diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/README.md b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/README.md
index ac5a73a..2db876c 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/README.md
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/README.md
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ Included now:
 - async PBO readback
 - latest-N system-memory frame exchange
 - rendered-frame warmup
+- eight completed output warmup frames before DeckLink preroll, with DeckLink scheduled depth still targeted at four
 - background Slang compile of `shaders/happy-accident`
 - app-owned display/render layer model for shader build readiness
 - app-owned submission of a completed shader artifact
@@ -198,6 +199,7 @@ Currently consumed fields:
 - `autoReload`
 - `maxTemporalHistoryFrames`
 - `previewFps`
+- `startupSettleMs`
 - `enableExternalKeying`
 
 The loaded config is treated as a read-only startup snapshot. Subsystems that need config should receive this snapshot or a narrowed config struct from app orchestration; they should not reload files independently.
diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.cpp b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.cpp
index b9adea7..7aeabb9 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.cpp
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.cpp
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@ AppConfig DefaultAppConfig()
 	config.autoReload = true;
 	config.maxTemporalHistoryFrames = 12;
 	config.previewFps = 30.0;
-	config.warmupCompletedFrames = 4;
+	config.warmupCompletedFrames = 8;
 	config.warmupTimeout = std::chrono::seconds(3);
+	config.startupSettle = std::chrono::seconds(5);
 	config.prerollTimeout = std::chrono::seconds(3);
 	config.prerollPoll = std::chrono::milliseconds(2);
 	config.runtimeShaderId = "happy-accident";
diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.h b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.h
index 7509760..5acf2d2 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.h
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfig.h
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ struct AppConfig
 	bool autoReload = true;
 	std::size_t maxTemporalHistoryFrames = 12;
 	double previewFps = 30.0;
-	std::size_t warmupCompletedFrames = 4;
+	std::size_t warmupCompletedFrames = 8;
 	std::chrono::milliseconds warmupTimeout = std::chrono::seconds(3);
+	std::chrono::milliseconds startupSettle = std::chrono::seconds(5);
 	std::chrono::milliseconds prerollTimeout = std::chrono::seconds(3);
 	std::chrono::milliseconds prerollPoll = std::chrono::milliseconds(2);
 	std::string runtimeShaderId = "happy-accident";
diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfigProvider.cpp b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfigProvider.cpp
index e859c70..bef9c57 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfigProvider.cpp
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/AppConfigProvider.cpp
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ bool AppConfigProvider::Load(const std::filesystem::path& path, std::string& err
 	ApplySize(root, "maxTemporalHistoryFrames", mConfig.maxTemporalHistoryFrames);
 	ApplyDouble(root, "previewFps", mConfig.previewFps);
 	ApplyBool(root, "enableExternalKeying", mConfig.deckLink.externalKeyingEnabled);
+	std::size_t startupSettleMilliseconds = static_cast<std::size_t>(mConfig.startupSettle.count());
+	ApplySize(root, "startupSettleMs", startupSettleMilliseconds);
+	mConfig.startupSettle = std::chrono::milliseconds(startupSettleMilliseconds);
 
 	mLoadedFromFile = true;
 	error.clear();
diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/RenderCadenceApp.h b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/RenderCadenceApp.h
index 19231af..fa1291c 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/RenderCadenceApp.h
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/app/RenderCadenceApp.h
@@ -96,6 +96,20 @@ public:
 			return false;
 		}
 
+		if (mConfig.startupSettle > std::chrono::milliseconds::zero())
+		{
+			Log("app", "Settling render cadence before DeckLink output for " + std::to_string(mConfig.startupSettle.count()) + " ms.");
+			std::this_thread::sleep_for(mConfig.startupSettle);
+			Log("app", "Waiting for rendered reserve after startup settle.");
+			if (!mFrameExchange.WaitForCompletedDepth(mConfig.warmupCompletedFrames, mConfig.warmupTimeout))
+			{
+				error = "Timed out waiting for rendered reserve after startup settle.";
+				LogError("app", error);
+				Stop();
+				return false;
+			}
+		}
+
 		StartOptionalVideoOutput();
 		mTelemetryHealth.Start(mFrameExchange, mOutput, mOutputThread, mRenderThread);
 		StartHttpServer();
diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/control/RuntimeStateJson.h b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/control/RuntimeStateJson.h
index 41dc687..d7b2bb5 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/control/RuntimeStateJson.h
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/control/RuntimeStateJson.h
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ inline std::string RuntimeStateToJson(const RuntimeStateJsonInput& input)
 	writer.KeyUInt("maxTemporalHistoryFrames", static_cast<uint64_t>(input.config.maxTemporalHistoryFrames));
 	writer.KeyDouble("previewFps", input.config.previewFps);
 	writer.KeyBool("enableExternalKeying", input.config.deckLink.externalKeyingEnabled);
+	writer.KeyUInt("startupSettleMs", static_cast<uint64_t>(input.config.startupSettle.count()));
 	writer.KeyString("inputVideoFormat", input.config.inputVideoFormat);
 	writer.KeyString("inputFrameRate", input.config.inputFrameRate);
 	writer.KeyString("outputVideoFormat", input.config.outputVideoFormat);
diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetry.h b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetry.h
index 2b44070..cd1750c 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetry.h
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetry.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ struct CadenceTelemetrySnapshot
 	uint64_t completions = 0;
 	uint64_t displayedLate = 0;
 	uint64_t dropped = 0;
+	uint64_t clockOverruns = 0;
+	uint64_t clockSkippedFrames = 0;
 	uint64_t shaderBuildsCommitted = 0;
 	uint64_t shaderBuildFailures = 0;
 	uint64_t inputFramesReceived = 0;
@@ -104,6 +106,8 @@ public:
 	{
 		CadenceTelemetrySnapshot snapshot = Sample(exchange, output, outputThread);
 		const auto renderMetrics = renderThread.GetMetrics();
+		snapshot.clockOverruns = renderMetrics.clockOverruns;
+		snapshot.clockSkippedFrames = renderMetrics.skippedFrames;
 		snapshot.shaderBuildsCommitted = renderMetrics.shaderBuildsCommitted;
 		snapshot.shaderBuildFailures = renderMetrics.shaderBuildFailures;
 		snapshot.inputFramesReceived = renderMetrics.inputFramesReceived;
diff --git a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetryJson.h b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetryJson.h
index 5f4f153..4b0882c 100644
--- a/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetryJson.h
+++ b/apps/RenderCadenceCompositor/telemetry/CadenceTelemetryJson.h
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ inline void WriteCadenceTelemetryJson(JsonWriter& writer, const CadenceTelemetry
 	writer.KeyUInt("completions", snapshot.completions);
 	writer.KeyUInt("late", snapshot.displayedLate);
 	writer.KeyUInt("dropped", snapshot.dropped);
+	writer.KeyUInt("clockOverruns", snapshot.clockOverruns);
+	writer.KeyUInt("clockSkippedFrames", snapshot.clockSkippedFrames);
+	writer.KeyUInt("clockOveruns", snapshot.clockOverruns);
+	writer.KeyUInt("clockSkipped", snapshot.clockSkippedFrames);
 	writer.KeyUInt("shaderCommitted", snapshot.shaderBuildsCommitted);
 	writer.KeyUInt("shaderFailures", snapshot.shaderBuildFailures);
 	writer.KeyUInt("inputFramesReceived", snapshot.inputFramesReceived);
diff --git a/config/runtime-host.json b/config/runtime-host.json
index b6944e7..8fad7c5 100644
--- a/config/runtime-host.json
+++ b/config/runtime-host.json
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@
   "autoReload": true,
   "maxTemporalHistoryFrames": 12,
   "previewFps": 30,
+  "startupSettleMs": 5000,
   "enableExternalKeying": true
 }
diff --git a/docs/openapi.yaml b/docs/openapi.yaml
index 0ac10c1..155b07a 100644
--- a/docs/openapi.yaml
+++ b/docs/openapi.yaml
@@ -557,6 +557,8 @@ components:
           type: number
         previewFps:
           type: number
+        startupSettleMs:
+          type: number
         enableExternalKeying:
           type: boolean
         inputVideoFormat:
@@ -654,6 +656,20 @@ components:
     CadenceTelemetry:
       type: object
       properties:
+        clockOverruns:
+          type: number
+          description: Render cadence overruns where the render thread was late enough to skip one or more frame intervals.
+        clockSkippedFrames:
+          type: number
+          description: Total render cadence frame intervals skipped instead of catch-up rendering.
+        clockOveruns:
+          type: number
+          deprecated: true
+          description: Deprecated misspelled alias for clockOverruns.
+        clockSkipped:
+          type: number
+          deprecated: true
+          description: Deprecated alias for clockSkippedFrames.
         inputFramesReceived:
           type: number
         inputFramesDropped:
diff --git a/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorAppConfigProviderTests.cpp b/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorAppConfigProviderTests.cpp
index f1f8b70..7986912 100644
--- a/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorAppConfigProviderTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorAppConfigProviderTests.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "AppConfigProvider.h"
 
+#include <chrono>
 #include <filesystem>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ std::filesystem::path WriteConfigFixture()
 		<< "  \"autoReload\": false,\n"
 		<< "  \"maxTemporalHistoryFrames\": 8,\n"
 		<< "  \"previewFps\": 24,\n"
+		<< "  \"startupSettleMs\": 2500,\n"
 		<< "  \"enableExternalKeying\": true\n"
 		<< "}\n";
 	return path;
@@ -66,6 +68,7 @@ void TestLoadsRuntimeHostConfig()
 	Expect(!config.autoReload, "auto reload loads");
 	Expect(config.maxTemporalHistoryFrames == 8, "history length loads");
 	Expect(config.previewFps == 24.0, "preview fps loads");
+	Expect(config.startupSettle == std::chrono::milliseconds(2500), "startup settle loads");
 	Expect(config.deckLink.externalKeyingEnabled, "external keying loads");
 
 	std::filesystem::remove(path);
diff --git a/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorTelemetryTests.cpp b/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorTelemetryTests.cpp
index d7b8a0e..31b6579 100644
--- a/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorTelemetryTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/RenderCadenceCompositorTelemetryTests.cpp
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ struct FakeOutput
 
 struct FakeRenderThreadMetrics
 {
+	uint64_t clockOverruns = 0;
+	uint64_t skippedFrames = 0;
 	uint64_t shaderBuildsCommitted = 0;
 	uint64_t shaderBuildFailures = 0;
 	uint64_t inputFramesReceived = 0;
@@ -104,6 +106,8 @@ void TestTelemetrySamplesCompletedPollMissesAndShaderCounts()
 	outputThread.metrics.scheduleFailures = 0;
 
 	FakeRenderThread renderThread;
+	renderThread.metrics.clockOverruns = 5;
+	renderThread.metrics.skippedFrames = 8;
 	renderThread.metrics.shaderBuildsCommitted = 1;
 	renderThread.metrics.shaderBuildFailures = 0;
 	renderThread.metrics.inputFramesReceived = 9;
@@ -122,6 +126,8 @@ void TestTelemetrySamplesCompletedPollMissesAndShaderCounts()
 	Expect(snapshot.completedFrames == 1, "completed frame count is sampled");
 	Expect(snapshot.scheduledFrames == 4, "scheduled frame count is sampled");
 	Expect(snapshot.completedPollMisses == 12, "completed poll misses are sampled");
+	Expect(snapshot.clockOverruns == 5, "clock overrun count is sampled");
+	Expect(snapshot.clockSkippedFrames == 8, "clock skipped frame count is sampled");
 	Expect(snapshot.shaderBuildsCommitted == 1, "shader committed count is sampled");
 	Expect(snapshot.shaderBuildFailures == 0, "shader failure count is sampled");
 	Expect(snapshot.inputFramesReceived == 9, "input received count is sampled");
@@ -176,6 +182,8 @@ void TestTelemetrySerializesToJson()
 	snapshot.completions = 117;
 	snapshot.displayedLate = 1;
 	snapshot.dropped = 2;
+	snapshot.clockOverruns = 3;
+	snapshot.clockSkippedFrames = 5;
 	snapshot.shaderBuildsCommitted = 1;
 	snapshot.shaderBuildFailures = 0;
 	snapshot.inputFramesReceived = 10;
@@ -206,6 +214,8 @@ void TestTelemetrySerializesToJson()
 		"\"renderedTotal\":120,\"scheduledTotal\":118,"
 		"\"completedPollMisses\":3,\"scheduleFailures\":0,"
 		"\"completions\":117,\"late\":1,\"dropped\":2,"
+		"\"clockOverruns\":3,\"clockSkippedFrames\":5,"
+		"\"clockOveruns\":3,\"clockSkipped\":5,"
 		"\"shaderCommitted\":1,\"shaderFailures\":0,"
 		"\"inputFramesReceived\":10,\"inputFramesDropped\":1,"
 		"\"inputConsumeMisses\":2,\"inputUploadMisses\":3,"