diff --git a/include/STTypes.h b/include/STTypes.h
index e9ce847..e648bc8 100644
--- a/include/STTypes.h
+++ b/include/STTypes.h
@@ -143,8 +143,20 @@ namespace soundtouch
         #endif
 
     #endif  // SOUNDTOUCH_INTEGER_SAMPLES
+
 };
 
+// define ST_NO_EXCEPTION_HANDLING switch to disable throwing std exceptions:
+// #define ST_NO_EXCEPTION_HANDLING    1
+#ifdef ST_NO_EXCEPTION_HANDLING
+    // Exceptions disabled. Throw asserts instead if enabled.
+    #include <assert.h>
+    #define ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(x)    {assert((const char *)x);}
+#else
+    // use c++ standard exceptions
+    #include <stdexcept>
+    #define ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(x)    {throw std::runtime_error(x);}
+#endif
 
 // When this #define is active, eliminates a clicking sound when the "rate" or "pitch" 
 // parameter setting crosses from value <1 to >=1 or vice versa during processing. 
diff --git a/source/SoundStretch/RunParameters.cpp b/source/SoundStretch/RunParameters.cpp
index 2e0c0c6..e5f569e 100644
--- a/source/SoundStretch/RunParameters.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundStretch/RunParameters.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
 //
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-#include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ RunParameters::RunParameters(const int nParams, const char * const paramStr[])
         }
         string msg = whatText;
         msg += usage;
-        throw runtime_error(msg.c_str());
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
     }
 
     inFileName = NULL;
@@ -200,14 +199,14 @@ void RunParameters::throwIllegalParamExp(const string &str) const
     msg += str;
     msg += "\".\n\n";
     msg += usage;
-    throw runtime_error(msg.c_str());
+    ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
 }
 
 
 
 void RunParameters::throwLicense() const
 {
-    throw runtime_error(licenseText);
+    ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(licenseText);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/SoundStretch/WavFile.cpp b/source/SoundStretch/WavFile.cpp
index 31760c9..c02092b 100644
--- a/source/SoundStretch/WavFile.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundStretch/WavFile.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 #include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 #include <sstream>
 #include <cstring>
@@ -54,6 +53,7 @@
 #include <limits.h>
 
 #include "WavFile.h"
+#include "STTypes.h"
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ WavInFile::WavInFile(const char *fileName)
         string msg = "Error : Unable to open file \"";
         msg += fileName;
         msg += "\" for reading.";
-        throw runtime_error(msg);
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
     }
 
     init();
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ WavInFile::WavInFile(FILE *file)
     {
         // didn't succeed
         string msg = "Error : Unable to access input stream for reading";
-        throw runtime_error(msg);
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
     }
 
     init();
@@ -185,13 +185,13 @@ void WavInFile::init()
     {
         // Something didn't match in the wav file headers 
         string msg = "Input file is corrupt or not a WAV file";
-        throw runtime_error(msg);
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
     }
 
     if (header.format.fixed != 1)
     {
         string msg = "Input file uses unsupported encoding.";
-        throw runtime_error(msg);
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
     }
 
     dataRead = 0;
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ int WavInFile::read(char *buffer, int maxElems)
     // ensure it's 8 bit format
     if (header.format.bits_per_sample != 8)
     {
-        throw runtime_error("Error: WavInFile::read(char*, int) works only with 8bit samples.");
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error: WavInFile::read(char*, int) works only with 8bit samples.");
     }
     assert(sizeof(char) == 1);
 
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ int WavInFile::read(short *buffer, int maxElems)
             ss << "\nOnly 8/16 bit sample WAV files supported. Can't open WAV file with ";
             ss << (int)header.format.bits_per_sample;
             ss << " bit sample format. ";
-            throw runtime_error(ss.str());
+            ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
         }
 
         assert(sizeof(short) == 2);
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ WavOutFile::WavOutFile(const char *fileName, int sampleRate, int bits, int chann
         msg += fileName;
         msg += "\" for writing.";
         //pmsg = msg.c_str;
-        throw runtime_error(msg);
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
     }
 
     fillInHeader(sampleRate, bits, channels);
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ WavOutFile::WavOutFile(FILE *file, int sampleRate, int bits, int channels)
     if (fptr == NULL) 
     {
         string msg = "Error : Unable to access output file stream.";
-        throw runtime_error(msg);
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(msg.c_str());
     }
 
     fillInHeader(sampleRate, bits, channels);
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ void WavOutFile::writeHeader()
     res = (int)fwrite(&hdrTemp, sizeof(hdrTemp), 1, fptr);
     if (res != 1)
     {
-        throw runtime_error("Error while writing to a wav file.");
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error while writing to a wav file.");
     }
 
     // jump back to the end of the file
@@ -672,14 +672,14 @@ void WavOutFile::write(const char *buffer, int numElems)
 
     if (header.format.bits_per_sample != 8)
     {
-        throw runtime_error("Error: WavOutFile::write(const char*, int) accepts only 8bit samples.");
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error: WavOutFile::write(const char*, int) accepts only 8bit samples.");
     }
     assert(sizeof(char) == 1);
 
     res = (int)fwrite(buffer, 1, numElems, fptr);
     if (res != numElems) 
     {
-        throw runtime_error("Error while writing to a wav file.");
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error while writing to a wav file.");
     }
 
     bytesWritten += numElems;
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ void WavOutFile::write(const short *buffer, int numElems)
             ss << "\nOnly 8/16 bit sample WAV files supported. Can't open WAV file with ";
             ss << (int)header.format.bits_per_sample;
             ss << " bit sample format. ";
-            throw runtime_error(ss.str());
+            ST_THROW_RT_ERROR(ss.str().c_str());
         }
 
         // allocate temp buffer to swap byte order if necessary
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ void WavOutFile::write(const short *buffer, int numElems)
 
         if (res != numElems) 
         {
-            throw runtime_error("Error while writing to a wav file.");
+            ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error while writing to a wav file.");
         }
         bytesWritten += 2 * numElems;
     }
diff --git a/source/SoundTouch/FIFOSampleBuffer.cpp b/source/SoundTouch/FIFOSampleBuffer.cpp
index 8393f7b..f9efee6 100644
--- a/source/SoundTouch/FIFOSampleBuffer.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundTouch/FIFOSampleBuffer.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@
 #include <memory.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <assert.h>
-#include <stdexcept>
 
 #include "FIFOSampleBuffer.h"
 
@@ -175,7 +174,7 @@ void FIFOSampleBuffer::ensureCapacity(uint capacityRequirement)
         tempUnaligned = new SAMPLETYPE[sizeInBytes / sizeof(SAMPLETYPE) + 16 / sizeof(SAMPLETYPE)];
         if (tempUnaligned == NULL)
         {
-            throw std::runtime_error("Couldn't allocate memory!\n");
+            ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Couldn't allocate memory!\n");
         }
         // Align the buffer to begin at 16byte cache line boundary for optimal performance
         temp = (SAMPLETYPE *)(((ulong)tempUnaligned + 15) & (ulong)-16);
diff --git a/source/SoundTouch/FIRFilter.cpp b/source/SoundTouch/FIRFilter.cpp
index a274562..f882f7e 100644
--- a/source/SoundTouch/FIRFilter.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundTouch/FIRFilter.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <math.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
-#include <stdexcept>
 #include "FIRFilter.h"
 #include "cpu_detect.h"
 
@@ -174,7 +173,7 @@ uint FIRFilter::evaluateFilterMono(SAMPLETYPE *dest, const SAMPLETYPE *src, uint
 void FIRFilter::setCoefficients(const SAMPLETYPE *coeffs, uint newLength, uint uResultDivFactor)
 {
     assert(newLength > 0);
-    if (newLength % 8) throw std::runtime_error("FIR filter length not divisible by 8");
+    if (newLength % 8) ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("FIR filter length not divisible by 8");
 
     lengthDiv8 = newLength / 8;
     length = lengthDiv8 * 8;
@@ -222,8 +221,8 @@ uint FIRFilter::evaluate(SAMPLETYPE *dest, const SAMPLETYPE *src, uint numSample
 void * FIRFilter::operator new(size_t s)
 {
     // Notice! don't use "new FIRFilter" directly, use "newInstance" to create a new instance instead!
-    throw std::runtime_error("Error in FIRFilter::new: Don't use 'new FIRFilter', use 'newInstance' member instead!");
-    return NULL;
+    ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error in FIRFilter::new: Don't use 'new FIRFilter', use 'newInstance' member instead!");
+    return newInstance();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/SoundTouch/RateTransposer.cpp b/source/SoundTouch/RateTransposer.cpp
index 2afc187..772e95b 100644
--- a/source/SoundTouch/RateTransposer.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundTouch/RateTransposer.cpp
@@ -42,11 +42,9 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdexcept>
 #include "RateTransposer.h"
 #include "AAFilter.h"
 
-using namespace std;
 using namespace soundtouch;
 
 
@@ -108,8 +106,8 @@ public:
 // depending on if we've a MMX/SSE/etc-capable CPU available or not.
 void * RateTransposer::operator new(size_t s)
 {
-    throw runtime_error("Error in RateTransoser::new: don't use \"new TDStretch\" directly, use \"newInstance\" to create a new instance instead!");
-    return NULL;
+    ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error in RateTransoser::new: don't use \"new TDStretch\" directly, use \"newInstance\" to create a new instance instead!");
+    return newInstance();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/SoundTouch/SoundTouch.cpp b/source/SoundTouch/SoundTouch.cpp
index 6f7b9a8..b67dd2c 100644
--- a/source/SoundTouch/SoundTouch.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundTouch/SoundTouch.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <memory.h>
 #include <math.h>
-#include <stdexcept>
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include "SoundTouch.h"
@@ -146,7 +145,7 @@ void SoundTouch::setChannels(uint numChannels)
 {
     if (numChannels != 1 && numChannels != 2) 
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Illegal number of channels");
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Illegal number of channels");
     }
     channels = numChannels;
     pRateTransposer->setChannels((int)numChannels);
@@ -295,11 +294,11 @@ void SoundTouch::putSamples(const SAMPLETYPE *samples, uint nSamples)
 {
     if (bSrateSet == FALSE) 
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("SoundTouch : Sample rate not defined");
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("SoundTouch : Sample rate not defined");
     } 
     else if (channels == 0) 
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("SoundTouch : Number of channels not defined");
+        ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("SoundTouch : Number of channels not defined");
     }
 
     // Transpose the rate of the new samples if necessary
diff --git a/source/SoundTouch/TDStretch.cpp b/source/SoundTouch/TDStretch.cpp
index 3ef7798..b8dc488 100644
--- a/source/SoundTouch/TDStretch.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundTouch/TDStretch.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <math.h>
 #include <float.h>
-#include <stdexcept>
 
 #include "STTypes.h"
 #include "cpu_detect.h"
@@ -731,8 +730,8 @@ void TDStretch::acceptNewOverlapLength(int newOverlapLength)
 void * TDStretch::operator new(size_t s)
 {
     // Notice! don't use "new TDStretch" directly, use "newInstance" to create a new instance instead!
-    throw std::runtime_error("Error in TDStretch::new: Don't use 'new TDStretch' directly, use 'newInstance' member instead!");
-    return NULL;
+    ST_THROW_RT_ERROR("Error in TDStretch::new: Don't use 'new TDStretch' directly, use 'newInstance' member instead!");
+    return newInstance();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/SoundTouch/cpu_detect_x86_gcc.cpp b/source/SoundTouch/cpu_detect_x86_gcc.cpp
index a56d6cb..55c4651 100644
--- a/source/SoundTouch/cpu_detect_x86_gcc.cpp
+++ b/source/SoundTouch/cpu_detect_x86_gcc.cpp
@@ -39,15 +39,9 @@
 //
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
-#include <stdexcept>
-#include <string>
 #include "cpu_detect.h"
 #include "STTypes.h"
 
-using namespace std;
-
-#include <stdio.h>
-
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //
 // processor instructions extension detection routines