diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d8b422f..fdb9638 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -408,8 +408,9 @@ Where the time comes from, best first:
    start and the sidecar records drift over the file. **Then the band is cropped off**: the sweep re-encodes the
    stream (libx264 CRF 18, frame timing preserved, audio copied) so the published file is the game image + audio +
    the `tmcd` track and nothing else; the raw with the band is deleted (`KEEP_RAW_STREAMS=1` keeps it in `.src/`).
-   Streams without the band are remuxed losslessly. Cost: a 3 h 1440p60 night is a few hours of CPU on the
-   E-2136; the sweep is niced. OBS: dock → *Timecode band* →
+   Streams without the band are remuxed losslessly. Cost: every re-encode (streams and clips) runs x264 on
+   `ENCODE_THREADS` threads (2, set in `systemd/normalize-sweep.service`) so Jellyfin and live viewers stay
+   responsive; a 3 h 1440p60 night therefore takes most of the next day to publish. OBS: dock → *Timecode band* →
    "Add band + clock source" (canvas grows by W/160 rows, a locked browser source `Vanguard Clock` →
    `https://live.BASE/dock/clock/` sits in the band; only while not streaming). Go Live: the "Timecode band" checkbox (default on).
 2. **Server arrival time** (no band) — microseconds in the recording filename. Within ~0.1–0.3 s per streamer
diff --git a/bin/normalize-sweep.sh b/bin/normalize-sweep.sh
index f2ea375..43cd9df 100755
--- a/bin/normalize-sweep.sh
+++ b/bin/normalize-sweep.sh
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ FILL_GAPS_MS="${FILL_GAPS_MS:-0}"
 # Band removal re-encodes every stream that carried the timecode band. The raw (with band) is deleted after a
 # successful encode; KEEP_RAW_STREAMS=1 keeps it in the hidden .src/ instead (doubles disk per night).
 KEEP_RAW_STREAMS="${KEEP_RAW_STREAMS:-0}"
+# Encoder threads for every re-encode (clips and streams). 2 leaves the box responsive for Jellyfin/live viewers;
+# conversions take longer. systemd Environment=ENCODE_THREADS=... to change.
+ENCODE_THREADS="${ENCODE_THREADS:-2}"
 MAX_W=2560; MAX_H=1440; MAX_FPS=60
 exec 9>"${LOCK_FILE:-/run/lock/normalize-sweep.lock}"
 flock -n 9 || exit 0
@@ -166,7 +169,7 @@ PYEOF
     if (( live )) && [[ $reason != *audio=* ]]; then aargs=(-c:a copy); fi
     nice -n 15 ionice -c 3 ffmpeg -nostdin -hide_banner -loglevel error -y -i "$src" \
       -map 0:v:0 -map '0:a?' \
-      -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -crf 18 -maxrate 30M -bufsize 60M -pix_fmt yuv420p -profile:v high \
+      -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -crf 18 -maxrate 30M -bufsize 60M -pix_fmt yuv420p -profile:v high -threads "$ENCODE_THREADS" \
       -vf "$vf" -fps_mode "$fpsmode" "${fpsargs[@]}" \
       "${aargs[@]}" \
       "${tcargs[@]}" -movflags +faststart -f mp4 "$tmp"
diff --git a/bin/vgdeband.sh b/bin/vgdeband.sh
index 115447d..9f8c03d 100755
--- a/bin/vgdeband.sh
+++ b/bin/vgdeband.sh
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ print(d.get("source","none"), 1 if d.get("band_removed") else 0, d.get("timecode
   log "deband $f  (${w}px wide -> crop ${band} rows; tc=$tc)"
   nice -n 15 ionice -c 3 ffmpeg -nostdin -hide_banner -loglevel error -y -i "$f" \
     -map 0:v:0 -map '0:a?' \
-    -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -crf 18 -maxrate 30M -bufsize 60M -pix_fmt yuv420p -profile:v high \
+    -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -crf 18 -maxrate 30M -bufsize 60M -pix_fmt yuv420p -profile:v high -threads "${ENCODE_THREADS:-2}" \
     -vf "crop=iw:ih-${band}:0:0" -fps_mode passthrough -c:a copy \
     "${tcargs[@]}" -movflags +faststart -f mp4 "$tmp"
   rc=$?; d1=$(dur "$f"); d2=$(dur "$tmp")
diff --git a/systemd/normalize-sweep.service b/systemd/normalize-sweep.service
index 4c9c0a4..f1c0543 100644
--- a/systemd/normalize-sweep.service
+++ b/systemd/normalize-sweep.service
@@ -8,4 +8,5 @@ Type=oneshot
 ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/normalize-sweep.sh
 Nice=15
 IOSchedulingClass=idle
+Environment=ENCODE_THREADS=2   # x264 threads per conversion; keeps Jellyfin and the live portal responsive (default 2)
 # Environment=FILL_GAPS_MS=1000   # opt-in: CFR re-encode streams whose dropped-frame holes total >= 1 s (hours of CPU on this box)