diff --git a/services/mam-api/src/routes/recorders.js b/services/mam-api/src/routes/recorders.js
index 592bd7a..f5fe77f 100644
--- a/services/mam-api/src/routes/recorders.js
+++ b/services/mam-api/src/routes/recorders.js
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ function buildStandbyEnv(recorder) {
     `LIVE_DIR=${liveDir}`,
     `MAM_API_TOKEN=${process.env.CAPTURE_TOKEN || ''}`,
     `STANDBY=1`,
+    `PRE_ROLL_SECONDS=1`,
   ];
 }
 
@@ -699,6 +700,12 @@ router.post('/:id/start', requireRecorderEdit, async (req, res, next) => {
       if (dcCount) env.push(`DELTACAST_PORT_COUNT=${dcCount}`);
     }
 
+    // Framecache slot has been warm since the bridge started — 1s pre-roll is
+    // sufficient. Avoids a 5s startup lag on both on-demand and standby spawns.
+    if (['deltacast', 'sdi', 'blackmagic'].includes(sourceType)) {
+      env.push('PRE_ROLL_SECONDS=1');
+    }
+
     if (sourceType === 'srt' || sourceType === 'rtmp') {
       env.push(`LISTEN=${isListener ? '1' : '0'}`);
       if (isListener) {