diff --git a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/README.md b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/README.md
index 3225328..2b7e161 100644
--- a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/README.md
+++ b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/README.md
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ Top-level exports:
 
 Extends `AudioWorkletNode`. Same API as `SoundTouchNode` with additional `fftSize` / `overlapFactor` options.
 
+Output starts one render block (128 samples) after the pipeline warms up; include it when compensating latency.
+
 #### Static methods
 
 | Method | Description |
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ node.addEventListener('metrics', (e) => {
 | Quality at extreme ratios | Artifacts above 2× | Smooth at all ratios |
 | Transient preservation | Better (time-domain) | Worse (frequency smearing) |
 | Computation | Lower | Higher (FFT per hop) |
-| Startup latency | Lower | `fftSize` samples |
+| Startup latency | Lower | `fftSize` + 128 samples |
 | Artifacts | Clicks / repeats | "Phasiness" / smearing |
 
 ## Architecture
diff --git a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/PhaseVocoderNode.ts b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/PhaseVocoderNode.ts
index 9727400..558bee6 100644
--- a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/PhaseVocoderNode.ts
+++ b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/PhaseVocoderNode.ts
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@ export interface PhaseVocoderNodeConstructorOptions extends PhaseVocoderNodeOpti
  * `fftSize` and `overlapFactor` constructor options for tuning the FFT stage.
  *
  * The phase vocoder produces smoother results than WSOLA at extreme ratios (> 2×)
- * at the cost of higher per-frame computation and inherent `fftSize`-sample latency.
+ * at the cost of higher per-frame computation. Latency is `fftSize` samples
+ * plus one render block (128 samples) of output priming.
  *
  * @example
  * ```ts
diff --git a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.spec.ts b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.spec.ts
index 2d54df8..9a97b9b 100644
--- a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.spec.ts
@@ -378,8 +378,18 @@ describe('phase-vocoder-processor', () => {
         playbackRate: new Float32Array([1]),
       };
 
+      // two blocks open the startup gate and do not count as underruns
+      outputFrameCount = 128;
+      for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
+        instance.process(
+          [[new Float32Array(128)]],
+          [[new Float32Array(128), new Float32Array(128)]],
+          params,
+        );
+      }
+
       outputFrameCount = 64;
-      for (let i = 0; i < 100; i++) {
+      for (let i = 0; i < 98; i++) {
         instance.process(
           [[new Float32Array(128)]],
           [[new Float32Array(128), new Float32Array(128)]],
@@ -390,7 +400,8 @@ describe('phase-vocoder-processor', () => {
       expect(instance.port.postMessage).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
         expect.objectContaining({
           type: 'metrics',
-          underrunCount: 100,
+          blockCount: 100,
+          underrunCount: 98,
         }),
       );
     });
@@ -416,15 +427,23 @@ describe('phase-vocoder-processor', () => {
       const inputRight = new Float32Array([2, 4]);
       const outputLeft = new Float32Array(2);
       const outputRight = new Float32Array(2);
+      const params = {
+        pitch: new Float32Array([1]),
+        pitchSemitones: new Float32Array([0]),
+        playbackRate: new Float32Array([1]),
+      };
+
+      // first block is held by the startup gate
+      instance.process(
+        [[inputLeft, inputRight]],
+        [[new Float32Array(2), new Float32Array(2)]],
+        params,
+      );
 
       const result = instance.process(
         [[inputLeft, inputRight]],
         [[outputLeft, outputRight]],
-        {
-          pitch: new Float32Array([1]),
-          pitchSemitones: new Float32Array([0]),
-          playbackRate: new Float32Array([1]),
-        },
+        params,
       );
 
       expect(result).toBe(true);
@@ -437,4 +456,35 @@ describe('phase-vocoder-processor', () => {
       expect(outputRight[1]).toBeCloseTo(0.4, 6);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('startup gate', () => {
+    it('holds output for one render block after the buffer first fills', async () => {
+      await import('./phase-vocoder-processor.js');
+      outputFrameCount = 512;
+
+      const instance = new registeredCtor!({
+        processorOptions: { sampleBufferType: 'circular' },
+      });
+
+      const params = {
+        pitch: new Float32Array([1]),
+        pitchSemitones: new Float32Array([0]),
+        playbackRate: new Float32Array([1]),
+      };
+
+      instance.process(
+        [[new Float32Array(128)]],
+        [[new Float32Array(128), new Float32Array(128)]],
+        params,
+      );
+      expect(extract).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      instance.process(
+        [[new Float32Array(128)]],
+        [[new Float32Array(128), new Float32Array(128)]],
+        params,
+      );
+      expect(extract).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Float32Array), 0, 128);
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.ts b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.ts
index 90aba16..bbec34c 100644
--- a/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.ts
+++ b/packages/phase-vocoder-worklet/src/phase-vocoder-processor.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,14 @@ class PhaseVocoderProcessor extends SoundTouchProcessorBase {
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The vocoder emits output in analysis-hop-sized bursts, so one held block
+   * gives the output buffer a permanent 128-frame underrun cushion.
+   */
+  protected override get startupHoldBlocks(): number {
+    return 1;
+  }
+
   protected onProcessComplete(result: ProcessCoreResult): void {
     if (this._blockCount % 100 === 0) {
       this.port.postMessage({
diff --git a/packages/worklet-base/README.md b/packages/worklet-base/README.md
index 57f4973..a81b41e 100644
--- a/packages/worklet-base/README.md
+++ b/packages/worklet-base/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ registerProcessor('my-processor', MyProcessor);
 |---|---|
 | `beforePipeProcess(left, right, frameCount, params)` | Pre-pipe analysis (e.g. LPC analysis for formant correction). Default is a no-op. |
 | `extractSamples(leftOutput, rightOutput, frameCount)` | Full extraction/write-back override (e.g. formant synthesis). Default writes both channels and returns RMS/peak metrics. |
+| `startupHoldBlocks` (getter) | Override to return `N` when the stretch stage produces output in bursts: the processor emits `N` extra render blocks of leading silence once the output buffer first fills a block, adding `N × 128` frames of latency and the same amount of underrun cushion. Default `0`. |
 
 ### Runtime messages
 
diff --git a/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.spec.ts b/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.spec.ts
index 38abd98..1bc74ff 100644
--- a/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.spec.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,22 @@ function makeConcreteClass() {
   return { TestProcessor, onProcessComplete };
 }
 
+function makeGatedClass(hold = 1) {
+  const onProcessComplete = vi.fn();
+
+  class GatedProcessor extends (ProcessorBase as unknown as typeof SoundTouchProcessorBase) {
+    protected override get startupHoldBlocks(): number {
+      return hold;
+    }
+
+    protected onProcessComplete(result: ProcessCoreResult): void {
+      onProcessComplete(result);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { GatedProcessor, onProcessComplete };
+}
+
 function makeInputs(frameCount = 128, channels = 2): Float32Array[][] {
   return [Array.from({ length: channels }, () => new Float32Array(frameCount))];
 }
@@ -165,6 +181,75 @@ describe('SoundTouchProcessorBase', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('startup gate', () => {
+    it('extracts from the first block when startupHoldBlocks is 0', () => {
+      const { TestProcessor } = makeConcreteClass();
+      const proc = new TestProcessor('[Test]', { sampleRate: 44100 });
+      outputFrameCount = 64;
+      const result = proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams());
+      expect(result!.toExtract).toBe(64);
+      expect(extract).toHaveBeenCalledWith(proc['_outputSamples'], 0, 64);
+    });
+
+    it('stays silent until the output buffer first fills a block', () => {
+      const { GatedProcessor } = makeGatedClass();
+      const proc = new GatedProcessor('[Test]', { sampleRate: 44100 });
+      outputFrameCount = 64;
+      const result = proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams());
+      expect(result!.toExtract).toBe(0);
+      expect(extract).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+      expect(proc['_underrunCount']).toBe(0);
+    });
+
+    it('holds one more block after the first full block, then extracts', () => {
+      const { GatedProcessor } = makeGatedClass();
+      const proc = new GatedProcessor('[Test]', { sampleRate: 44100 });
+      outputFrameCount = 512;
+      const held = proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams());
+      expect(held!.toExtract).toBe(0);
+      expect(extract).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+      const open = proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams());
+      expect(open!.toExtract).toBe(128);
+      expect(extract).toHaveBeenCalledWith(proc['_outputSamples'], 0, 128);
+    });
+
+    it('holds startupHoldBlocks blocks when greater than one', () => {
+      const { GatedProcessor } = makeGatedClass(2);
+      const proc = new GatedProcessor('[Test]', { sampleRate: 44100 });
+      outputFrameCount = 512;
+      expect(proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams())!.toExtract).toBe(0);
+      expect(proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams())!.toExtract).toBe(0);
+      expect(proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams())!.toExtract).toBe(128);
+    });
+
+    it('counts underruns only after the gate opens', () => {
+      const { GatedProcessor } = makeGatedClass();
+      const proc = new GatedProcessor('[Test]', { sampleRate: 44100 });
+      outputFrameCount = 64;
+      proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams()); // waiting
+      expect(proc['_underrunCount']).toBe(0);
+
+      outputFrameCount = 128;
+      proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams()); // held
+      proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams()); // open
+      expect(proc['_underrunCount']).toBe(0);
+
+      outputFrameCount = 64;
+      proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams());
+      expect(proc['_underrunCount']).toBe(1);
+    });
+
+    it('keeps counting blocks while gated', () => {
+      const { GatedProcessor } = makeGatedClass();
+      const proc = new GatedProcessor('[Test]', { sampleRate: 44100 });
+      outputFrameCount = 0;
+      proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams());
+      proc['processCore'](makeInputs(), makeOutputs(), makeParams());
+      expect(proc['_blockCount']).toBe(2);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('port message handling', () => {
     it('queues interpolation strategy change', () => {
       const { TestProcessor } = makeConcreteClass();
diff --git a/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.ts b/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.ts
index 2e85964..c867017 100644
--- a/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.ts
+++ b/packages/worklet-base/src/SoundTouchProcessorBase.ts
@@ -46,9 +46,36 @@ export abstract class SoundTouchProcessorBase extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
     null;
   private _pendingStretchParameters: StretchParameters | null = null;
 
+  /**
+   * Render blocks left in the startup gate: `-1` = waiting for the output
+   * buffer's first full block, `> 0` = holding, `0` = open.
+   */
+  private _startupHoldRemaining = -1;
+
   /** Label used in console messages (e.g. `'[SoundTouchProcessor]'`). */
   protected readonly processorLabel: string;
 
+  /**
+   * Render blocks the processor stays silent after the output buffer first
+   * holds a full block, before extraction begins.
+   *
+   * @remarks
+   * A bursty stretch stage refills the output buffer one hop at a time while
+   * `process` drains one block per quantum, so the buffer's trough rides at
+   * exactly one render block — any fractional-carry shortfall then comes up
+   * short and is zero-filled, which is an audible click. Each held block is
+   * emitted before any real output (so the added silence is inaudible) and
+   * leaves one block's worth of unconsumed frames as a permanent cushion
+   * under that trough, at the cost of one render block (128 frames) of
+   * output latency.
+   *
+   * Override in subclasses whose stretch stage produces in bursts. The
+   * default `0` disables the gate and keeps legacy timing.
+   */
+  protected get startupHoldBlocks(): number {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Validates and resolves an interpolation strategy id, falling back to
    * `'lanczos'` if the id is unrecognised.
@@ -291,10 +318,31 @@ export abstract class SoundTouchProcessorBase extends AudioWorkletProcessor {
 
     const outputBuffer = this._pipe.outputBuffer;
     const available = outputBuffer.frameCount;
-    const toExtract = Math.min(available, frameCount);
+
+    // Startup gate: while active, the block stays silent and nothing is
+    // consumed — see startupHoldBlocks.
+    let gated = false;
+    if (this._startupHoldRemaining !== 0) {
+      const hold = this.startupHoldBlocks;
+      if (hold <= 0) {
+        this._startupHoldRemaining = 0;
+      } else if (this._startupHoldRemaining < 0) {
+        // waiting for the pipe to fill its first full block; the block where
+        // it does is the first held one
+        gated = true;
+        if (available >= frameCount) {
+          this._startupHoldRemaining = hold - 1;
+        }
+      } else {
+        this._startupHoldRemaining--;
+        gated = true;
+      }
+    }
+
+    const toExtract = gated ? 0 : Math.min(available, frameCount);
 
     this._blockCount++;
-    if (available < frameCount) {
+    if (!gated && available < frameCount) {
       this._underrunCount++;
     }