diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/console.conf b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/console.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a9437255
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/console.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# font size used by mpv's console (`); default 16
+# font_size=28
+scale=2
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/default.nix b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/default.nix
index 0ee95dbb..c4b8b290 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/default.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/default.nix
@@ -139,130 +139,12 @@ in
       # for `watch_later`
       ".local/state/mpv"
     ];
-    fs.".config/mpv/input.conf".symlink.text = ''
-      # docs:
-      # - <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#list-of-input-commands>
-      # - script-binding: <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#command-interface-script-binding>
-      # - properties: <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#property-list>
-
-      # let volume/power keys be interpreted by the system.
-      # this is important for sxmo.
-      # mpv defaults is POWER = close, VOLUME_{UP,DOWN} = adjust application-level volume
-      POWER ignore
-      VOLUME_UP ignore
-      VOLUME_DOWN ignore
-
-      # uosc menu
-      # text after the shebang is parsed by uosc to construct the menu and names
-      menu        script-binding uosc/menu
-      s           script-binding uosc/subtitles          #! Subtitles
-      a           script-binding uosc/audio              #! Audio tracks
-      q           script-binding uosc/stream-quality     #! Stream quality
-      p           script-binding uosc/items              #! Playlist
-      c           script-binding uosc/chapters           #! Chapters
-      >           script-binding uosc/next               #! Navigation > Next
-      <           script-binding uosc/prev               #! Navigation > Prev
-      o           script-binding uosc/open-file          #! Navigation > Open file
-      #           set video-aspect-override "-1"         #! Utils > Aspect ratio > Default
-      #           set video-aspect-override "16:9"       #! Utils > Aspect ratio > 16:9
-      #           set video-aspect-override "4:3"        #! Utils > Aspect ratio > 4:3
-      #           set video-aspect-override "2.35:1"     #! Utils > Aspect ratio > 2.35:1
-      #           script-binding uosc/audio-device       #! Utils > Audio devices
-      #           script-binding uosc/editions           #! Utils > Editions
-      ctrl+s      async screenshot                       #! Utils > Screenshot
-      alt+i       script-binding uosc/keybinds           #! Utils > Key bindings
-      O           script-binding uosc/show-in-directory  #! Utils > Show in directory
-      #           script-binding uosc/open-config-directory #! Utils > Open config directory
-      ctrl+r      run blast-to-default                   #! Audiocast
-      ctrl+t      set pause yes; run xdg-terminal-exec go2tv -v "''${stream-open-filename}" #! Cast
-      #           set pause yes; run xdg-terminal-exec go2tv -u "''${stream-open-filename}" #! Cast (...) > Stream
-      #           set pause yes; run go2tv #! Cast (...) > GUI
-      # TODO: unify "Cast" and "Cast (stream)" options above.
-    '';
-    fs.".config/mpv/mpv.conf".symlink.text = ''
-      # write ~/.local/state/mpv/watch_later on exit, to allow resume
-      save-position-on-quit=yes
-      # identify resumed files by filename only, since i use so many symlinks and doubt mpv does well with that.
-      ignore-path-in-watch-later-config
-
-      # keep-open: don't exit on completion of last file in playlist
-      keep-open=yes
-      # seeking once at the end of the file causes auto-resume
-      keep-open-pause=no
-
-      # force GUI, even for tracks w/o album art
-      # see: <https://www.reddit.com/r/mpv/comments/rvrrpt/oscosdgui_and_arch_linux/>
-      player-operation-mode=pseudo-gui
-
-      # use uosc instead (for On Screen Controls)
-      osc=no
-      # uosc provides its own seeking/volume indicators, so you also don't need this
-      osd-bar=no
-      # uosc will draw its own window controls if you disable window border
-      border=no
-
-      # ao=alsa so that uosc can work with ao-volume (see my uosc patch)
-      ao=alsa
-      # with `ao-volume`, the max actually is 100.
-      # to go higher you'll have to use the system's native controls.
-      volume-max=100
-    '';
-    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/osc.conf".symlink.text = ''
-      # make the on-screen controls *always* visible
-      # unfortunately, this applies to full-screen as well
-      # - docs: <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#on-screen-controller-visibility>
-      # if uosc is installed, this file is unused
-      visibility=always
-    '';
-    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/console.conf".symlink.text = ''
-      # font size used by mpv's console (`); default 16
-      # font_size=28
-      scale=2
-    '';
-    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/uosc.conf".symlink.text = let
-      play_pause_btn = "cycle:play_arrow:pause:no=pause/yes=play_arrow";
-      rev_btn = "command:replay_10:seek -10";
-      fwd_btn = "command:forward_30:seek 30";
-    in ''
-      # docs:
-      # - <https://github.com/tomasklaen/uosc>
-      # - <https://github.com/tomasklaen/uosc/blob/main/src/uosc.conf>
-      # - <https://superuser.com/questions/1775550/add-new-buttons-to-mpv-uosc-ui>
-      timeline_style=bar
-      timeline_line_width=4
-      timeline_size=36
-      timeline_persistency=paused,audio
-      controls_persistency=paused,audio
-      volume_persistency=audio
-
-      # speed_persistency=paused,audio
-      # vvv  want a close button?
-      top_bar=always
-      top_bar_persistency=paused,audio
-
-      controls=menu,<video>subtitles,<has_many_audio>audio,<has_many_video>video,<has_many_edition>editions,<stream>stream-quality,space,${rev_btn},${play_pause_btn},${fwd_btn},space,speed:1.0,gap,<video>fullscreen
-
-      # text_border: shadow to place around icons/text which is rendered over the video
-      text_border=5.0
-      # border_radius: rounding of volume slider, etc.
-      border_radius=5.0
-      font_scale=1.5
-      font_bold=yes
-      # refine=text_width: slightly better text rendering
-      refine=text_width
-      color=foreground=ff8080,background_text=ff8080
-      # N.B.: if `opacity=` is set non-empty, then ALL items must be specified (else they get 0 opacity).
-      # opacity values *must* be a multiple of 0.1
-      opacity=timeline=0.8,position=1,chapters=0.8,slider=0.8,slider_gauge=0.8,controls=0,speed=0.8,menu=1,submenu=0.4,border=1,title=0.8,tooltip=1,thumbnail=1,curtain=0.8,idle_indicator=0.8,audio_indicator=0.5,buffering_indicator=0.3,playlist_position=0.8
-
-      stream_quality_options=1440,1080,720,480,360,240,144
-    '';
-    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/playlistmanager.conf".symlink.text = ''
-      # script docs: <https://github.com/jonniek/mpv-playlistmanager>
-
-      # auto-populate playlist with other files in the same directory, on launch.
-      loadfiles_on_start=yes
-    '';
+    fs.".config/mpv/input.conf".symlink.target = ./input.conf;
+    fs.".config/mpv/mpv.conf".symlink.target = ./mpv.conf;
+    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/osc.conf".symlink.target = ./osc.conf;
+    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/console.conf".symlink.target = ./console.conf;
+    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/uosc.conf".symlink.target = ./uosc.conf;
+    fs.".config/mpv/script-opts/playlistmanager.conf".symlink.target = ./playlistmanager.conf;
 
     # mime.priority = 200;  # default = 100; 200 means to yield to other apps
     mime.priority = 50;  # default = 100; 50 in order to take precedence over vlc.
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/input.conf b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/input.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d34e05e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/input.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# docs:
+# - <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#list-of-input-commands>
+# - script-binding: <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#command-interface-script-binding>
+# - properties: <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#property-list>
+
+# let volume/power keys be interpreted by the system.
+# this is important for sxmo.
+# mpv defaults is POWER = close, VOLUME_{UP,DOWN} = adjust application-level volume
+POWER ignore
+VOLUME_UP ignore
+VOLUME_DOWN ignore
+
+# uosc menu
+# text after the shebang is parsed by uosc to construct the menu and names
+menu        script-binding uosc/menu
+s           script-binding uosc/subtitles          #! Subtitles
+a           script-binding uosc/audio              #! Audio tracks
+q           script-binding uosc/stream-quality     #! Stream quality
+p           script-binding uosc/items              #! Playlist
+c           script-binding uosc/chapters           #! Chapters
+>           script-binding uosc/next               #! Navigation > Next
+<           script-binding uosc/prev               #! Navigation > Prev
+o           script-binding uosc/open-file          #! Navigation > Open file
+#           set video-aspect-override "-1"         #! Utils > Aspect ratio > Default
+#           set video-aspect-override "16:9"       #! Utils > Aspect ratio > 16:9
+#           set video-aspect-override "4:3"        #! Utils > Aspect ratio > 4:3
+#           set video-aspect-override "2.35:1"     #! Utils > Aspect ratio > 2.35:1
+#           script-binding uosc/audio-device       #! Utils > Audio devices
+#           script-binding uosc/editions           #! Utils > Editions
+ctrl+s      async screenshot                       #! Utils > Screenshot
+alt+i       script-binding uosc/keybinds           #! Utils > Key bindings
+O           script-binding uosc/show-in-directory  #! Utils > Show in directory
+#           script-binding uosc/open-config-directory #! Utils > Open config directory
+ctrl+r      run blast-to-default                   #! Audiocast
+ctrl+t      set pause yes; run xdg-terminal-exec go2tv -v "${stream-open-filename}" #! Cast
+#           set pause yes; run xdg-terminal-exec go2tv -u "${stream-open-filename}" #! Cast (...) > Stream
+#           set pause yes; run go2tv #! Cast (...) > GUI
+# TODO: unify "Cast" and "Cast (stream)" options above.
+
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/mpv.conf b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/mpv.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d302657a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/mpv.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# write ~/.local/state/mpv/watch_later on exit, to allow resume
+save-position-on-quit=yes
+# identify resumed files by filename only, since i use so many symlinks and doubt mpv does well with that.
+ignore-path-in-watch-later-config
+
+# keep-open: don't exit on completion of last file in playlist
+keep-open=yes
+# seeking once at the end of the file causes auto-resume
+keep-open-pause=no
+
+# force GUI, even for tracks w/o album art
+# see: <https://www.reddit.com/r/mpv/comments/rvrrpt/oscosdgui_and_arch_linux/>
+player-operation-mode=pseudo-gui
+
+# use uosc instead (for On Screen Controls)
+osc=no
+# uosc provides its own seeking/volume indicators, so you also don't need this
+osd-bar=no
+# uosc will draw its own window controls if you disable window border
+border=no
+
+# ao=alsa so that uosc can work with ao-volume (see my uosc patch)
+ao=alsa
+# with `ao-volume`, the max actually is 100.
+# to go higher you'll have to use the system's native controls.
+volume-max=100
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/osc.conf b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/osc.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c09b96e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/osc.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# make the on-screen controls *always* visible
+# unfortunately, this applies to full-screen as well
+# - docs: <https://mpv.io/manual/master/#on-screen-controller-visibility>
+# if uosc is installed, this file is unused
+visibility=always
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/playlistmanager.conf b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/playlistmanager.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a99898a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/playlistmanager.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# script docs: <https://github.com/jonniek/mpv-playlistmanager>
+
+# auto-populate playlist with other files in the same directory, on launch.
+loadfiles_on_start=yes
diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/mpv/uosc.conf b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/uosc.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d546c041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/mpv/uosc.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# docs:
+# - <https://github.com/tomasklaen/uosc>
+# - <https://github.com/tomasklaen/uosc/blob/main/src/uosc.conf>
+# - <https://superuser.com/questions/1775550/add-new-buttons-to-mpv-uosc-ui>
+timeline_style=bar
+timeline_line_width=4
+timeline_size=36
+timeline_persistency=paused,audio
+controls_persistency=paused,audio
+volume_persistency=audio
+
+# speed_persistency=paused,audio
+# vvv  want a close button?
+top_bar=always
+top_bar_persistency=paused,audio
+
+controls=menu,<video>subtitles,<has_many_audio>audio,<has_many_video>video,<has_many_edition>editions,<stream>stream-quality,space,command:replay_10:seek -10,cycle:play_arrow:pause:no=pause/yes=play_arrow,command:forward_30:seek 30,space,speed:1.0,gap,<video>fullscreen
+
+# text_border: shadow to place around icons/text which is rendered over the video
+text_border=5.0
+# border_radius: rounding of volume slider, etc.
+border_radius=5.0
+font_scale=1.5
+font_bold=yes
+# refine=text_width: slightly better text rendering
+refine=text_width
+color=foreground=ff8080,background_text=ff8080
+# N.B.: if `opacity=` is set non-empty, then ALL items must be specified (else they get 0 opacity).
+# opacity values *must* be a multiple of 0.1
+opacity=timeline=0.8,position=1,chapters=0.8,slider=0.8,slider_gauge=0.8,controls=0,speed=0.8,menu=1,submenu=0.4,border=1,title=0.8,tooltip=1,thumbnail=1,curtain=0.8,idle_indicator=0.8,audio_indicator=0.5,buffering_indicator=0.3,playlist_position=0.8
+
+stream_quality_options=1440,1080,720,480,360,240,144