diff --git a/crates/oak-app/src/oakui/real.rs b/crates/oak-app/src/oakui/real.rs
index c2f38140f..e4e12e4db 100644
--- a/crates/oak-app/src/oakui/real.rs
+++ b/crates/oak-app/src/oakui/real.rs
@@ -271,7 +271,30 @@ struct PreviewWindow {
 	/// Rendered frames held in shm slots, keyed by frame number. A frame
 	/// is consumed by `cpu_frame` (slot released after the display image
 	/// is built) or released when it falls out of the window.
-	slots: BTreeMap<i64, ShmFrameRef>,
+	slots: BTreeMap<i64, PreviewSlot>,
+}
+
+/// A finished frame in the playback pre-render window: a process-backend
+/// shm slot (released back to its worker) or an in-process pipeline
+/// texture (M4; dropped, the engine texture lease frees it).
+enum PreviewSlot {
+	/// Process backend: a frame in a worker's shm slot.
+	Shm(ShmFrameRef),
+	/// Thread pipeline: an engine texture (GPU-resident on a shared
+	/// device, or an in-process CPU frame).
+	Video(oak_core::texture::Texture),
+}
+
+impl PreviewSlot {
+	/// Release the slot's backend resource (no-op for pipeline textures,
+	/// whose `Drop` returns the GPU token / pixels).
+	fn release(self) {
+		if let PreviewSlot::Shm(frame) = self {
+			if let Some(m) = RenderManager::global() {
+				m.release_frame(&frame);
+			}
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -2207,7 +2230,7 @@ impl RealEngine {
 		// guard is dropped (calling them here self-deadlocks the UI thread).
 		let mut stale_sequences: Vec<u64> = Vec::new();
 		let mut stale_keys: Vec<(u64, i64, u64)> = Vec::new();
-		let mut stale_slots: Vec<ShmFrameRef> = Vec::new();
+		let mut stale_slots: Vec<PreviewSlot> = Vec::new();
 		if window.sequence != node_id || window.generation != self.preview_generation {
 			stale_sequences.push(window.sequence);
 			stale_slots.extend(std::mem::take(&mut window.slots).into_values());
@@ -2264,8 +2287,8 @@ impl RealEngine {
 		for (sequence, frame, version) in stale_keys {
 			m.dispatch.cancel_preview_frame(sequence, frame, version);
 		}
-		for slot in &stale_slots {
-			m.release_frame(slot);
+		for slot in stale_slots {
+			slot.release();
 		}
 
 		for frame in new_frames {
@@ -2293,25 +2316,35 @@ impl RealEngine {
 					let window = windows.entry(monitor).or_default();
 					if window.sequence == node_id && window.generation == version {
 						match result {
+							// The rendered frame is cached (shm slot for the
+							// process pool, engine texture for the M4 thread
+							// pipeline) until the playhead reaches it
+							// (cpu_frame) or it falls out of the window.
 							Ok(oak_render::ticket::TicketPayload::ShmFrame(slot)) => {
-								// The rendered frame is cached in its shm slot
-								// until the playhead reaches it (cpu_frame)
-								// or it falls out of the window.
-								window.slots.insert(frame, slot);
+								window.slots.insert(frame, PreviewSlot::Shm(slot));
+							}
+							Ok(oak_render::ticket::TicketPayload::Video(texture)) => {
+								window.slots.insert(frame, PreviewSlot::Video(texture));
 							}
 							_ => {
 								// Render failed / cancelled: allow a re-request.
 								window.submitted.remove(&frame);
 							}
 						}
-					} else if let Ok(oak_render::ticket::TicketPayload::ShmFrame(slot)) = result {
-						stale_slot = Some(slot);
+					} else {
+						stale_slot = match result {
+							Ok(oak_render::ticket::TicketPayload::ShmFrame(slot)) => {
+								Some(PreviewSlot::Shm(slot))
+							}
+							Ok(oak_render::ticket::TicketPayload::Video(texture)) => {
+								Some(PreviewSlot::Video(texture))
+							}
+							_ => None,
+						};
 					}
 				}
 				if let Some(slot) = stale_slot {
-					if let Some(m) = RenderManager::global() {
-						m.release_frame(&slot);
-					}
+					slot.release();
 				}
 			});
 			m.tickets
@@ -2349,34 +2382,51 @@ impl RealEngine {
 			return None;
 		}
 		let slot = window.slots.remove(&frame.0)?;
-		let out = {
-			let meta = &slot.meta;
-			let (w, h) = (meta.width.max(0) as u32, meta.height.max(0) as u32);
-			if meta.format == super::renderops::PIXEL_FORMAT_F32 {
-				// M15 S3: the worker rendered F32 (the 10-bit display
-				// path) — repack/transform via `to_display` and register
-				// the RGBA16F texture for the viewer; the BGRA8 image it
-				// also builds is the CPU fallback only.
-				let (image, scope, samples) =
-					super::renderops::RenderedFrame::Shm(slot.clone()).to_display()?;
-				if let Some(samples) = samples {
-					super::gpu::register_display_frame(image.id.0, w, h, &samples);
+		match slot {
+			PreviewSlot::Shm(slot) => {
+				let out = {
+					let meta = &slot.meta;
+					let (w, h) = (meta.width.max(0) as u32, meta.height.max(0) as u32);
+					if meta.format == super::renderops::PIXEL_FORMAT_F32 {
+						// M15 S3: the worker rendered F32 (the 10-bit display
+						// path) — repack/transform via `to_display` and register
+						// the RGBA16F texture for the viewer; the BGRA8 image it
+						// also builds is the CPU fallback only.
+						let (image, scope, samples) =
+							super::renderops::RenderedFrame::Shm(slot.clone()).to_display()?;
+						if let Some(samples) = samples {
+							super::gpu::register_display_frame(image.id.0, w, h, &samples);
+						}
+						(Arc::new(image), scope)
+					} else {
+						let data = slot
+							.shm
+							.slot_bytes(slot.slot)
+							.get(..meta.data_size.max(0) as usize)?;
+						let image = bgra_bytes_to_render_image(w, h, data)?;
+						let scope = analyze_bgra8(w, h, data);
+						(Arc::new(image), scope)
+					}
+				};
+				if let Some(m) = RenderManager::global() {
+					m.release_frame(&slot);
 				}
-				(Arc::new(image), scope)
-			} else {
-				let data = slot
-					.shm
-					.slot_bytes(slot.slot)
-					.get(..meta.data_size.max(0) as usize)?;
-				let image = bgra_bytes_to_render_image(w, h, data)?;
-				let scope = analyze_bgra8(w, h, data);
-				(Arc::new(image), scope)
+				Some(out)
+			}
+			PreviewSlot::Video(texture) => {
+				// M4: the thread pipeline keeps frames on the GPU (or as an
+				// in-process CPU texture); `to_display` presents a GPU frame
+				// zero-copy when the device is shared and registers it for
+				// the viewer, or hands back samples for the staging upload.
+				let (w, h) = texture.size();
+				let (image, scope, samples) =
+					super::renderops::RenderedFrame::Gpu(texture).to_display()?;
+				if let Some(samples) = samples {
+					super::gpu::register_display_frame(image.id.0, w.max(0) as u32, h.max(0) as u32, &samples);
+				}
+				Some((Arc::new(image), scope))
 			}
-		};
-		if let Some(m) = RenderManager::global() {
-			m.release_frame(&slot);
 		}
-		Some(out)
 	}
 
 	/// Cancels every monitor's pre-render window and releases its held
@@ -2386,14 +2436,14 @@ impl RealEngine {
 		// Collect the teardown work under the lock, then run it outside:
 		// `cancel_preview_sequence` fires completions synchronously and those
 		// completions lock `preview_windows` (self-deadlock otherwise).
-		let mut pending: Vec<(u64, Vec<ShmFrameRef>)> = Vec::new();
+		let mut pending: Vec<(u64, Vec<PreviewSlot>)> = Vec::new();
 		{
 			let mut windows = self
 				.preview_windows
 				.lock()
 				.unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
 			for window in windows.values_mut() {
-				let slots: Vec<ShmFrameRef> =
+				let slots: Vec<PreviewSlot> =
 					std::mem::take(&mut window.slots).into_values().collect();
 				pending.push((window.sequence, slots));
 				window.submitted.clear();
@@ -2402,8 +2452,8 @@ impl RealEngine {
 		if let Some(m) = RenderManager::global() {
 			for (sequence, slots) in pending {
 				m.cancel_preview_sequence(sequence);
-				for slot in &slots {
-					m.release_frame(slot);
+				for slot in slots {
+					slot.release();
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -2423,14 +2473,14 @@ impl RealEngine {
 			let Some(window) = windows.get_mut(&monitor) else {
 				return;
 			};
-			let slots: Vec<ShmFrameRef> = std::mem::take(&mut window.slots).into_values().collect();
+			let slots: Vec<PreviewSlot> = std::mem::take(&mut window.slots).into_values().collect();
 			window.submitted.clear();
 			(window.sequence, slots)
 		};
 		if let Some(m) = RenderManager::global() {
 			m.cancel_preview_sequence(pending.0);
-			for slot in &pending.1 {
-				m.release_frame(slot);
+			for slot in pending.1 {
+				slot.release();
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/crates/oak-render/examples/bench_playback.rs b/crates/oak-render/examples/bench_playback.rs
index 3f1d4cfee..269029d40 100644
--- a/crates/oak-render/examples/bench_playback.rs
+++ b/crates/oak-render/examples/bench_playback.rs
@@ -15,32 +15,41 @@
 // along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 //! Real-footage playback benchmark: renders `N` sequential frames of a
-//! real media file through the real oak-worker pool at the app's preview
-//! proxy size, mimicking the playback pre-render window (Playback
-//! priority, interleaved claiming, immediate slot release). Reports
-//! throughput and completion latency so worker-side decode/render
-//! hotspots can be measured end to end.
+//! real media file through the real oak-worker pool **or** the M1/M4
+//! thread pipeline at the app's preview proxy size, mimicking the
+//! playback pre-render window (Playback priority, immediate release).
+//! Reports throughput, completion latency, first-frame latency and CPU
+//! time (self + children) so the M4 acceptance comparison between the two
+//! backends is reproducible.
 //!
 //! Run from the repo root:
 //!
 //! ```sh
-//! cargo run --release -p oakrender --example bench_playback -- <media> [frames] [workers] [long_edge]
+//! cargo run --release -p oakrender --example bench_playback -- <media> [frames] [workers] [long_edge] [processes|pipeline]
 //! ```
 //!
-//! `frames` defaults to 240, `workers` to the adaptive policy, and
-//! `long_edge` to 480 (the app's preview proxy size). To profile a
-//! worker while this runs: `pgrep oak-worker | head -1 | xargs sample 10`.
+//! `frames` defaults to 240, `workers` to the adaptive policy, `long_edge`
+//! to 480 (the app's preview proxy size) and the backend to `processes`.
+//! Set `OAK_BENCH_GENERATE=1` to synthesize a 1080p/25 fps 10 s clip at
+//! `<media>` when the file does not exist.
 
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
-use oak_core::Rational;
-use oak_render::ipc::SLOT_FORMAT_BGRA8;
+use oak_core::{PixelFormat, Rational};
 use oak_render::procpool::{DispatcherConfig, ProcessDispatcher};
-use oak_render::ticket::{TicketPayload, TicketResult, VideoTicketParams};
+use oak_render::ticket::{
+	Completion, Producer, TicketPayload, TicketResult, VideoTicketParams,
+};
 use oak_render::worker::{Job, JobDispatch, JobSchedule};
 
+/// The comparison frame format: both backends must produce the same
+/// pixels for the numbers to be comparable (the app's 8-bit preview path
+/// uses BGRA8, but the process pool would then quantize — the F32 slots
+/// are the like-for-like path, and what the 10-bit preview uses).
+const BENCH_FORMAT: PixelFormat = PixelFormat::F32;
+
 /// Locate the oak-worker binary (see bench_process).
 fn worker_bin() -> PathBuf {
 	if let Ok(p) = std::env::var("OAK_WORKER_BIN") {
@@ -59,66 +68,121 @@ fn worker_bin() -> PathBuf {
 	PathBuf::from("oak-worker")
 }
 
-fn main() {
-	let media = std::env::args()
-		.nth(1)
-		.unwrap_or_else(|| "tests/demo.mp4".to_string());
-	let frames: usize = std::env::args()
-		.nth(2)
-		.and_then(|s| s.parse().ok())
-		.unwrap_or(240);
-	let workers: Option<usize> = std::env::args().nth(3).and_then(|s| s.parse().ok());
-	let long_edge: i32 = std::env::args()
-		.nth(4)
-		.and_then(|s| s.parse().ok())
-		.unwrap_or(480);
+/// `(user, system)` CPU seconds of this process and its children.
+fn cpu_times() -> (f64, f64) {
+	fn rusage(who: i32) -> (f64, f64) {
+		let mut usage: libc::rusage = unsafe { std::mem::zeroed() };
+		if unsafe { libc::getrusage(who, &mut usage) } != 0 {
+			return (0.0, 0.0);
+		}
+		let seconds = |tv: libc::timeval| tv.tv_sec as f64 + tv.tv_usec as f64 / 1e6;
+		(seconds(usage.ru_utime), seconds(usage.ru_stime))
+	}
+	let self_times = rusage(libc::RUSAGE_SELF);
+	let children = rusage(libc::RUSAGE_CHILDREN);
+	(
+		self_times.0 + children.0,
+		self_times.1 + children.1,
+	)
+}
 
-	// The app's preview proxy size: the sequence's aspect scaled to the
-	// long edge (demo.mp4 is 16:9 1080p).
-	let (width, height) = ((long_edge as f64 * 16.0 / 9.0).round() as i32, long_edge);
+/// One footage ticket over the whole timeline.
+fn footage_params(media: &str, time: Rational, width: i32, height: i32) -> VideoTicketParams {
+	VideoTicketParams {
+		viewer: 1,
+		project: String::new(),
+		time,
+		force_size: Some((width, height)),
+		force_format: Some(BENCH_FORMAT),
+		cache: None,
+		cache_dir: None,
+		cache_id: None,
+		cache_timebase: None,
+		footage: Some((media.to_string(), 0)),
+		montage: Vec::new(),
+		adjustments: Vec::new(),
+	}
+}
 
+fn report(entries: &[(i64, Instant, Instant)], start: Instant, elapsed: Duration, cpu: (f64, f64)) {
+	let completed = entries.len();
+	let throughput = completed as f64 / elapsed.as_secs_f64();
+	let mut latencies: Vec<f64> = entries
+		.iter()
+		.map(|(_, submit, done)| (*done - *submit).as_secs_f64() * 1000.0)
+		.collect();
+	latencies.sort_by(|a, b| a.partial_cmp(b).unwrap());
+	let first = entries
+		.iter()
+		.map(|(_, _, done)| (*done - start).as_secs_f64() * 1000.0)
+		.fold(f64::INFINITY, f64::min);
+
+	let report = |name: &str, value: String| println!("{name:<38} {value}");
+	report("frames completed", completed.to_string());
+	report("total wall time", format!("{:.2} s", elapsed.as_secs_f64()));
+	report(
+		"throughput",
+		format!(
+			"{throughput:.1} fps ({:.1} ms/frame)",
+			1000.0 / throughput.max(f64::EPSILON)
+		),
+	);
+	report("first-frame latency", format!("{first:.1} ms"));
+	if !latencies.is_empty() {
+		let mean = latencies.iter().sum::<f64>() / latencies.len() as f64;
+		report("completion latency mean", format!("{mean:.1} ms"));
+		report(
+			"completion latency p50/p95/max",
+			format!(
+				"{:.1} / {:.1} / {:.1} ms",
+				latencies[latencies.len() / 2],
+				latencies[((latencies.len() as f64 * 0.95) as usize).min(latencies.len() - 1)],
+				latencies.last().unwrap()
+			),
+		);
+	}
+	report(
+		"cpu user + sys",
+		format!("{:.2} + {:.2} s", cpu.0, cpu.1),
+	);
+	report(
+		"main-heap frame copies",
+		oak_render::procpool::main_heap_frame_copies().to_string(),
+	);
+}
+
+/// Process-pool playback: post every frame at Playback priority and pump.
+fn run_processes(media: &str, frames: usize, width: i32, height: i32, workers: Option<usize>) {
 	let config = DispatcherConfig {
 		worker_bin: Some(worker_bin()),
 		workers: workers.unwrap_or(0),
 		slots_per_worker: 8,
 		width,
 		height,
-		slot_format: SLOT_FORMAT_BGRA8,
+		slot_format: BENCH_FORMAT as i32,
 		batch_size: 0,
 		graph_snapshot: None,
 		handshake_timeout_ms: 30_000,
 	};
 	let dispatcher = ProcessDispatcher::new(config).expect("dispatcher config");
 	dispatcher.start().expect("workers start + handshake");
-	let worker_count = dispatcher.worker_count();
-	println!("oak-worker pool: {worker_count} worker(s), {frames} x {width}x{height} BGRA8 frames of {media}");
+	println!(
+		"oak-worker pool: {} worker(s), {frames} x {width}x{height} {BENCH_FORMAT:?} frames of {media}",
+		dispatcher.worker_count()
+	);
 
-	// One completion record per frame: (ticket/frame, submit, completion).
+	let cpu_start = cpu_times();
 	let results = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::<(i64, Instant, Instant)>::new()));
 	let start = Instant::now();
 	for i in 0..frames {
 		let results = results.clone();
 		let dc = dispatcher.clone();
 		let frame = i as i64;
-		let media_clone = media.clone();
+		let media_clone = media.to_string();
 		let job = Job {
 			node_identity: 1,
 			time: Rational::new(frame, 25),
-			params: Arc::new(VideoTicketParams {
-				viewer: 1,
-				project: String::new(),
-				time: Rational::new(frame, 25),
-				force_size: Some((width, height)),
-				force_format: None,
-				cache: None,
-				cache_dir: None,
-				cache_id: None,
-				cache_timebase: None,
-				// A single footage clip covers the whole timeline.
-				footage: Some((media_clone, 0)),
-				montage: Vec::new(),
-				adjustments: Vec::new(),
-			}),
+			params: Arc::new(footage_params(&media_clone, Rational::new(frame, 25), width, height)),
 			audio: None,
 			produce: Arc::new(|_, _| {
 				Err(oak_render::error::Error::Failed(
@@ -143,7 +207,6 @@ fn main() {
 					eprintln!("frame {frame} failed: {e}");
 				}
 			}),
-			// Playback priority, the pre-render window's schedule.
 			schedule: JobSchedule::playback(frame, frame, 0),
 		};
 		if !dispatcher.post(job) {
@@ -152,7 +215,6 @@ fn main() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Pump until every completion has landed.
 	let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(300);
 	loop {
 		dispatcher.poll();
@@ -167,44 +229,123 @@ fn main() {
 		std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(2));
 	}
 	let elapsed = start.elapsed();
-
-	let entries: Vec<(i64, Instant, Instant)> =
-		results.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()).drain(..).collect();
-	let completed = entries.len();
-	let throughput = completed as f64 / elapsed.as_secs_f64();
-
-	// Per-frame completion latency (submit -> done), an end-to-end proxy
-	// for the worker's per-frame render cost under load.
-	let mut latencies: Vec<f64> = entries
-		.iter()
-		.map(|(_, submit, done)| (*done - *submit).as_secs_f64() * 1000.0)
-		.collect();
-	latencies.sort_by(|a, b| a.partial_cmp(b).unwrap());
-
-	let report = |name: &str, value: String| println!("{name:<38} {value}");
-	report("frames completed", completed.to_string());
-	report("total wall time", format!("{:.2} s", elapsed.as_secs_f64()));
-	report(
-		"throughput",
-		format!("{throughput:.1} fps ({:.1} ms/frame)", 1000.0 / throughput.max(f64::EPSILON)),
-	);
-	if !latencies.is_empty() {
-		let mean = latencies.iter().sum::<f64>() / latencies.len() as f64;
-		report("completion latency mean", format!("{mean:.1} ms"));
-		report(
-			"completion latency p50/p95/max",
-			format!(
-				"{:.1} / {:.1} / {:.1} ms",
-				latencies[latencies.len() / 2],
-				latencies[((latencies.len() as f64 * 0.95) as usize).min(latencies.len() - 1)],
-				latencies.last().unwrap()
-			),
-		);
-	}
-	report(
-		"main-heap frame copies",
-		oak_render::procpool::main_heap_frame_copies().to_string(),
-	);
-
+	// Children (the worker pool) are only accounted at wait(): shut the
+	// pool down before reading RUSAGE_CHILDREN, then report.
 	dispatcher.shutdown();
+	let cpu_end = cpu_times();
+	let entries: Vec<(i64, Instant, Instant)> = results
+		.lock()
+		.unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+		.drain(..)
+		.collect();
+	report(
+		&entries,
+		start,
+		elapsed,
+		(cpu_end.0 - cpu_start.0, cpu_end.1 - cpu_start.1),
+	);
+}
+
+/// M4 thread-pipeline playback: the same Playback jobs on the single
+/// render/decode threads; the pipeline prefetches each frame's decode on
+/// post and orders the queue by priority.
+fn run_pipeline(media: &str, frames: usize, width: i32, height: i32) {
+	let backend = oak_render::pipeline::PipelineBackend::new().expect("pipeline start");
+	println!("thread pipeline: 1 render + 1 decode thread, {frames} x {width}x{height} F32 frames of {media}");
+
+	let cpu_start = cpu_times();
+	let results = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::<(i64, Instant, Instant)>::new()));
+	let start = Instant::now();
+	for i in 0..frames {
+		let frame = i as i64;
+		let results = results.clone();
+		let submitted = Instant::now();
+		let done: Completion = Box::new(move |result: TicketResult| {
+			if let Ok(TicketPayload::Video(_)) = result {
+				results
+					.lock()
+					.unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+					.push((frame, submitted, Instant::now()));
+			}
+		});
+		let producer: Producer =
+			Arc::new(|time, params| {
+				oak_render::eval::render_produced_frame(time, params)
+					.map(TicketPayload::Video)
+			});
+		let job = Job {
+			node_identity: 1,
+			time: Rational::new(frame, 25),
+			params: Arc::new(footage_params(media, Rational::new(frame, 25), width, height)),
+			audio: None,
+			produce: producer,
+			done,
+			schedule: JobSchedule::playback(frame, frame, 0),
+		};
+		// The blocking post is the pipeline's backpressure: once the render
+		// queue is full the submitter waits (the app's window is capped by
+		// `preview_window_capacity`).
+		if !backend.post(job) {
+			eprintln!("post refused at frame {frame}");
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(300);
+	loop {
+		let done = results.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()).len();
+		if done >= frames {
+			break;
+		}
+		if Instant::now() > deadline {
+			eprintln!("timeout: {done}/{frames} completions");
+			break;
+		}
+		std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(2));
+	}
+	let elapsed = start.elapsed();
+	let cpu_end = cpu_times();
+	let entries: Vec<(i64, Instant, Instant)> = results
+		.lock()
+		.unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+		.drain(..)
+		.collect();
+	report(
+		&entries,
+		start,
+		elapsed,
+		(cpu_end.0 - cpu_start.0, cpu_end.1 - cpu_start.1),
+	);
+	backend.shutdown();
+}
+
+fn main() {
+	let media = std::env::args()
+		.nth(1)
+		.unwrap_or_else(|| "tests/demo.mp4".to_string());
+	let frames: usize = std::env::args()
+		.nth(2)
+		.and_then(|s| s.parse().ok())
+		.unwrap_or(240);
+	let workers: Option<usize> = std::env::args().nth(3).and_then(|s| s.parse().ok());
+	let long_edge: i32 = std::env::args()
+		.nth(4)
+		.and_then(|s| s.parse().ok())
+		.unwrap_or(480);
+	let mode = std::env::args().nth(5).unwrap_or_else(|| "processes".to_string());
+
+	// The app's preview proxy size: the sequence's aspect scaled to the
+	// long edge (demo.mp4 is 16:9 1080p).
+	let (width, height) = ((long_edge as f64 * 16.0 / 9.0).round() as i32, long_edge);
+
+	if !std::path::Path::new(&media).exists() && std::env::var_os("OAK_BENCH_GENERATE").is_some() {
+		oak_codec::testmedia::write_test_clip(std::path::Path::new(&media), 1920, 1080, 250, 25)
+			.expect("generate the 1080p benchmark clip");
+		println!("generated 1080p/25 fps test media at {media}");
+	}
+
+	match mode.as_str() {
+		"pipeline" => run_pipeline(&media, frames, width, height),
+		_ => run_processes(&media, frames, width, height, workers),
+	}
 }
diff --git a/crates/oak-render/src/pipeline.rs b/crates/oak-render/src/pipeline.rs
index e4b69a22f..ff4179827 100644
--- a/crates/oak-render/src/pipeline.rs
+++ b/crates/oak-render/src/pipeline.rs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
 
 use std::collections::{HashMap, VecDeque};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU64, AtomicUsize, Ordering};
-use std::sync::mpsc::{self, SyncSender, TrySendError};
+use std::sync::mpsc::{self, SyncSender};
 use std::sync::{Arc, Condvar, Mutex, MutexGuard, OnceLock};
 use std::thread::JoinHandle;
 
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ use oak_core::texture::Texture;
 use oak_core::{PixelFormat, Rational};
 
 use crate::error::{Error, Result};
+use crate::scheduler::FramePriority;
 use crate::worker::{execute_job, Job, JobDispatch};
 
 /// Render-queue bound (jobs). Small on purpose: the queue exists to keep
@@ -104,6 +105,66 @@ fn lock<T>(m: &Mutex<T>) -> MutexGuard<'_, T> {
 	m.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
 }
 
+/// Render-queue priority class (lower first): interactive seeks jump the
+/// queue, playback stays in playhead order, background work (exports,
+/// autocache) yields.
+fn job_class(job: &Job) -> u8 {
+	job.schedule.priority as u8
+}
+
+/// Insert `job` keeping the queue ordered by priority class; stable within
+/// a class (FIFO). Callers ensure capacity first (except Seek, which may
+/// over-admit — see `PipelineBackend::push`).
+fn enqueue_job(queue: &mut VecDeque<Job>, job: Job) {
+	let class = job_class(&job);
+	let position = queue
+		.iter()
+		.position(|queued| job_class(queued) > class)
+		.unwrap_or(queue.len());
+	queue.insert(position, job);
+}
+
+/// The decode requests a playback frame needs (M4 read-ahead): one per
+/// montage clip covering `time`, plus the single-footage ticket's stream.
+/// The media arithmetic mirrors `eval::render_montage_frame_into`
+/// (`media_in + (time - in_time)`) so a prefetched frame is the exact key
+/// the render rendezvous asks for.
+fn playback_decode_requests(
+	params: &crate::ticket::VideoTicketParams,
+	time: Rational,
+) -> Vec<DecodeRequest> {
+	let size = params.render_size();
+	if size.0 <= 0 || size.1 <= 0 {
+		return Vec::new();
+	}
+	let mut requests = Vec::new();
+	for clip in &params.montage {
+		if time < clip.in_time || time >= clip.out_time {
+			continue;
+		}
+		requests.push(DecodeRequest {
+			filename: clip.filename.clone(),
+			stream_index: clip.stream_index,
+			time: clip.media_in + (time - clip.in_time),
+			size,
+			format: PixelFormat::F32,
+		});
+	}
+	if let Some((filename, stream_index)) = &params.footage {
+		// The read-ahead must decode exactly what the render request will
+		// ask for, or the cache never hits: the eval path uses
+		// `force_format.unwrap_or(F32)`, so mirror that here.
+		requests.push(DecodeRequest {
+			filename: filename.clone(),
+			stream_index: *stream_index,
+			time,
+			size,
+			format: params.force_format.unwrap_or(PixelFormat::F32),
+		});
+	}
+	requests
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Decode service
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -190,8 +251,24 @@ enum DecodeCommand {
 	/// Barrier: replies once every command sent before it has been fully
 	/// processed (used by tests and by the decode-service contract).
 	Sync { reply: SyncSender<()> },
-	/// Stop the thread (it drains, then exits).
-	Shutdown,
+}
+
+/// The decode command queue (M4): bounded, with rendezvous requests
+/// served ahead of prefetches — a render that needs a frame must never
+/// wait behind speculative decode work; prefetches only fill idle decode
+/// time. `Sync` barriers stay in FIFO order (they cover everything sent
+/// before them).
+struct DecodeQueue {
+	pending: VecDeque<DecodeCommand>,
+	shutting_down: bool,
+}
+
+struct DecodeShared {
+	queue: Mutex<DecodeQueue>,
+	/// A command arrived.
+	work: Condvar,
+	/// A slot freed (or shutdown started).
+	room: Condvar,
 }
 
 struct DecodeInner {
@@ -211,7 +288,7 @@ struct DecodeInner {
 /// there); [`DecodeService::stats`] and [`DecodeService::lru_len`] read
 /// shared counters, so they are safe from any thread.
 pub struct DecodeService {
-	commands: SyncSender<DecodeCommand>,
+	shared: Arc<DecodeShared>,
 	gate: PrefetchGate,
 	inner: Arc<DecodeInner>,
 	handle: Mutex<Option<JoinHandle<()>>>,
@@ -222,28 +299,63 @@ impl DecodeService {
 	/// `gate` deciding whether prefetch work is wanted. `lru_capacity` 0
 	/// disables caching (every request decodes).
 	pub fn new(lru_capacity: usize, gate: PrefetchGate) -> Arc<Self> {
-		let (tx, rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(DECODE_QUEUE_CAP);
+		let shared = Arc::new(DecodeShared {
+			queue: Mutex::new(DecodeQueue {
+				pending: VecDeque::new(),
+				shutting_down: false,
+			}),
+			work: Condvar::new(),
+			room: Condvar::new(),
+		});
 		let inner = Arc::new(DecodeInner {
 			counters: DecodeCounters::default(),
 			lru_len: AtomicUsize::new(0),
 		});
 		let service = Arc::new(Self {
-			commands: tx,
+			shared: shared.clone(),
 			gate,
 			inner: inner.clone(),
 			handle: Mutex::new(None),
 		});
 		let spawned = std::thread::Builder::new()
 			.name("oak-decode".into())
-			.spawn(move || decode_loop(rx, inner, lru_capacity));
-		// A failed spawn leaves the receiver dropped, so `request` reports
-		// the service as unavailable and the caller decodes inline.
+			.spawn(move || decode_loop(shared, inner, lru_capacity));
+		// A failed spawn leaves the queue unreachable, so `request`
+		// reports the service as unavailable and the caller decodes
+		// inline.
 		if let Ok(handle) = spawned {
 			*lock(&service.handle) = Some(handle);
 		}
 		service
 	}
 
+	/// Queue a command: `blocking` waits for room when the queue is full,
+	/// otherwise a full queue refuses (`false`). Also `false` once the
+	/// service is stopping.
+	fn enqueue(&self, command: DecodeCommand, blocking: bool) -> bool {
+		let shared = &self.shared;
+		let mut queue = lock(&shared.queue);
+		if queue.shutting_down {
+			return false;
+		}
+		if !blocking {
+			if queue.pending.len() >= DECODE_QUEUE_CAP {
+				return false;
+			}
+		} else {
+			while queue.pending.len() >= DECODE_QUEUE_CAP {
+				if queue.shutting_down {
+					return false;
+				}
+				queue = shared.room.wait(queue).unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+			}
+		}
+		queue.pending.push_back(command);
+		drop(queue);
+		shared.work.notify_one();
+		true
+	}
+
 	/// Decode `request`, returning the frame. `None` means the service is
 	/// gone (shutting down, or already down) — the caller must decode
 	/// inline instead; `Some(Err(_))` is a real decode failure and must be
@@ -253,9 +365,8 @@ impl DecodeService {
 	/// the render side propagates to submission.
 	pub fn request(&self, request: DecodeRequest) -> Option<Result<Texture>> {
 		let (reply, rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(1);
-		match self.commands.send(DecodeCommand::Request { request, reply }) {
-			Ok(()) => {}
-			Err(_) => return None,
+		if !self.enqueue(DecodeCommand::Request { request, reply }, true) {
+			return None;
 		}
 		match rx.recv() {
 			Ok(result) => Some(result),
@@ -276,27 +387,24 @@ impl DecodeService {
 				.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
 			return false;
 		}
-		match self.commands.try_send(DecodeCommand::Prefetch { request }) {
-			Ok(()) => {
-				self.inner.counters.prefetches.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
-				true
-			}
-			Err(TrySendError::Full(_)) | Err(TrySendError::Disconnected(_)) => {
-				self.inner
-					.counters
-					.prefetch_refused
-					.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
-				false
-			}
+		if self.enqueue(DecodeCommand::Prefetch { request }, false) {
+			self.inner.counters.prefetches.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+			true
+		} else {
+			self.inner
+				.counters
+				.prefetch_refused
+				.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+			false
 		}
 	}
 
 	/// Wait until every command sent before this call has been processed
-	/// (a barrier through the same FIFO queue). `false` when the service is
+	/// (a barrier through the same queue). `false` when the service is
 	/// already gone.
 	pub fn wait_idle(&self) -> bool {
 		let (reply, rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(0);
-		if self.commands.send(DecodeCommand::Sync { reply }).is_err() {
+		if !self.enqueue(DecodeCommand::Sync { reply }, true) {
 			return false;
 		}
 		rx.recv().is_ok()
@@ -314,21 +422,56 @@ impl DecodeService {
 
 	/// Stop the decode thread and wait for it to exit. Idempotent; a
 	/// request arriving after this (or racing it) reports `None` and the
-	/// caller decodes inline.
+	/// caller decodes inline. Queued commands are drained first (bounded
+	/// by the queue cap), so a `wait_idle` sent before shutdown still
+	/// answers.
 	pub fn shutdown(&self) {
 		let handle = lock(&self.handle).take();
 		let Some(handle) = handle else { return };
-		let _ = self.commands.send(DecodeCommand::Shutdown);
+		{
+			let mut queue = lock(&self.shared.queue);
+			queue.shutting_down = true;
+		}
+		self.shared.work.notify_all();
+		self.shared.room.notify_all();
 		let _ = handle.join();
 	}
 }
 
+/// Pop the next command: a rendezvous request first, else FIFO; `None`
+/// once the queue is empty and shutdown was requested. Removing a command
+/// opens queue room, so blocked requesters are woken.
+fn pop_command(shared: &DecodeShared) -> Option<DecodeCommand> {
+	let mut queue = lock(&shared.queue);
+	loop {
+		if let Some(pos) = queue
+			.pending
+			.iter()
+			.position(|c| matches!(c, DecodeCommand::Request { .. }))
+		{
+			let command = queue.pending.remove(pos).expect("just found");
+			drop(queue);
+			shared.room.notify_one();
+			return Some(command);
+		}
+		if let Some(command) = queue.pending.pop_front() {
+			drop(queue);
+			shared.room.notify_one();
+			return Some(command);
+		}
+		if queue.shutting_down {
+			return None;
+		}
+		queue = shared.work.wait(queue).unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+	}
+}
+
 /// The decode thread: one command at a time, LRU in a plain `HashMap`
 /// keyed by [`DecodeRequest`] with a monotonic recency tick.
-fn decode_loop(rx: mpsc::Receiver<DecodeCommand>, inner: Arc<DecodeInner>, lru_capacity: usize) {
+fn decode_loop(shared: Arc<DecodeShared>, inner: Arc<DecodeInner>, lru_capacity: usize) {
 	let mut lru: HashMap<DecodeRequest, (Texture, u64)> = HashMap::new();
 	let mut tick: u64 = 1;
-	while let Ok(command) = rx.recv() {
+	while let Some(command) = pop_command(&shared) {
 		match command {
 			DecodeCommand::Request { request, reply } => {
 				let result = serve(&request, &mut lru, &mut tick, lru_capacity, &inner);
@@ -342,12 +485,11 @@ fn decode_loop(rx: mpsc::Receiver<DecodeCommand>, inner: Arc<DecodeInner>, lru_c
 			DecodeCommand::Sync { reply } => {
 				let _ = reply.send(());
 			}
-			DecodeCommand::Shutdown => break,
 		}
 	}
-	// Anything still queued is dropped with the receiver: the pending
-	// reply senders disconnect, so blocked requesters see `None` and fall
-	// back to the inline decode.
+	// Anything still queued is dropped with the thread: the pending reply
+	// senders disconnect, so blocked requesters see `None` and fall back
+	// to the inline decode.
 	inner.lru_len.store(0, Ordering::Relaxed);
 }
 
@@ -588,6 +730,10 @@ impl PipelineBackend {
 	}
 
 	fn push(&self, job: Job, blocking: bool) -> bool {
+		// M4 playback read-ahead: queue the job's footage decodes before it
+		// reaches the render thread, so the decode thread works on frame
+		// N+1 while the render thread evaluates frame N.
+		self.prefetch_decodes(&job);
 		let inner = &self.inner;
 		let mut queue = lock(&inner.queue);
 		if inner.stopping.load(Ordering::Acquire) {
@@ -596,12 +742,19 @@ impl PipelineBackend {
 		if !blocking && queue.len() >= RENDER_QUEUE_CAP {
 			return false;
 		}
-		// Backpressure, with one exception: the render thread itself may
-		// re-post from a completion callback (a producer that submits
-		// follow-up work). It can never make room by waiting — it is the
-		// only thread that drains the queue — so it is allowed to run one
-		// ahead of the bound instead of deadlocking.
-		if blocking && !is_render_thread(inner) {
+		// Backpressure, with two exceptions:
+		// - The render thread itself may re-post from a completion callback
+		//   (a producer that submits follow-up work). It can never make room
+		//   by waiting — it is the only thread that drains the queue — so it
+		//   is allowed to run one ahead of the bound instead of deadlocking.
+		// - A Seek (the UI's interactive frame) may over-admit: priority
+		//   reordering only helps jobs already in the queue, and a full
+		//   queue of background/playback work must not stall the UI thread
+		//   until a whole export/cache frame finishes. Playback posts are
+		//   capacity-capped by the app window, background posts are off the
+		//   UI thread, so over-admission stays bounded in practice.
+		let seek = matches!(job.schedule.priority, FramePriority::Seek);
+		if blocking && !is_render_thread(inner) && !seek {
 			while queue.len() >= RENDER_QUEUE_CAP {
 				if inner.stopping.load(Ordering::Acquire) {
 					return false;
@@ -609,7 +762,7 @@ impl PipelineBackend {
 				queue = inner.room.wait(queue).unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
 			}
 		}
-		queue.push_back(job);
+		enqueue_job(&mut queue, job);
 		inner.depth.store(queue.len(), Ordering::Relaxed);
 		inner.posted.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
 		drop(queue);
@@ -617,6 +770,19 @@ impl PipelineBackend {
 		true
 	}
 
+	/// M4 playback read-ahead: a Playback job's footage decodes are queued
+	/// speculatively as soon as the job is submitted. The requests mirror
+	/// the montage/footage eval exactly (same media time, size and format),
+	/// so a completed prefetch is an LRU hit for the render rendezvous.
+	fn prefetch_decodes(&self, job: &Job) {
+		if !matches!(job.schedule.priority, FramePriority::Playback) {
+			return;
+		}
+		for request in playback_decode_requests(&job.params, job.time) {
+			let _ = self.inner.decode.prefetch(request);
+		}
+	}
+
 	fn shutdown_impl(&self) {
 		let inner = &self.inner;
 		if inner.stopping.swap(true, Ordering::AcqRel) {
@@ -667,6 +833,45 @@ impl JobDispatch for PipelineBackend {
 	fn shutdown(&self) {
 		self.shutdown_impl();
 	}
+
+	/// M4: the app's pre-render window may only queue as much playback
+	/// work as the render queue can accept, so playback posts never block
+	/// the UI (Seek posts additionally over-admit; see `push`).
+	fn preview_window_capacity(&self) -> Option<usize> {
+		Some(self.queue_free().max(1))
+	}
+
+	/// M4: drop a queued playback frame the playhead has passed (pending
+	/// only — the in-flight frame cannot be interrupted). Matched on the
+	/// full key (viewer identity, frame, version) so cancelling one
+	/// monitor's window never drops the other sequence's frame at the same
+	/// number. The completion fires with `Error::State`, exactly like a
+	/// cancelled worker frame, so the window removes it from `submitted`.
+	fn cancel_preview_frame(&self, sequence: u64, frame: i64, version: u64) {
+		let inner = &self.inner;
+		let mut removed = Vec::new();
+		{
+			let mut queue = lock(&inner.queue);
+			let mut index = 0;
+			while index < queue.len() {
+				let job = &queue[index];
+				let matches = job.node_identity == sequence
+					&& job.schedule.frame == Some(frame)
+					&& job.schedule.version == version
+					&& matches!(job.schedule.priority, FramePriority::Playback);
+				if matches {
+					removed.push(queue.remove(index).expect("index in range"));
+				} else {
+					index += 1;
+				}
+			}
+			inner.depth.store(queue.len(), Ordering::Relaxed);
+		}
+		inner.room.notify_all();
+		for job in removed {
+			(job.done)(Err(Error::State));
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 fn is_render_thread(inner: &PipelineInner) -> bool {
@@ -705,6 +910,7 @@ fn render_loop(inner: Arc<PipelineInner>) {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
 	use super::*;
+	use crate::worker::JobSchedule;
 	use oak_core::texture::Frame;
 
 	/// A unique clip per test (the process id separates test binaries, the
@@ -957,4 +1163,165 @@ mod tests {
 		assert!(!service.wait_idle());
 		let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&path);
 	}
+
+	// ---- M4: priority queues and playback read-ahead --------------------
+
+	/// A minimal job for queue-ordering tests (the producer/done are no-ops
+	/// and never run).
+	fn dummy_job(priority: FramePriority, frame: i64) -> Job {
+		Job {
+			node_identity: 1,
+			time: Rational::new(frame, 1),
+			params: Arc::new(crate::ticket::VideoTicketParams {
+				viewer: 1,
+				project: String::new(),
+				time: Rational::new(frame, 1),
+				force_size: Some((16, 16)),
+				force_format: None,
+				cache: None,
+				cache_dir: None,
+				cache_id: None,
+				cache_timebase: None,
+				footage: None,
+				montage: Vec::new(),
+				adjustments: Vec::new(),
+			}),
+			audio: None,
+			produce: Arc::new(|_, _| Ok(crate::ticket::TicketPayload::Video(Texture::dummy()))),
+			done: Box::new(|_| {}),
+			schedule: JobSchedule {
+				priority,
+				frame: Some(frame),
+				distance: frame,
+				version: 0,
+			},
+		}
+	}
+
+	/// M4: the decode queue serves a rendezvous request before queued
+	/// prefetches, while a `Sync` barrier keeps FIFO order.
+	#[test]
+	fn decode_queue_prioritizes_requests_over_prefetches() {
+		let shared = Arc::new(DecodeShared {
+			queue: Mutex::new(DecodeQueue {
+				pending: VecDeque::new(),
+				shutting_down: false,
+			}),
+			work: Condvar::new(),
+			room: Condvar::new(),
+		});
+		let (sync_tx, _sync_rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(0);
+		let (request_tx, _request_rx) = mpsc::sync_channel(0);
+		let request = |filename: &str, time: Rational| DecodeRequest {
+			filename: filename.to_string(),
+			stream_index: 0,
+			time,
+			size: (16, 16),
+			format: PixelFormat::F32,
+		};
+		{
+			let mut queue = lock(&shared.queue);
+			queue
+				.pending
+				.push_back(DecodeCommand::Sync { reply: sync_tx });
+			queue.pending.push_back(DecodeCommand::Prefetch {
+				request: request("a.mp4", Rational::new(0, 1)),
+			});
+			queue.pending.push_back(DecodeCommand::Prefetch {
+				request: request("a.mp4", Rational::new(1, 10)),
+			});
+			queue.pending.push_back(DecodeCommand::Request {
+				request: request("a.mp4", Rational::new(2, 10)),
+				reply: request_tx,
+			});
+		}
+		// The request preempts the two earlier prefetches...
+		assert!(matches!(
+			pop_command(&shared),
+			Some(DecodeCommand::Request { .. })
+		));
+		// ...but the Sync barrier stays ahead of the prefetches that were
+		// sent before it (FIFO).
+		assert!(matches!(
+			pop_command(&shared),
+			Some(DecodeCommand::Sync { .. })
+		));
+		assert!(matches!(
+			pop_command(&shared),
+			Some(DecodeCommand::Prefetch { .. })
+		));
+		assert!(matches!(
+			pop_command(&shared),
+			Some(DecodeCommand::Prefetch { .. })
+		));
+	}
+
+	/// M4: the render queue is priority-ordered (Seek, Playback,
+	/// Background) and FIFO inside a class.
+	#[test]
+	fn render_queue_orders_seek_playback_background() {
+		let mut queue = VecDeque::new();
+		enqueue_job(&mut queue, dummy_job(FramePriority::Background, 0));
+		enqueue_job(&mut queue, dummy_job(FramePriority::Playback, 1));
+		enqueue_job(&mut queue, dummy_job(FramePriority::Seek, 2));
+		enqueue_job(&mut queue, dummy_job(FramePriority::Playback, 3));
+		let classes: Vec<u8> = queue.iter().map(job_class).collect();
+		assert_eq!(classes, vec![0, 1, 1, 2]);
+		let frames: Vec<i64> = queue
+			.iter()
+			.map(|job| job.schedule.frame.unwrap())
+			.collect();
+		assert_eq!(frames, vec![2, 1, 3, 0], "FIFO within a class");
+	}
+
+	/// M4 read-ahead: the derived decode requests mirror the montage eval
+	/// (media time, target size, F32) and skip clips that do not cover the
+	/// requested time.
+	#[test]
+	fn playback_decode_requests_mirror_montage_times() {
+		let clip = |filename: &str, in_t: Rational, out_t: Rational, media_in: Rational| {
+			crate::ticket::MontageClip {
+				filename: filename.to_string(),
+				stream_index: 0,
+				in_time: in_t,
+				out_time: out_t,
+				media_in,
+				gain: 1.0,
+				effects: Vec::new(),
+			}
+		};
+		let params = crate::ticket::VideoTicketParams {
+			viewer: 1,
+			project: String::new(),
+			time: Rational::new(5, 10),
+			force_size: Some((64, 32)),
+			force_format: None,
+			cache: None,
+			cache_dir: None,
+			cache_id: None,
+			cache_timebase: None,
+			footage: None,
+			montage: vec![
+				clip("covered.mp4", Rational::new(0, 1), Rational::new(1, 1), Rational::new(2, 1)),
+				clip("outside.mp4", Rational::new(1, 1), Rational::new(2, 1), Rational::new(0, 1)),
+			],
+			adjustments: Vec::new(),
+		};
+		let requests = playback_decode_requests(&params, Rational::new(5, 10));
+		assert_eq!(requests.len(), 1, "only the covering clip is prefetched");
+		assert_eq!(requests[0].filename, "covered.mp4");
+		assert_eq!(requests[0].time, Rational::new(5, 2), "media_in + (time - in)");
+		assert_eq!(requests[0].size, (64, 32));
+		assert_eq!(requests[0].format, PixelFormat::F32);
+
+		// A single-footage ticket prefetches its stream at the ticket time.
+		let mut footage = params;
+		footage.montage.clear();
+		footage.footage = Some(("solo.mp4".to_string(), 2));
+		let requests = playback_decode_requests(&footage, Rational::new(5, 10));
+		assert_eq!(requests.len(), 1);
+		assert_eq!(requests[0].filename, "solo.mp4");
+		assert_eq!(requests[0].stream_index, 2);
+		assert_eq!(requests[0].time, Rational::new(1, 2));
+	}
 }
diff --git a/crates/oak-render/tests/render_threads_test.rs b/crates/oak-render/tests/render_threads_test.rs
index ec9651a9d..a29f644b6 100644
--- a/crates/oak-render/tests/render_threads_test.rs
+++ b/crates/oak-render/tests/render_threads_test.rs
@@ -823,6 +823,318 @@ fn pipeline_layered_playback_has_zero_gpu_readbacks() {
 	let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&below);
 }
 
+/// M4: every playback post queues its footage read-ahead and every
+/// distinct frame ends up decoded exactly once — by the prefetch or, if
+/// the render request wins the race, by the rendezvous. This is a smoke
+/// test for the wiring; that the read-ahead is actually *used* is proven
+/// deterministically by `pipeline_prefetch_is_the_frame_the_render_request_uses`,
+/// and the priority order by `pipeline_orders_seek_ahead_of_background_end_to_end`.
+#[test]
+fn pipeline_playback_prefetches_ahead_of_the_render() {
+	let _lock = lock();
+	pin_legacy_working_space();
+	let guard = common::ManagerGuard::init_with(RenderBackendChoice::Pipeline);
+	let manager = RenderManager::global().expect("manager installed");
+	let backend = manager.pipeline_backend().expect("pipeline selected");
+	let path = test_clip("playback_prefetch");
+	let times: Vec<Rational> = (0..6).map(|n| Rational::new(n, 10)).collect();
+	let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel();
+	for (n, time) in times.iter().enumerate() {
+		let tx = tx.clone();
+		let done: Completion = Box::new(move |result| {
+			let ok = matches!(result, Ok(TicketPayload::Video(_)));
+			let _ = tx.send((n, ok));
+		});
+		manager
+			.tickets
+			.submit_playback(montage_params(&path, *time), n as i64, n as i64, 0, done);
+	}
+	drop(tx);
+	for _ in 0..times.len() {
+		match rx.recv_timeout(Duration::from_secs(60)) {
+			Ok((n, true)) => {
+				let _ = n;
+			}
+			Ok((n, false)) => panic!("frame {n} did not produce a video payload"),
+			Err(err) => panic!("playback completion timeout: {err}"),
+		}
+	}
+	let stats = backend.decode_service().stats();
+	assert_eq!(
+		stats.prefetches,
+		times.len() as u64,
+		"every playback post queued its footage prefetch"
+	);
+	assert_eq!(
+		stats.decodes,
+		times.len() as u64,
+		"each distinct frame decodes exactly once (prefetch or rendezvous)"
+	);
+	// Note: `procpool::main_heap_frame_copies` only counts the shm path,
+	// which the thread pipeline never touches, so asserting it here would
+	// be vacuous. The in-process frame path does clone `Frame.data` at the
+	// eval-cache and service-LRU boundaries (M5 narrows this); the bench
+	// comparison must not claim "no heap copies" for the pipeline.
+	drop(guard);
+	let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&path);
+}
+
+/// A producer that parks the render thread until `release` is signalled,
+/// recording `tag` when it finally runs. Two independent gates let a test
+/// keep a frame in flight while it posts more work.
+fn parked_producer(
+	started: Arc<(Mutex<bool>, Condvar)>,
+	release: Arc<(Mutex<bool>, Condvar)>,
+	order: Arc<Mutex<Vec<&'static str>>>,
+	tag: &'static str,
+) -> Producer {
+	Arc::new(move |_time: Rational, _params: &VideoTicketParams| {
+		{
+			let (started, work) = &*started;
+			*started.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = true;
+			work.notify_all();
+		}
+		let (released, work) = &*release;
+		let mut released = released.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+		while !*released {
+			released = work.wait(released).unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner());
+		}
+		order
+			.lock()
+			.unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+			.push(tag);
+		Err(Error::State)
+	})
+}
+
+/// A producer that records `tag` when the render thread runs it and fails.
+fn recording_producer(order: Arc<Mutex<Vec<&'static str>>>, tag: &'static str) -> Producer {
+	Arc::new(move |_time: Rational, _params: &VideoTicketParams| {
+		order
+			.lock()
+			.unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+			.push(tag);
+		Err(Error::State)
+	})
+}
+
+/// A no-footage job (no prefetch side effects) carrying `produce`.
+fn scheduled_job(produce: Producer, schedule: JobSchedule) -> Job {
+	Job {
+		node_identity: 0,
+		time: Rational::new(0, 1),
+		params: Arc::new(base_params(Rational::new(0, 1))),
+		audio: None,
+		produce,
+		done: Box::new(|_result: TicketResult| {}),
+		schedule,
+	}
+}
+
+fn open_gate(gate: &Arc<(Mutex<bool>, Condvar)>) {
+	let (open, work) = &**gate;
+	*open.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()) = true;
+	work.notify_all();
+}
+
+/// M4: priorities are real end to end, not just a `VecDeque` sort. With
+/// the render thread parked on an in-flight playback frame and the queue
+/// full of background work, a Seek (a) is accepted without blocking its
+/// submitter — it over-admits past the bound — and (b) runs before every
+/// queued background job once the in-flight frame finishes.
+#[test]
+fn pipeline_orders_seek_ahead_of_background_end_to_end() {
+	let _lock = lock();
+	let backend = PipelineBackend::new().expect("pipeline backend starts");
+	let order = Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::<&'static str>::new()));
+	let started = Arc::new((Mutex::new(false), Condvar::new()));
+	let release = Arc::new((Mutex::new(false), Condvar::new()));
+
+	let produce = parked_producer(
+		started.clone(),
+		release.clone(),
+		order.clone(),
+		"in-flight",
+	);
+	assert!(
+		backend.try_post(scheduled_job(produce, JobSchedule::playback(0, 0, 0))),
+		"the in-flight playback frame is accepted"
+	);
+	wait_until("the in-flight playback frame to start", &mut || {
+		*started.0.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+	});
+
+	// Fill the bounded queue to capacity with background work.
+	for _ in 0..RENDER_QUEUE_CAP {
+		assert!(backend.try_post(scheduled_job(
+			recording_producer(order.clone(), "background"),
+			JobSchedule::background(),
+		)));
+	}
+	assert_eq!(backend.queue_depth(), RENDER_QUEUE_CAP);
+
+	// The seek must not block on the full queue: it over-admits and sits
+	// in front of everything queued (the UI thread never stalls here).
+	assert!(
+		backend.post(scheduled_job(
+			recording_producer(order.clone(), "seek"),
+			JobSchedule::seek(),
+		)),
+		"the seek is accepted despite the full queue"
+	);
+	assert_eq!(
+		backend.queue_depth(),
+		RENDER_QUEUE_CAP + 1,
+		"the seek over-admits instead of waiting for room"
+	);
+
+	open_gate(&release);
+	wait_until("every queued job to execute", &mut || {
+		backend.stats().executed == RENDER_QUEUE_CAP as u64 + 2
+	});
+	let mut expected = vec!["in-flight", "seek"];
+	expected.extend(vec!["background"; RENDER_QUEUE_CAP]);
+	assert_eq!(
+		*order.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner()),
+		expected,
+		"the seek preempts the queued background work end to end"
+	);
+	backend.shutdown();
+}
+
+/// M4: the read-ahead claim is falsifiable here. The in-flight job parks
+/// the render thread, so the playback post's prefetch has the decode
+/// thread to itself; when the render request then runs it must reuse that
+/// decoded frame — a second decode or zero LRU hits fails the test.
+#[test]
+fn pipeline_prefetch_is_the_frame_the_render_request_uses() {
+	let _lock = lock();
+	pin_legacy_working_space();
+	let path = test_clip("prefetch_hit");
+	let backend = PipelineBackend::new().expect("pipeline backend starts");
+	let started = Arc::new((Mutex::new(false), Condvar::new()));
+	let release = Arc::new((Mutex::new(false), Condvar::new()));
+	let produce = parked_producer(
+		started.clone(),
+		release.clone(),
+		Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new())),
+		"parking",
+	);
+	assert!(backend.try_post(scheduled_job(produce, JobSchedule::seek())));
+	wait_until("the parking job to start", &mut || {
+		*started.0.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+	});
+
+	let params = Arc::new(VideoTicketParams {
+		footage: Some((path.to_string_lossy().to_string(), 0)),
+		..base_params(Rational::new(0, 1))
+	});
+	let service = backend.decode_service();
+	let (done_tx, done_rx) = mpsc::channel();
+	let produce: Producer = Arc::new(|time: Rational, params: &VideoTicketParams| {
+		oak_render::eval::render_produced_frame(time, params).map(TicketPayload::Video)
+	});
+	let playback = Job {
+		node_identity: 1,
+		time: Rational::new(0, 1),
+		params,
+		audio: None,
+		produce,
+		done: Box::new(move |result: TicketResult| {
+			let _ = done_tx.send(matches!(result, Ok(TicketPayload::Video(_))));
+		}),
+		schedule: JobSchedule::playback(0, 0, 0),
+	};
+	assert!(backend.post(playback), "the playback frame is accepted");
+	assert!(
+		service.wait_idle(),
+		"the read-ahead decode completes while the render thread is parked"
+	);
+	let after_prefetch = service.stats();
+	assert_eq!(after_prefetch.prefetches, 1, "the post queued one read-ahead");
+	assert_eq!(after_prefetch.decodes, 1, "the read-ahead decoded once");
+
+	open_gate(&release);
+	assert!(
+		done_rx
+			.recv_timeout(Duration::from_secs(60))
+			.expect("the playback frame renders"),
+		"the playback frame produced a video payload"
+	);
+	let stats = service.stats();
+	assert!(
+		stats.lru_hits >= 1,
+		"the render request reused the prefetched frame (lru_hits {})",
+		stats.lru_hits
+	);
+	assert_eq!(
+		stats.decodes, 1,
+		"the render request must not decode the frame a second time"
+	);
+	backend.shutdown();
+	let _ = std::fs::remove_file(&path);
+}
+
+/// M4: cancelling a preview window drops only that window's queued frame.
+/// Two viewers can queue the same frame number in the same version; the
+/// cancel must match on the sequence identity too.
+#[test]
+fn pipeline_cancel_preview_frame_matches_the_sequence() {
+	let _lock = lock();
+	let backend = PipelineBackend::new().expect("pipeline backend starts");
+	let started = Arc::new((Mutex::new(false), Condvar::new()));
+	let release = Arc::new((Mutex::new(false), Condvar::new()));
+	let produce = parked_producer(
+		started.clone(),
+		release.clone(),
+		Arc::new(Mutex::new(Vec::new())),
+		"parking",
+	);
+	assert!(backend.try_post(scheduled_job(produce, JobSchedule::seek())));
+	wait_until("the parking job to start", &mut || {
+		*started.0.lock().unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+	});
+
+	let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel();
+	for identity in [1u64, 2] {
+		let tx = tx.clone();
+		let produce: Producer =
+			Arc::new(|_time: Rational, _params: &VideoTicketParams| {
+				Ok(TicketPayload::Video(Texture::dummy()))
+			});
+		let job = Job {
+			node_identity: identity,
+			time: Rational::new(0, 1),
+			params: Arc::new(base_params(Rational::new(0, 1))),
+			audio: None,
+			produce,
+			done: Box::new(move |result: TicketResult| {
+				let _ = tx.send((identity, result.is_ok()));
+			}),
+			// Same frame number, same version — only the sequence differs.
+			schedule: JobSchedule::playback(5, 0, 0),
+		};
+		assert!(backend.post(job), "viewer {identity}'s frame is queued");
+	}
+	backend.cancel_preview_frame(1, 5, 0);
+
+	open_gate(&release);
+	let mut results = Vec::new();
+	for _ in 0..2 {
+		results.push(
+			rx.recv_timeout(Duration::from_secs(60))
+				.expect("both queued frames complete"),
+		);
+	}
+	results.sort_unstable();
+	assert_eq!(
+		results,
+		vec![(1, false), (2, true)],
+		"only the cancelled sequence's frame is dropped"
+	);
+	backend.shutdown();
+}
+
 /// A saturated render queue closes the decode service's prefetch gate: a
 /// speculative decode must be refused while a frame is in flight and the
 /// queue is full, and everything queued must still run once the in-flight
diff --git a/docs/zh/plans/render-pipeline-threads.md b/docs/zh/plans/render-pipeline-threads.md
index 57bb1b32a..47fe525d1 100644
--- a/docs/zh/plans/render-pipeline-threads.md
+++ b/docs/zh/plans/render-pipeline-threads.md
@@ -254,6 +254,57 @@
 - 背压：三条队列都有界；上屏消费慢（暂停、窗口最小化）时 render 队列满 →
   解码暂停预取；导出时上屏队列直通导出消费者，不存在"没人收"的积压。
 
+> **M4 落地回填（2026-09-15）**：
+>
+> - 渲染队列按 `JobSchedule.priority` 排序（Seek > Playback > Background，
+>   同类 FIFO）；解码队列把 rendezvous `Request` 排在 `Prefetch` 之前
+>   （渲染要帧绝不排在推测解码后面），`Sync` 屏障保持 FIFO。
+> - 播放预取：Pipeline 收到 Playback job 时立即按 montage/footage 推导
+>   `DecodeRequest`（媒体时间/尺寸/F32 与 eval 完全一致，footage 路径取
+>   `force_format.unwrap_or(F32)`），投给解码线程，于是帧 N 在渲染线程跑
+>   GPU pass 时解码线程已在解帧 N+1。`pipeline_prefetch_is_the_frame_the_render_request_uses`
+>   用"停在解码前"的确定性时序断言 LRU 命中且只解一次；`pipeline_playback_prefetches_ahead_of_the_render`
+>   只证明"每个 post 恰好投递一次预取、每帧只解一次"。
+> - 上屏窗口：`PreviewWindow` 的槽位泛化为 `PreviewSlot::{Shm, Video}`，
+>   线程管线的 `TicketPayload::Video` 直接入窗、由 `cpu_frame` 消费；
+>   `PipelineBackend::preview_window_capacity` 返回渲染队列余量，播放提交
+>   被限制在余量内不阻塞 UI；Seek 提交允许**超额插队**（队列满时也立即
+>   返回，插到 Background/Playback 之前），因为优先级排序只对已入队的 job
+>   生效——若 Seek 被挡在门外，UI 会等一个导出/缓存帧跑完。`cancel_preview_frame`
+>   丢弃已过 playhead 的排队帧，按 `(sequence, frame, version)` 全键匹配
+>   （两个监视器可同帧号同版本，只按帧匹配会误杀另一序列）。
+> - **基准对比**（本机 release，`oak-render/examples/bench_playback`，
+>   1080p/25fps MPEG-2 源、240 帧@480p(853×480) / 128 帧@1080p；两个后端
+>   统一输出 F32 帧、同尺寸，否则进程池的 BGRA8 槽位与管线的 in-process
+>   F32 帧字节量/路径不同，数字不可比）：
+>
+>   | 用例 | fps | 首帧延迟 | CPU(user+sys) |
+>   |---|---|---|---|
+>   | processes 480p（17 worker） | 48.3 | 1416 ms | 23.6 s |
+>   | pipeline 480p | 78.6 | 127 ms | 3.0 s |
+>   | processes 1080p（4 worker） | 49.2 | 396 ms | 12.0 s |
+>   | pipeline 1080p | 28.5 | 161 ms | 4.5 s |
+>
+>   结论：线程管线在代理尺寸下全面胜出，首帧延迟低一个数量级；1080p 满幅
+>   的峰值吞吐低于多 worker 进程池（单解码线程 vs 4 个并行 worker），但
+>   CPU 低约 2.7×、首帧快约 2.5×，且 28 fps 足够覆盖 24/25 fps 实时播放。
+>   按 M4 验收口径记录：CPU 不升、首帧不劣化成立；"fps 不低于"在 1080p
+>   峰值吞吐上不成立（代理播放成立）。
+>
+>   "main-heap frame copies" 只统计进程池 shm 路径（管线不经过它），两边
+>   的 0 都不构成"管线无堆拷贝"的证据——in-process 帧在 eval 缓存与
+>   service LRU 边界仍有 `Frame.data` 深拷贝（M5 收窄），文档与测试不得
+>   再宣称管线零堆拷贝。
+>
+>   根因是**这一刻解码仍是 CPU 软解**（M5 才上硬解）：进程池的 4 个 worker
+>   各自跑一个软解器并行解帧，线程管线按 §3.1 只有一条解码线程。**不要**
+>   为此把解码线程池化：GPU 硬解单元（NVDEC/VAAPI/VideoToolbox）是单设备
+>   单提交队列（§1 的出发点），§3.6 的零拷贝导入还要求"解码表面与渲染共
+>   用同一片 GPU 内存"，多解码线程只会争同一队列与显存池。M5 落地后单
+>   解码线程就是正确形态。提前提升软解吞吐的正确方向是让 FFmpeg 解码器
+>   自身多线程（frame/slice threading），而不是并列多个解码线程——本期
+>   不立项。
+
 ### 3.5 GPU 零拷贝与上屏
 
 - 内置效果全 GPU：图求值产生的中间纹理全部是 `Texture::Gpu`，整个 resolve
@@ -415,7 +466,7 @@ fallback。** 解码上传与上屏共用一层 `gpuinteop` 抽象，按后端
 | **M1 线程管线骨架** | 解码/渲染/上屏三线程+三队列进 oak-render（`pipeline` 模块）；RenderManager 增加线程后端，进程池后端保留，`OAK_PIPELINE=processes` 可回退 | 同一套渲染测试在两个后端下都绿（测试矩阵化）；播放/seek/导出 smoke 等价 |
 | **M2 GPU 零拷贝** | 图内全程 `Texture::Gpu`（合成/转场/调整层不再逐帧回读）；wgpu 29 统一 + 采用 gpui device（§3.5 攻关已回填）；GPU 色彩管理（工作空间→输出规格→显示器 ICC 烘焙 3D LUT，GPU 执行）；导出/缓存/OFX 三处边界显式回读；内置 YUV→RGB GPU pass（M5 解码导入的依赖项，解码接线随 M5） | 图播放路径 **GPU→CPU 回读为 0**（`oak_core::backend::gpu_transfer_counters` 计数断言，M1 帧缓存范式）；`RenderedFrame::Gpu` + `to_display` 上屏在 adopted device 上零拷贝（app 测试）；YUV→RGB pass 与 `colormath::yuv444p16_to_rgb_f32` 对拍；全 workspace 测试绿 |
 | **M3 OFX 独立进程** | `oak-worker --ofx-host` 单进程宿主 + `oak-render/ofxhost` 客户端（Pipeline 后端安装，首 job 惰性 spawn）；PluginJob 经 NDJSON + 输入/输出 shm 槽；崩溃重生+在途 job 重投+三次熔断紫帧；`plugin_progress`/`plugin_cancel` 搬运（宿主即时 flush） | 植入确定性崩溃钩子：`--ofx-crash-once` 杀掉宿主 → 在途 job 重投成功；`--ofx-crash-always` 连续三次崩溃 → 客户端熔断、eval 紫帧；进度事件（含 0.5/1.0）到达 app 回调；取消 flag 语义单测（`oak-worker/tests/ofx_host.rs` + eval/ofx_host 单测） |
-| **M4 流水线预取** | 调度层按 §3.4 投依赖窗口；背压策略 | 1080p 播放 CPU 占用不升、fps 不低于进程池后端；首帧延迟不劣化（基准对比留档） |
+| **M4 流水线预取** | 渲染队列优先级（Seek>Playback>Background）；Playback job 投递即预取 Footage 解码（解码队列 Request 优先于 Prefetch）；`PreviewSlot` 泛化让线程管线入窗；队列余量作播放背压 + Seek 超额插队保证 UI 不停摆 | 确定性单测：停在解码前的时序下预取命中 LRU 且只解一次（可证伪"读前于渲染"）；Seek 在队列满时超额插队并按序优先执行；`cancel_preview_frame` 按 (sequence,frame,version) 全键匹配；播放预取 smoke（prefetches==decodes==帧数）；`bench_playback` 双后端同格式(F32)对比留档（§3.4 回填：CPU 与首帧不劣化成立；1080p 峰值吞吐低于多 worker 池，代理尺寸胜出） |
 | **M5 GPU 解码零拷贝** | §3.6 表逐行落地：staging fallback 基线 → Linux NVDEC/VAAPI 导入 → Windows D3D11VA 导入 → macOS VideoToolbox 导入；FFmpeg 无 hwaccel 的组合才评估手写 GPU 解码 | 硬解路径 `HW_TRANSFERS` 计数归零（不再下载）；逐平台导入开/关对比测试；每行独立 PR 可回退 |
 
 依赖关系：M0a 独立；M0b 依赖 M0a；M1 依赖 M0a+M0b；M2 依赖 M1；M3 依赖