diff --git a/crates/oakaudio/src/ffi.rs b/crates/oakaudio/src/ffi.rs
index 7ee9ed45e..e4d745419 100644
--- a/crates/oakaudio/src/ffi.rs
+++ b/crates/oakaudio/src/ffi.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 //! unwrap handles, call safe Rust, and map results through
 //! [`crate::handle::guard*`].
 
-use std::ffi::{c_char, c_double, c_int, CStr};
+use std::ffi::{c_char, c_double, c_float, c_int, CStr};
 
 use oakcore_rs::Rational;
 
@@ -217,6 +217,23 @@ pub mod manager {
 		guard(|| crate::manager::stop_output(&_self))
 	}
 
+	/// `oakaudio_manager_output_levels` — per-channel linear peaks of the
+	/// buffered output into `peaks` (up to `capacity` entries). Returns
+	/// the channel count (0 when nothing is buffered or no output is
+	/// configured). OAKAUDIO_E_INVALID for NULL/zero-capacity out args.
+	#[no_mangle]
+	pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakaudio_manager_output_levels(
+		_self: CHandle,
+		peaks: *mut c_float,
+		capacity: c_int,
+	) -> c_int {
+		guard_int(|| {
+			invalid_if(peaks.is_null() || capacity <= 0)?;
+			let slice = unsafe { std::slice::from_raw_parts_mut(peaks, capacity as usize) };
+			crate::manager::output_levels(&_self, slice)
+		})
+	}
+
 	/// `oakaudio_manager_seconds`: write elapsed playback seconds into `out`.
 	#[no_mangle]
 	pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakaudio_manager_seconds(_self: CHandle, out: *mut c_double) -> c_int {
diff --git a/crates/oakaudio/src/manager.rs b/crates/oakaudio/src/manager.rs
index 7fec54ae6..04100079a 100644
--- a/crates/oakaudio/src/manager.rs
+++ b/crates/oakaudio/src/manager.rs
@@ -372,6 +372,73 @@ pub fn find_device_by_name_s(name: &std::ffi::CStr, _is_output_device: bool) ->
 	PA_NO_DEVICE
 }
 
+/// Peak level (linear, 0..1 and above) of each channel of the buffered,
+/// not-yet-consumed output, written to `peaks` in channel order.
+/// Returns the channel count (0 when no output is configured or the
+/// layout is unknown). Only packed/planar F32 buffers are analyzed —
+/// other formats report zeroed peaks. The analysis window is the most
+/// recent 8192 frames of the queue.
+///
+/// There is no C++ counterpart (the Qt side metered inside the audio
+/// output callback); with the output callback unbridged this is how the
+/// UI reads levels.
+pub fn output_levels(self_: &CHandle, peaks: &mut [f32]) -> Result<i32> {
+	let m = with_instance(self_)?;
+	let Some(params) = m.output_params else {
+		return Ok(0);
+	};
+	let channels = params.channel_count();
+	if channels <= 0 {
+		return Ok(0);
+	}
+	let n = (channels as usize).min(peaks.len());
+	for p in &mut peaks[..n] {
+		*p = 0.0;
+	}
+	use crate::params::SampleFormat;
+	let packed = params.format == SampleFormat::F32;
+	let planar = params.format == SampleFormat::F32Planar;
+	if !packed && !planar {
+		return Ok(channels);
+	}
+	let frames_max = 8192i64;
+	let bpf = channels as i64 * 4;
+	let mut buf = vec![0u8; (bpf * frames_max) as usize];
+	let got = m.output_buffer.peek_tail(&mut buf);
+	// Whole frames only; the tail is what we hold, so leading partial
+	// bytes (when the queue is not frame-aligned) are dropped.
+	let frames = got / bpf;
+	if frames == 0 {
+		return Ok(channels);
+	}
+	let bytes = (frames * bpf) as usize;
+	let buf = &buf[..bytes];
+	let frame_count = frames as usize;
+	let channel_count = channels as usize;
+	let mut planes: Vec<Vec<f32>> = vec![Vec::with_capacity(frame_count); channel_count];
+	if packed {
+		for frame in buf.chunks_exact(bpf as usize) {
+			for ch in 0..channel_count {
+				let b = &frame[ch * 4..ch * 4 + 4];
+				planes[ch].push(f32::from_le_bytes([b[0], b[1], b[2], b[3]]));
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		for (ch, plane) in planes.iter_mut().enumerate() {
+			let start = ch * frame_count * 4;
+			for b in buf[start..start + frame_count * 4].chunks_exact(4) {
+				plane.push(f32::from_le_bytes([b[0], b[1], b[2], b[3]]));
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	let views: Vec<&[f32]> = planes.iter().map(Vec::as_slice).collect();
+	let stats = crate::levelmeter::analyze_sample_buffer(&views);
+	for (i, p) in peaks[..n].iter_mut().enumerate() {
+		*p = stats.channels[i].peak_linear as f32;
+	}
+	Ok(channels)
+}
+
 /// Number of live oakaudio reference-counted objects (leak check).
 pub fn debug_alive_count() -> i32 {
 	crate::handle::alive_count()
diff --git a/crates/oakaudio/src/previewdevice.rs b/crates/oakaudio/src/previewdevice.rs
index fa6de1ef5..e4b3b7c32 100644
--- a/crates/oakaudio/src/previewdevice.rs
+++ b/crates/oakaudio/src/previewdevice.rs
@@ -192,3 +192,19 @@ impl Default for PreviewAudioDevice {
 		PreviewAudioDevice::new()
 	}
 }
+
+impl PreviewAudioDevice {
+	/// Copy up to `data.len()` bytes from the TAIL of the queued buffer
+	/// without consuming them (the level meter peeks at what is about to
+	/// play; the oldest bytes are irrelevant for that). Returns the byte
+	/// count copied.
+	pub fn peek_tail(&self, data: &mut [u8]) -> i64 {
+		let inner = self.lock.lock().unwrap();
+		let copy = (data.len() as i64).min(inner.buffer.len() as i64);
+		if copy > 0 {
+			let start = inner.buffer.len() - copy as usize;
+			data[..copy as usize].copy_from_slice(&inner.buffer[start..]);
+		}
+		copy
+	}
+}
diff --git a/crates/oakaudio/tests/manager_test.rs b/crates/oakaudio/tests/manager_test.rs
index def9a1b53..bb8b48da4 100644
--- a/crates/oakaudio/tests/manager_test.rs
+++ b/crates/oakaudio/tests/manager_test.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ use oakaudio::ffi::manager::{
 	oakaudio_manager_hard_reset, oakaudio_manager_instance, oakaudio_manager_push_to_output,
 	oakaudio_manager_reset_output_clock, oakaudio_manager_seconds,
 	oakaudio_manager_set_input_device, oakaudio_manager_set_output_device,
-	oakaudio_manager_set_output_notify_interval, oakaudio_manager_start_recording,
+	oakaudio_manager_output_levels, oakaudio_manager_set_output_notify_interval,
+	oakaudio_manager_start_recording,
 	oakaudio_manager_stop_output, oakaudio_manager_stop_recording,
 };
 
@@ -407,3 +408,71 @@ fn free_null_noop() {
 
 	unsafe { oakaudio_manager_destroy_instance() };
 }
+
+/// output_levels: validation, the no-output case, and a real peak
+/// readback over pushed packed-F32 stereo samples (left ramps to 0.25,
+/// right to ~1.0 — the per-channel linear peaks).
+#[test]
+fn output_levels_reports_buffered_peaks() {
+	let _guard = lock();
+	unsafe { oakaudio_manager_destroy_instance() };
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakaudio_manager_create_instance() }, OAKAUDIO_OK);
+	let m = instance();
+
+	// Invalid out args.
+	let mut peaks = [0.0f32; 4];
+	assert_eq!(
+		unsafe { oakaudio_manager_output_levels(m, std::ptr::null_mut(), 4) },
+		OAKAUDIO_E_INVALID
+	);
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakaudio_manager_output_levels(m, peaks.as_mut_ptr(), 0) }, OAKAUDIO_E_INVALID);
+
+	// The manager singleton retains output params across tests in this
+	// binary, so the "no output" case is not reachable here; instead
+	// verify a cleared buffer reports zeroed peaks (channel count from
+	// the configured layout, 0 only when nothing was ever configured).
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakaudio_manager_set_output_device(m, 42) }, OAKAUDIO_OK);
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakaudio_manager_clear_buffered_output(m) }, OAKAUDIO_OK);
+	let cleared = unsafe { oakaudio_manager_output_levels(m, peaks.as_mut_ptr(), 4) };
+	assert!(cleared >= 0);
+	for p in &peaks[..cleared as usize] {
+		assert_eq!(*p, 0.0, "cleared buffer must have silent peaks");
+	}
+
+	// Push 480 frames of packed F32 stereo (format 10), stereo layout 0x3.
+	let frames = 480usize;
+	let mut samples = Vec::with_capacity(frames * 2);
+	for i in 0..frames {
+		let t = i as f32 / frames as f32;
+		samples.push(0.25f32 * t);
+		samples.push(t);
+	}
+	let rc = unsafe {
+		oakaudio_manager_push_to_output(
+			m,
+			48000,
+			0x3,
+			10,
+			samples.as_ptr() as *const c_char,
+			(samples.len() * 4) as i64,
+			std::ptr::null_mut(),
+			0,
+		)
+	};
+	assert_eq!(rc, OAKAUDIO_OK);
+
+	let n = unsafe { oakaudio_manager_output_levels(m, peaks.as_mut_ptr(), 4) };
+	assert_eq!(n, 2);
+	let last = (frames - 1) as f32 / frames as f32;
+	assert!((peaks[0] - 0.25 * last).abs() < 1e-6, "left peak: {}", peaks[0]);
+	assert!((peaks[1] - last).abs() < 1e-6, "right peak: {}", peaks[1]);
+
+	// Undersized buffer truncates the write, not the reported count.
+	let mut one = [0.0f32; 1];
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakaudio_manager_output_levels(m, one.as_mut_ptr(), 1) }, 2);
+
+	// Leave the singleton as we found it: the push flipped
+	// `output_started`, which other tests' seconds() assertions depend on.
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakaudio_manager_stop_output(m) }, OAKAUDIO_OK);
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakaudio_manager_clear_buffered_output(m) }, OAKAUDIO_OK);
+}
diff --git a/crates/oakengine/src/audio.rs b/crates/oakengine/src/audio.rs
index 635ab9d2a..366fdfc0f 100644
--- a/crates/oakengine/src/audio.rs
+++ b/crates/oakengine/src/audio.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ use std::ffi::{c_char, c_double, c_int, c_void};
 use crate::bridge::audio as a;
 use crate::error::Error;
 use crate::handle::{
-	box_handle, free_box, guard, guard_i64, guard_void, unbox, CHandle, OakEngineAudioProcessor,
+	box_handle, free_box, guard, guard_i64, guard_int, guard_void, unbox, CHandle,
+	OakEngineAudioProcessor,
 };
 
 /// paNoDevice — no audio device selected.
@@ -150,6 +151,31 @@ pub extern "C" fn oakengine_audio_clear_buffered_output() -> c_int {
 	})
 }
 
+/// `oakengine_audio_output_levels` — per-channel linear peaks of the
+/// buffered, not-yet-consumed output into `peaks` (up to `capacity`
+/// entries). Returns the channel count (0 when nothing is buffered).
+/// The UI's audio meter reads this; there is no C++ counterpart (the Qt
+/// side metered inside the output callback, which is not bridged).
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_audio_output_levels(peaks: *mut f32, capacity: c_int) -> c_int {
+	guard_int(|| {
+		if peaks.is_null() || capacity <= 0 {
+			return Err(Error::Invalid);
+		}
+		let m = manager();
+		if m.is_null() {
+			return Err(Error::Failed("no AudioManager instance".into()));
+		}
+		// The module returns the channel count (>= 0) or a negative
+		// OAKAUDIO_E_* code, which passes through untouched.
+		let n = a::oakaudio_manager_output_levels(m, peaks, capacity);
+		if n < 0 {
+			return Err(Error::Module(n));
+		}
+		Ok(n)
+	})
+}
+
 /// `oakengine_audio_push_to_output` — queue interleaved samples described
 /// by the borrowed `OakAudioParams*` handle.
 #[no_mangle]
diff --git a/crates/oakengine/src/bridge/audio.rs b/crates/oakengine/src/bridge/audio.rs
index 8410fa673..84c874f09 100644
--- a/crates/oakengine/src/bridge/audio.rs
+++ b/crates/oakengine/src/bridge/audio.rs
@@ -216,6 +216,12 @@ pub fn oakaudio_manager_seconds(_self: CHandle, out: *mut c_double) -> c_int {
 	unsafe { oakaudio::ffi::manager::oakaudio_manager_seconds(_self, out) }
 }
 
+/// Direct call into the `oakaudio` crate (single-lib unification; the
+/// `#[no_mangle]` export stays for the external C ABI).
+pub fn oakaudio_manager_output_levels(_self: CHandle, peaks: *mut f32, capacity: c_int) -> c_int {
+	unsafe { oakaudio::ffi::manager::oakaudio_manager_output_levels(_self, peaks, capacity) }
+}
+
 /// Direct call into the `oakaudio` crate (single-lib unification; the
 /// `#[no_mangle]` export stays for the external C ABI).
 pub fn oakaudio_processor_init() -> CHandle {
diff --git a/crates/oakengine/src/node.rs b/crates/oakengine/src/node.rs
index 585743a6f..4a9f565ee 100644
--- a/crates/oakengine/src/node.rs
+++ b/crates/oakengine/src/node.rs
@@ -692,6 +692,25 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_project_footage_is_online(
 	})
 }
 
+/// `oakengine_project_footage_at` — the footage node at `index`, boxed
+/// (freed with `oakengine_node_free`); NULL for an invalid index or
+/// project. The node is borrowed from the project graph, so it stays
+/// valid until the project is freed.
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_project_footage_at(
+	self_: *const OakEngineProject,
+	index: c_int,
+) -> *mut OakEngineNode {
+	guard_ptr(|| unsafe {
+		let h = unbox(self_)?;
+		let footage = project_node_at_of_type(h, TYPE_ID_FOOTAGE, index);
+		if footage.is_null() {
+			return Ok(std::ptr::null_mut());
+		}
+		Ok(box_handle::<OakEngineNode>(footage))
+	})
+}
+
 /// `oakengine_project_can_undo`.
 #[no_mangle]
 pub extern "C" fn oakengine_project_can_undo(self_: *const OakEngineProject) -> c_int {
diff --git a/crates/oakengine/src/render.rs b/crates/oakengine/src/render.rs
index f4a07094c..865c63cb0 100644
--- a/crates/oakengine/src/render.rs
+++ b/crates/oakengine/src/render.rs
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@
 //! `engine/include/oakengine/{renderer,color,lut}.h` over the oakrender
 //! module.
 //!
-//! - The **renderer** is a facade-owned box binding a sequence handle to
-//!   an output geometry; each render call submits an oakrender ticket
-//!   (`OakVideoTicketParams`), waits for it and returns the produced
-//!   frame (`OakCodecFrame` wrapped in `OakEngineFrame`). Audio rendering
-//!   submits the ticket but the crate's samples path is unimplemented, so
-//!   it fails with the reason in `last_error`.
+//! - The **renderer** is a facade-owned box binding an output node
+//!   (usually a sequence, or any single node via
+//!   `oakengine_renderer_create_for_node`) to an output geometry; each
+//!   render call submits an oakrender ticket (`OakVideoTicketParams`),
+//!   waits for it and returns the produced frame (`OakCodecFrame` wrapped
+//!   in `OakEngineFrame`). Audio rendering submits the ticket but the
+//!   crate's samples path is unimplemented, so it fails with the reason
+//!   in `last_error`.
 //! - The **frame accessors** read the wrapped `OakCodecFrame`
 //!   (`channel_count` has no crate accessor and reports 0).
 //! - The **color processor** family maps onto
@@ -110,10 +112,11 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_render_cache_set_multicam_node(
 // Renderer
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-/// Facade-side renderer box: the bound sequence + output geometry.
+/// Facade-side renderer box: the bound output node + output geometry.
 struct RendererBox {
-	/// Unboxed sequence node handle (borrowed).
-	seq: CHandle,
+	/// Unboxed output node handle (borrowed): a sequence, or any node the
+	/// module can evaluate (footage, generator, ...).
+	output_node: CHandle,
 	/// Output width.
 	width: c_int,
 	/// Output height.
@@ -180,20 +183,20 @@ unsafe fn make_video_params(b: &RendererBox) -> Result<CHandle> {
 	}
 }
 
-/// `oakengine_renderer_create` — NULL for invalid arguments.
-#[no_mangle]
-pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_renderer_create(
-	seq: *mut OakEngineSequence,
+/// Build a renderer box for `output_node` (a sequence or any node the
+/// module can evaluate) with the given geometry. Returns NULL for
+/// non-positive geometry/rate or a pixel format outside the oakcore enum.
+unsafe fn make_renderer_box(
+	output_node: CHandle,
 	width: c_int,
 	height: c_int,
 	pixel_format: c_int,
 	frame_rate_num: c_int,
 	frame_rate_den: c_int,
 	output_colorspace: *const c_char,
-) -> *mut OakEngineRenderer {
-	guard_ptr(|| unsafe {
-		if seq.is_null() || width <= 0 || height <= 0 || frame_rate_num <= 0 || frame_rate_den <= 0
-		{
+) -> Result<*mut OakEngineRenderer> {
+	unsafe {
+		if width <= 0 || height <= 0 || frame_rate_num <= 0 || frame_rate_den <= 0 {
 			return Ok(std::ptr::null_mut());
 		}
 		// Validate the pixel format against the oakcore enum. The
@@ -207,9 +210,8 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_renderer_create(
 			return Ok(std::ptr::null_mut());
 		}
 		let _ = crate::handle::read_cstr(output_colorspace); // resolved by the module at render time
-		let seq_handle = unbox(seq)?;
 		let boxed = Box::new(RendererBox {
-			seq: seq_handle,
+			output_node,
 			width,
 			height,
 			pixel_format,
@@ -219,6 +221,67 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_renderer_create(
 			last_error: String::new(),
 		});
 		Ok(Box::into_raw(boxed) as *mut OakEngineRenderer)
+	}
+}
+
+/// `oakengine_renderer_create` — NULL for invalid arguments.
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_renderer_create(
+	seq: *mut OakEngineSequence,
+	width: c_int,
+	height: c_int,
+	pixel_format: c_int,
+	frame_rate_num: c_int,
+	frame_rate_den: c_int,
+	output_colorspace: *const c_char,
+) -> *mut OakEngineRenderer {
+	guard_ptr(|| unsafe {
+		if seq.is_null() {
+			return Ok(std::ptr::null_mut());
+		}
+		let seq_handle = unbox(seq)?;
+		make_renderer_box(
+			seq_handle,
+			width,
+			height,
+			pixel_format,
+			frame_rate_num,
+			frame_rate_den,
+			output_colorspace,
+		)
+	})
+}
+
+/// `oakengine_renderer_create_for_node` — like `oakengine_renderer_create`,
+/// but binds any node instead of a sequence: the surface for rendering a
+/// single footage/generator node (the source monitor). The renderer is
+/// freed with `oakengine_renderer_free` and renders with
+/// `oakengine_renderer_render_frame`, exactly like the sequence renderer.
+/// NULL for invalid arguments.
+#[no_mangle]
+pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_renderer_create_for_node(
+	node: *mut OakEngineNode,
+	width: c_int,
+	height: c_int,
+	pixel_format: c_int,
+	frame_rate_num: c_int,
+	frame_rate_den: c_int,
+	output_colorspace: *const c_char,
+) -> *mut OakEngineRenderer {
+	guard_ptr(|| unsafe {
+		if node.is_null() {
+			return Ok(std::ptr::null_mut());
+		}
+		let node_handle = unbox(node)?;
+		make_renderer_box(
+			node_handle,
+			width,
+			height,
+			pixel_format,
+			frame_rate_num,
+			frame_rate_den,
+			output_colorspace,
+		)
 	})
 }
 
@@ -272,7 +335,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_renderer_render_frame(
 		let b = renderer_mut(self_)?;
 		let video_params = make_video_params(b)?;
 		let params = OakVideoTicketParams {
-			output_node: b.seq,
+			output_node: b.output_node,
 			video_params,
 			audio_params: std::ptr::null(),
 			time_num: timestamp * i64::from(b.frame_rate_den),
@@ -325,7 +388,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn oakengine_renderer_render_audio(
 		let end_num = (start_timestamp + length_timestamp) * i64::from(b.frame_rate_den);
 		let den = i64::from(b.frame_rate_num);
 		let ticket = r::oakrender_ticket_render_audio(
-			b.seq,
+			b.output_node,
 			start_num,
 			den,
 			end_num,
diff --git a/crates/oakengine/tests/it_audio.rs b/crates/oakengine/tests/it_audio.rs
index 4ab4919e8..45521c5f8 100644
--- a/crates/oakengine/tests/it_audio.rs
+++ b/crates/oakengine/tests/it_audio.rs
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ use std::sync::Mutex;
 
 use oakengine::audio::{
 	oakengine_audio_clear_buffered_output, oakengine_audio_create_instance,
+	oakengine_audio_output_levels,
 	oakengine_audio_destroy_instance, oakengine_audio_estimate_envelope_offset,
 	oakengine_audio_estimate_stretch_and_offset, oakengine_audio_get_input_device,
 	oakengine_audio_get_output_device, oakengine_audio_hard_reset, oakengine_audio_manager_handle,
@@ -1222,3 +1223,58 @@ fn processor_full_open_convert_cycle() {
 		unsafe { oakengine_audio_processor_free(p) };
 	});
 }
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// oakengine_audio_output_levels
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// The output-level meter export: validation, the no-output case, and a
+/// real peak readback over pushed F32 stereo samples.
+#[test]
+fn audio_output_levels() {
+	with_manager(|| unsafe {
+		// Out-arg validation (facade E_INVALID; no manager needed).
+		let mut peaks = [0.0f32; 4];
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_output_levels(std::ptr::null_mut(), 4), OAKENGINE_E_INVALID);
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_output_levels(peaks.as_mut_ptr(), 0), OAKENGINE_E_INVALID);
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_output_levels(peaks.as_mut_ptr(), -1), OAKENGINE_E_INVALID);
+
+		// Fresh-ish manager, nothing buffered: 0 channels.
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_destroy_instance(), 0);
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_create_instance(), 0);
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_output_levels(peaks.as_mut_ptr(), 4), 0);
+
+		// Push 480 frames of packed F32 stereo: left ramps to 0.25, right
+		// ramps to ~1.0. The levels are the per-channel linear peaks.
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_set_output_device(42), 0);
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_clear_buffered_output(), 0);
+		let frames = 480usize;
+		let mut samples = Vec::with_capacity(frames * 2);
+		for i in 0..frames {
+			let t = i as f32 / frames as f32;
+			samples.push(0.25f32 * t);
+			samples.push(t);
+		}
+		let params = audio_params(48000, 0x3, 10); // 10 = packed F32
+		let rc = oakengine_audio_push_to_output(
+			params as *const c_void,
+			samples.as_ptr() as *const std::ffi::c_char,
+			(samples.len() * 4) as i64,
+			std::ptr::null_mut(),
+			0,
+		);
+		common::oakcore_audioparams_free(params);
+		assert_eq!(rc, 0);
+
+		let n = oakengine_audio_output_levels(peaks.as_mut_ptr(), 4);
+		assert_eq!(n, 2);
+		let last = (frames - 1) as f32 / frames as f32;
+		assert!((peaks[0] - 0.25 * last).abs() < 1e-6, "left peak: {}", peaks[0]);
+		assert!((peaks[1] - last).abs() < 1e-6, "right peak: {}", peaks[1]);
+
+		// Capacity smaller than the channel count truncates the write but
+		// still reports the real channel count.
+		let mut one = [0.0f32; 1];
+		assert_eq!(oakengine_audio_output_levels(one.as_mut_ptr(), 1), 2);
+	});
+}
diff --git a/crates/oakengine/tests/it_render.rs b/crates/oakengine/tests/it_render.rs
index a13c0c48f..0870f16ef 100644
--- a/crates/oakengine/tests/it_render.rs
+++ b/crates/oakengine/tests/it_render.rs
@@ -45,8 +45,9 @@ use std::sync::{Mutex, MutexGuard};
 
 use oakengine::handle::OakEngineAudioBuffer;
 use oakengine::node::{
-	oakengine_node_factory_create_from_id, oakengine_node_free, oakengine_project_create,
-	oakengine_project_free, oakengine_project_new,
+	oakengine_footage_free, oakengine_node_factory_create_from_id, oakengine_node_free,
+	oakengine_project_create, oakengine_project_footage_at, oakengine_project_footage_count,
+	oakengine_project_free, oakengine_project_import_footage, oakengine_project_new,
 };
 use oakengine::render::{
 	oakengine_audio_channel_count, oakengine_audio_data, oakengine_audio_free,
@@ -73,9 +74,9 @@ use oakengine::render::{
 	oakengine_render_cache_set_display_color_processor, oakengine_render_cache_set_multicam_node,
 	oakengine_render_manager_backend_to_string, oakengine_render_manager_requested_backend,
 	oakengine_render_manager_set_aggressive_garbage_collection, oakengine_renderer_cancel,
-	oakengine_renderer_create, oakengine_renderer_free, oakengine_renderer_last_error,
-	oakengine_renderer_render_audio, oakengine_renderer_render_frame, oakengine_renderer_set_mode,
-	OakColorTransformPod,
+	oakengine_renderer_create, oakengine_renderer_create_for_node, oakengine_renderer_free,
+	oakengine_renderer_last_error, oakengine_renderer_render_audio,
+	oakengine_renderer_render_frame, oakengine_renderer_set_mode, OakColorTransformPod,
 };
 use oakengine::timeline::oakengine_sequence_new;
 
@@ -417,6 +418,154 @@ fn err_buf() -> [c_char; 128] {
 	[0 as c_char; 128]
 }
 
+/// End-to-end single-node CPU render: `oakengine_renderer_create_for_node`
+/// binds a footage node (instead of a sequence) and `render_frame` produces
+/// a real F32 frame through the module's eval pipeline. The footage node
+/// comes from `oakengine_project_footage_at` (the import registered it in
+/// the project graph) — the surface the source monitor renders through.
+#[test]
+fn renderer_render_frame_for_node_e2e() {
+	common::force_link();
+	let _g = state_lock();
+
+	unsafe { oakrender::ffi::manager::oakrender_manager_shutdown() };
+	assert_eq!(
+		unsafe { oakrender::ffi::manager::oakrender_manager_init() },
+		0
+	);
+
+	let base = unsafe { oakrender::ffi::cache::oakrender_debug_alive_count() };
+
+	let project = unsafe { oakengine_project_create() };
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakengine_project_new(project) }, 0);
+
+	// Import a footage file so the project graph owns a footage node.
+	let media = temp_media_file();
+	let media_c = std::ffi::CString::new(media.to_string_lossy().into_owned()).unwrap();
+	let footage = unsafe { oakengine_project_import_footage(project, media_c.as_ptr()) };
+	assert!(!footage.is_null());
+	unsafe { oakengine_footage_free(footage) };
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakengine_project_footage_count(project) }, 1);
+
+	// The footage node at index 0 is boxed; freed with node_free.
+	let node = unsafe { oakengine_project_footage_at(project, 0) };
+	assert!(
+		!node.is_null(),
+		"imported footage must be addressable by index"
+	);
+
+	// NULL project / out-of-range indices → NULL.
+	assert!(unsafe { oakengine_project_footage_at(std::ptr::null(), 0) }.is_null());
+	assert!(unsafe { oakengine_project_footage_at(project, -1) }.is_null());
+	assert!(unsafe { oakengine_project_footage_at(project, 5) }.is_null());
+
+	// NULL node → NULL renderer for every geometry combination.
+	for (w, h, pf, num, den) in [
+		(1920, 1080, 4, 30000, 1001),
+		(0, 1080, 4, 30000, 1001),
+		(1920, 0, 4, 30000, 1001),
+		(1920, 1080, 4, 0, 1001),
+	] {
+		let r = unsafe {
+			oakengine_renderer_create_for_node(
+				std::ptr::null_mut(),
+				w,
+				h,
+				pf,
+				num,
+				den,
+				std::ptr::null(),
+			)
+		};
+		assert!(r.is_null(), "NULL node (w={w} h={h} {num}/{den}) must give NULL");
+	}
+
+	// 1920x1080 F32 renderer over the footage node.
+	let r = unsafe {
+		oakengine_renderer_create_for_node(
+			node,
+			1920,
+			1080,
+			4,
+			30000,
+			1001,
+			std::ptr::null(),
+		)
+	};
+	assert!(!r.is_null());
+
+	// A legal render returns a real frame with the renderer's geometry.
+	let f = unsafe { oakengine_renderer_render_frame(r, 0) };
+	assert!(
+		!f.is_null(),
+		"render_frame over a footage node must produce a frame"
+	);
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakengine_frame_width(f) }, 1920);
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakengine_frame_height(f) }, 1080);
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakengine_frame_format(f) }, 4); // F32 pipeline format
+	assert_eq!(unsafe { oakengine_frame_linesize_bytes(f) }, 1920 * 4 * 4);
+	assert!(!unsafe { oakengine_frame_data(f) }.is_null());
+	assert_eq!(
+		unsafe { oakrender::ffi::cache::oakrender_debug_alive_count() },
+		base + 1
+	);
+	unsafe { oakengine_frame_free(f) };
+	assert_eq!(
+		unsafe { oakrender::ffi::cache::oakrender_debug_alive_count() },
+		base
+	);
+
+	// Illegal geometry / pixel format with a valid node → NULL.
+	let r_bad_geom = unsafe {
+		oakengine_renderer_create_for_node(
+			node,
+			0,
+			1080,
+			4,
+			30000,
+			1001,
+			std::ptr::null(),
+		)
+	};
+	assert!(r_bad_geom.is_null(), "zero width must give NULL");
+	let r_bad_pf = unsafe {
+		oakengine_renderer_create_for_node(
+			node,
+			64,
+			48,
+			99999,
+			30000,
+			1001,
+			std::ptr::null(),
+		)
+	};
+	assert!(r_bad_pf.is_null(), "garbage pixel format must give NULL");
+
+	unsafe { oakengine_renderer_free(r) };
+	unsafe { oakengine_node_free(node) };
+	unsafe { oakengine_project_free(project) };
+	assert_eq!(
+		unsafe { oakrender::ffi::cache::oakrender_debug_alive_count() },
+		base
+	);
+
+	unsafe { oakrender::ffi::manager::oakrender_manager_shutdown() };
+	assert_eq!(
+		unsafe { oakrender::ffi::manager::oakrender_manager_available() },
+		0
+	);
+}
+
+/// Fresh media file under the system temp dir with a unique name.
+fn temp_media_file() -> std::path::PathBuf {
+	let p = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!(
+		"oak-it-render-media-{}.mp4",
+		std::process::id()
+	));
+	std::fs::write(&p, b"not-real-media").expect("write temp file");
+	p
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Frame accessors (7 exports)
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/oakui/ffi.rs b/src/oakui/ffi.rs
index cd9dc74a0..02c31572f 100644
--- a/src/oakui/ffi.rs
+++ b/src/oakui/ffi.rs
@@ -320,6 +320,12 @@ unsafe extern "C" {
 	) -> c_int;
 	/// `oakengine_project_footage_count`.
 	pub fn oakengine_project_footage_count(self_: *const OakEngineProject) -> c_int;
+	/// `oakengine_project_footage_at` — boxed footage node at `index` (free
+	/// with `oakengine_node_free`); NULL for an invalid index.
+	pub fn oakengine_project_footage_at(
+		self_: *const OakEngineProject,
+		index: c_int,
+	) -> *mut OakEngineNode;
 	/// `oakengine_project_footage_filename` (buf/size).
 	pub fn oakengine_project_footage_filename(
 		self_: *const OakEngineProject,
@@ -616,6 +622,19 @@ unsafe extern "C" {
 		frame_rate_den: c_int,
 		output_colorspace: *const c_char,
 	) -> *mut OakEngineRenderer;
+	/// `oakengine_renderer_create_for_node` — like `oakengine_renderer_create`,
+	/// but binds any node instead of a sequence: the surface for rendering a
+	/// single footage node (the source monitor). Freed and rendered exactly
+	/// like the sequence renderer.
+	pub fn oakengine_renderer_create_for_node(
+		node: *mut OakEngineNode,
+		width: c_int,
+		height: c_int,
+		pixel_format: c_int,
+		frame_rate_num: c_int,
+		frame_rate_den: c_int,
+		output_colorspace: *const c_char,
+	) -> *mut OakEngineRenderer;
 	/// `oakengine_renderer_free` — consuming free (NULL no-op).
 	pub fn oakengine_renderer_free(self_: *mut OakEngineRenderer);
 	/// `oakengine_renderer_render_frame` — synchronous render of the frame at
@@ -644,6 +663,13 @@ unsafe extern "C" {
 	/// `oakengine_frame_free` — consuming free (NULL no-op).
 	pub fn oakengine_frame_free(self_: *mut OakEngineFrame);
 
+	// -- oakengine::audio --
+
+	/// `oakengine_audio_output_levels` — per-channel linear peaks of the
+	/// buffered output into `peaks` (up to `capacity` entries); returns
+	/// the channel count (0 = nothing buffered), negative on error.
+	pub fn oakengine_audio_output_levels(peaks: *mut f32, capacity: c_int) -> c_int;
+
 	// -- oakrender module C ABI (carried by the dylib) --
 
 	/// `oakrender_manager_init` — bring up the module's process-global
diff --git a/src/oakui/real.rs b/src/oakui/real.rs
index 619d63aac..19ff6d736 100644
--- a/src/oakui/real.rs
+++ b/src/oakui/real.rs
@@ -41,13 +41,16 @@
 //!
 //! # What is still mock/stub
 //!
-//! * The source monitor's viewer frames are the shared synthetic SMPTE
-//!   pattern ([`frames`]): the facade renderer binds a *sequence* handle
-//!   only, so there is no surface to render a single footage node for the
-//!   material viewer. The program monitor renders real frames through the
-//!   facade CPU renderer ([`RealEngine::render_program_frame`]) at a proxy
-//!   resolution; the full-resolution async render worker (the facade's
-//!   worker module) is a separate process surface not bound yet.
+//! * The source monitor renders the selected footage node's frame through
+//!   the facade CPU renderer
+//!   ([`RealEngine::render_source_frame`],
+//!   via the node-binding `oakengine_renderer_create_for_node`) at a proxy
+//!   resolution — the same pattern as the program monitor
+//!   ([`RealEngine::render_program_frame`]). Actual media *decode* is
+//!   still a module gap (the oakrender eval's footage hook is deferred),
+//!   so both viewers show the pipeline's generated frame, not the file's
+//!   pixels; the full-resolution async render worker (the facade's worker
+//!   module) is a separate process surface not bound yet.
 //! * Effect stack — the selected clip's effect chain is bound: the stack
 //!   reads the chain through the facade (see
 //!   [`EffectStackDataSource`](EffectStackDataSource) for `RealEngine`)
@@ -653,10 +656,10 @@ pub struct RealEngine {
 	/// Cache of the CPU frames handed to the viewers, keyed by monitor.
 	/// Entries are the playhead frame that produced the image plus the scope
 	/// samples analyzed in the same pass, so a paused viewer never
-	/// regenerates its picture (or its scopes). The program monitor's entries
-	/// are real rendered frames (see [`RealEngine::render_program_frame`]);
-	/// the source monitor's are the synthetic pattern (the facade renderer
-	/// binds a sequence only — footage-node rendering is a documented gap).
+	/// regenerates its picture (or its scopes). Both monitors hold real
+	/// rendered frames (see [`RealEngine::render_program_frame`] /
+	/// [`RealEngine::render_source_frame`]); the synthetic pattern is only
+	/// the failure fallback.
 	cpu_frame_cache: Mutex<HashMap<Monitor, (i64, Arc<RenderImage>, ScopeData)>>,
 	/// The program monitor's cached renderer, created lazily from the
 	/// current sequence at a proxy resolution. The mutex both provides the
@@ -664,6 +667,12 @@ pub struct RealEngine {
 	/// the synchronous render calls. Reset to [`RendererSlot::Untried`]
 	/// (before the sequence is freed) in [`RealEngine::drop_project`].
 	renderer: Mutex<RendererSlot>,
+	/// The source monitor's cached renderer, created lazily from the
+	/// currently selected footage node at a proxy resolution (same slot
+	/// semantics as `renderer`). Reset to [`RendererSlot::Untried`] when
+	/// the selection changes or the project is dropped — the renderer binds
+	/// the footage node, so a new selection must bind the new node.
+	source_renderer: Mutex<RendererSlot>,
 	/// Whether the project has unsaved changes (mirrors the facade flag).
 	modified: bool,
 }
@@ -692,6 +701,7 @@ impl RealEngine {
 			meter_phase: 0,
 			cpu_frame_cache: Mutex::new(HashMap::new()),
 			renderer: Mutex::new(RendererSlot::Untried),
+			source_renderer: Mutex::new(RendererSlot::Untried),
 			modified: false,
 		}
 	}
@@ -862,6 +872,140 @@ impl RealEngine {
 		Some(RendererHandle(renderer))
 	}
 
+	/// The material-bin footage index of the selected entry, if any. The bin
+	/// children are numbered `100 + index` (see [`RealEngine::rebuild_bin`]);
+	/// folder/project roots are not footage.
+	fn selected_footage_index(&self) -> Option<c_int> {
+		let id = self.selected_item?;
+		if id >= 100 {
+			Some((id - 100) as c_int)
+		} else {
+			None
+		}
+	}
+
+	/// The selected footage's facade node view (a boxed node handle the
+	/// caller frees with `oakengine_node_free`), or `None` when no footage
+	/// is selected or the index is out of range.
+	fn selected_footage_node(&self) -> Option<*mut OakEngineNode> {
+		let project = self.project_ptr()?;
+		let index = self.selected_footage_index()?;
+		let node = unsafe { oakengine_project_footage_at(project, index) };
+		if node.is_null() {
+			None
+		} else {
+			Some(node)
+		}
+	}
+
+	/// Creates the per-footage renderer at the proxy resolution (see
+	/// [`RealEngine::proxy_render_size`]). The renderer borrows the footage
+	/// node handle; the caller owns the slot it is stored in.
+	fn create_node_renderer(&self, node: *mut OakEngineNode) -> Option<RendererHandle> {
+		let (width, height) = self.proxy_render_size()?;
+		let rate = self.sequence_info.as_ref()?.format.rate;
+		let renderer = unsafe {
+			oakengine_renderer_create_for_node(
+				node,
+				width,
+				height,
+				PIXEL_FORMAT_F32,
+				rate.num as c_int,
+				rate.den as c_int,
+				std::ptr::null(),
+			)
+		};
+		if renderer.is_null() {
+			println!(
+				"[real engine] renderer_create_for_node failed; viewer keeps the synthetic frame"
+			);
+			return None;
+		}
+		Some(RendererHandle(renderer))
+	}
+
+	/// Renders one source-monitor frame through the facade CPU renderer:
+	/// creates the per-footage renderer lazily (cached in
+	/// `self.source_renderer`, bound to the currently selected footage
+	/// node), renders `frame`, analyzes the scope samples from the F32 RGBA
+	/// result, and downconverts to BGRA8. Returns `None` (the caller falls
+	/// back to the synthetic pattern) when no footage is selected, the
+	/// render manager is unavailable, or the render itself fails.
+	fn render_source_frame(&self, frame: Frame) -> Option<(RenderImage, ScopeData)> {
+		let node = self.selected_footage_node()?;
+		if !Self::ensure_render_manager() {
+			// SAFETY: `node` is a box from `selected_footage_node`.
+			unsafe { oakengine_node_free(node) };
+			return None;
+		}
+		let mut slot = self.source_renderer.lock().unwrap();
+		match &*slot {
+			RendererSlot::Unavailable => {
+				unsafe { oakengine_node_free(node) };
+				return None;
+			}
+			RendererSlot::Untried => {
+				let created = self.create_node_renderer(node);
+				*slot = match created {
+					Some(handle) => RendererSlot::Ready(handle),
+					None => RendererSlot::Unavailable,
+				};
+			}
+			RendererSlot::Ready(_) => {}
+		}
+		// SAFETY: `node` is a live box; freed on every path below.
+		unsafe { oakengine_node_free(node) };
+		let RendererSlot::Ready(handle) = &*slot else {
+			return None;
+		};
+		let renderer = handle.ptr();
+		let frame_ptr = unsafe { oakengine_renderer_render_frame(renderer, frame.0) };
+		if frame_ptr.is_null() {
+			let error = read_string(|buf, size| unsafe {
+				oakengine_renderer_last_error(renderer, buf, size)
+			});
+			println!("[real engine] source render_frame failed: {error}");
+			// Don't retry (and re-log) on every frame.
+			*slot = RendererSlot::Unavailable;
+			return None;
+		}
+		// Read the frame (F32 RGBA, rows padded to linesize), repack it
+		// tightly, then downconvert.
+		let (width, height, linesize, format) = unsafe {
+			(
+				oakengine_frame_width(frame_ptr),
+				oakengine_frame_height(frame_ptr),
+				oakengine_frame_linesize_bytes(frame_ptr),
+				oakengine_frame_format(frame_ptr),
+			)
+		};
+		let data = unsafe { oakengine_frame_data(frame_ptr) };
+		let mut image = None;
+		if width > 0 && height > 0 && format == PIXEL_FORMAT_F32 && !data.is_null() {
+			let row_bytes = (width * 4 * 4) as usize;
+			let linesize = (linesize as usize).max(row_bytes);
+			let mut samples = vec![0.0f32; (width * height * 4) as usize];
+			for y in 0..height as usize {
+				unsafe {
+					std::ptr::copy_nonoverlapping(
+						(data as *const u8).add(y * linesize),
+						samples.as_mut_ptr().add(y * row_bytes / 4) as *mut u8,
+						row_bytes,
+					);
+				}
+			}
+			let scope = analyze_f32_rgba(width as u32, height as u32, &samples);
+			image = Some((
+				f32_rgba_to_bgra_image(width as u32, height as u32, &samples),
+				scope,
+			));
+		}
+		unsafe {
+			oakengine_frame_free(frame_ptr);
+		}
+		image
+	}
+
 	/// Adopts a newly created/loaded facade project, freeing any previous
 	/// one, and rebuilds every snapshot. `blank` projects get a default
 	/// sequence; loaded ones use the first sequence.
@@ -907,6 +1051,7 @@ impl RealEngine {
 	/// borrowed from the project).
 	fn drop_project(&mut self) {
 		*self.renderer.lock().unwrap() = RendererSlot::Untried;
+		*self.source_renderer.lock().unwrap() = RendererSlot::Untried;
 		drop(self.sequence.take());
 		drop(self.project.take());
 		self.cpu_frame_cache.lock().unwrap().clear();
@@ -1443,9 +1588,17 @@ impl ProjectDataSource for RealEngine {
 
 impl AudioMeterDataSource for RealEngine {
 	fn levels(&self) -> Vec<f32> {
-		// Real audio levels are not exposed by the facade; report a silent
-		// (but alive) meter.
-		vec![0.0, 0.0]
+		// Per-channel linear peaks of the engine's buffered audio output
+		// (facade `oakengine_audio_output_levels`, clamped to the meter's
+		// 0..1 range). Silent when nothing has been pushed to the output
+		// (no playback audio path yet) or on any facade error.
+		let mut peaks = [0.0f32; 8];
+		// SAFETY: `peaks` is a live 8-entry buffer; capacity matches.
+		let n = unsafe { oakengine_audio_output_levels(peaks.as_mut_ptr(), peaks.len() as c_int) };
+		if n <= 0 {
+			return vec![0.0, 0.0];
+		}
+		peaks[..n as usize].iter().map(|p| p.clamp(0.0, 1.0)).collect()
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1480,15 +1633,14 @@ impl AppEngine for RealEngine {
 				return image.clone();
 			}
 		}
-		// The program monitor renders the current sequence through the
-		// facade CPU renderer (falling back to the synthetic pattern when
-		// rendering is unavailable). The source monitor keeps the synthetic
-		// pattern: the facade renderer binds a *sequence* handle only, so
-		// there is currently no surface to render a single footage node for
-		// the material viewer — that is a documented facade gap.
+		// Both monitors render through the facade CPU renderer (falling
+		// back to the synthetic pattern when rendering is unavailable): the
+		// program monitor renders the current sequence, the source monitor
+		// renders the currently selected footage node at the source clock's
+		// playhead frame.
 		let rendered = match monitor {
 			Monitor::Program => self.render_program_frame(frame),
-			Monitor::Source => None,
+			Monitor::Source => self.render_source_frame(frame),
 		};
 		let (image, scope) = match rendered {
 			Some((image, scope)) => (Arc::new(image), scope),
@@ -1562,7 +1714,15 @@ impl AppEngine for RealEngine {
 	}
 
 	fn select_item(&mut self, id: u64, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
+		let changed = self.selected_item != Some(id);
 		self.selected_item = Some(id);
+		if changed {
+			// The source monitor renders the selected footage node: a new
+			// selection must rebind the renderer and drop the stale cached
+			// frame (the cache key only tracks the playhead frame).
+			*self.source_renderer.lock().unwrap() = RendererSlot::Untried;
+			self.cpu_frame_cache.lock().unwrap().remove(&Monitor::Source);
+		}
 		cx.notify();
 	}