@@ -513,7 +512,7 @@ int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int lumpnum, bo
 // Adds the player sound as an alias to an existing sound.
 //==========================================================================
 
-int S_AddPlayerSoundExisting (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int aliasto, bool fromskin)
+int S_AddPlayerSoundExisting (const char *pclass, int gender, FSoundID refid, FSoundID aliasto, bool fromskin)
 {
 	int classnum = S_AddPlayerClass (pclass);
 	int soundlist = S_AddPlayerGender (classnum, gender);
@@ -522,7 +521,7 @@ int S_AddPlayerSoundExisting (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int ali
 
 	PlayerSounds[soundlist].AddSound (sfx->link, aliasto);
 
-	if (fromskin) S_SavePlayerSound(pclass, gender, refid, aliasto, true);
+	if (fromskin) S_SavePlayerSound(pclass, gender, refid, aliasto.index(), true);
 
 	return aliasto;
 }
@@ -534,7 +533,7 @@ int S_AddPlayerSoundExisting (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int ali
 // Adds a player sound that uses the same sound as an existing player sound.
 //==========================================================================
 
-int S_DupPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int aliasref)
+FSoundID S_DupPlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, FSoundID refid, FSoundID aliasref)
 {
 	int aliasto = S_LookupPlayerSound (pclass, gender, aliasref);
 	return S_AddPlayerSoundExisting (pclass, gender, refid, aliasto);
@@ -1369,7 +1368,7 @@ static FSoundID S_LookupPlayerSound (int classidx, int gender, FSoundID refid)
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-static void S_SavePlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, int refid, int lumpnum, bool alias)
+static void S_SavePlayerSound (const char *pclass, int gender, FSoundID refid, int lumpnum, bool alias)
 {
 	FSavedPlayerSoundInfo spi;
 
@@ -1388,7 +1387,7 @@ static void S_RestorePlayerSounds()
 		FSavedPlayerSoundInfo * spi = &SavedPlayerSounds[i];
 		if (spi->alias)
 		{
-			S_AddPlayerSoundExisting(spi->pclass.GetChars(), spi->gender, spi->refid, spi->lumpnum);
+			S_AddPlayerSoundExisting(spi->pclass.GetChars(), spi->gender, spi->refid, FSoundID::fromInt(spi->lumpnum));
 		}
 		else
 		{
diff --git a/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp b/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp
index 40068dab4d..cf71941ce1 100644
--- a/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp
+++ b/src/sound/s_doomsound.cpp
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(DObject, S_Sound)
 	PARAM_FLOAT(attn);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(pitch);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(startTime);
-	S_SoundPitch(channel & 7, EChanFlags::FromInt(channel & ~7), id, static_cast<float>(volume), static_cast<float>(attn), static_cast<float>(pitch), static_cast<float>(startTime));
+	S_SoundPitch(channel & 7, EChanFlags::FromInt(channel & ~7), FSoundID::fromInt(id), static_cast<float>(volume), static_cast<float>(attn), static_cast<float>(pitch), static_cast<float>(startTime));
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(DObject, S_StartSound)
 	PARAM_FLOAT(attn);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(pitch);
 	PARAM_FLOAT(startTime);
-	S_SoundPitch(channel, EChanFlags::FromInt(flags), id, static_cast<float>(volume), static_cast<float>(attn), static_cast<float>(pitch), static_cast<float>(startTime));
+	S_SoundPitch(channel, EChanFlags::FromInt(flags), FSoundID::fromInt(id), static_cast<float>(volume), static_cast<float>(attn), static_cast<float>(pitch), static_cast<float>(startTime));
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ void S_PlaySound(AActor *a, int chan, EChanFlags flags, FSoundID sid, float vol,
 
 void A_StartSound(AActor *self, int soundid, int channel, int flags, double volume, double attenuation, double pitch, double startTime)
 {
-	S_PlaySoundPitch(self, channel, EChanFlags::FromInt(flags), soundid, (float)volume, (float)attenuation, (float)pitch, (float)startTime);
+	S_PlaySoundPitch(self, channel, EChanFlags::FromInt(flags), FSoundID::fromInt(soundid), (float)volume, (float)attenuation, (float)pitch, (float)startTime);
 }
 
 void A_PlaySound(AActor* self, int soundid, int channel, double volume, int looping, double attenuation, int local, double pitch)
@@ -727,17 +727,17 @@ void S_ChangeActorSoundPitch(AActor *actor, int channel, double pitch)
 // Is a sound being played by a specific emitter?
 //==========================================================================
 
-bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const AActor *actor, int sound_id)
+bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const AActor *actor, FSoundID sound_id)
 {
 	return soundEngine->GetSoundPlayingInfo(SOURCE_Actor, actor, sound_id);
 }
 
-bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const sector_t *sec, int sound_id)
+bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const sector_t *sec, FSoundID sound_id)
 {
 	return soundEngine->GetSoundPlayingInfo(SOURCE_Sector, sec, sound_id);
 }
 
-bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const FPolyObj *poly, int sound_id)
+bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const FPolyObj *poly, FSoundID sound_id)
 {
 	return soundEngine->GetSoundPlayingInfo(SOURCE_Polyobj, poly, sound_id);
 }
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const FPolyObj *poly, int sound_id)
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-int S_IsActorPlayingSomething (AActor *actor, int channel, int sound_id)
+bool S_IsActorPlayingSomething (AActor *actor, int channel, FSoundID sound_id)
 {
 	if (compatflags & COMPATF_MAGICSILENCE)
 	{
diff --git a/src/sound/s_doomsound.h b/src/sound/s_doomsound.h
index e826c69dee..35191110fa 100644
--- a/src/sound/s_doomsound.h
+++ b/src/sound/s_doomsound.h
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@ void S_StopActorSounds(AActor *actor, int chanmin, int chanmax);
 void S_RelinkSound (AActor *from, AActor *to);
 
 // Is the sound playing on one of the emitter's channels?
-bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const AActor *actor, int sound_id);
-bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const sector_t *sector, int sound_id);
-bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const FPolyObj *poly, int sound_id);
+bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const AActor *actor, FSoundID sound_id = INVALID_SOUND);
+bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const sector_t *sector, FSoundID sound_id = INVALID_SOUND);
+bool S_GetSoundPlayingInfo (const FPolyObj *poly, FSoundID sound_id = INVALID_SOUND);
 
-int S_IsActorPlayingSomething (AActor *actor, int channel, int sound_id);
+bool S_IsActorPlayingSomething (AActor *actor, int channel, FSoundID sound_id = INVALID_SOUND);
 
 // Change a playing sound's volume
 void S_ChangeActorSoundVolume(AActor *actor, int channel, double volume);
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ void S_ChangeActorSoundPitch(AActor *actor, int channel, double pitch);
 // Stores/retrieves playing channel information in an archive.
 void S_SerializeSounds(FSerializer &arc);
 
+// these must retain their integer sound IDs because they are direct native functions for ZScript.
 void A_PlaySound(AActor *self, int soundid, int channel, double volume, int looping, double attenuation, int local, double pitch);
 void A_StartSound(AActor* self, int soundid, int channel, int flags, double volume, double attenuation,  double pitch, double startTime = 0.);
 static void S_SetListener(AActor *listenactor);
diff --git a/src/sound/s_sound.h b/src/sound/s_sound.h
index 42b2d24926..e0624aa7d9 100644
--- a/src/sound/s_sound.h
+++ b/src/sound/s_sound.h
@@ -72,9 +72,9 @@ const char *S_GetSoundClass(AActor *pp);
 FSoundID S_FindSkinnedSound (AActor *actor, FSoundID refid);
 int S_FindSkinnedSoundEx (AActor *actor, const char *logicalname, const char *extendedname);
 FSoundID S_AddSound (const char *logicalname, const char *lumpname, FScanner *sc=NULL);	// Add sound by lumpname
-int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *playerclass, const int gender, int refid, const char *lumpname);
-int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *playerclass, const int gender, int refid, int lumpnum, bool fromskin=false);
-int S_AddPlayerSoundExisting (const char *playerclass, const int gender, int refid, int aliasto, bool fromskin=false);
+int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *playerclass, const int gender, FSoundID refid, const char *lumpname);
+int S_AddPlayerSound (const char *playerclass, const int gender, FSoundID refid, int lumpnum, bool fromskin=false);
+int S_AddPlayerSoundExisting (const char *playerclass, const int gender, FSoundID refid, FSoundID aliasto, bool fromskin=false);
 void S_MarkPlayerSounds (AActor *player);
 void S_ShrinkPlayerSoundLists ();
 unsigned int S_GetMSLength(FSoundID sound);