diff --git a/native_bridge/src/main.cpp b/native_bridge/src/main.cpp
index 8ca87c6..85f0235 100644
--- a/native_bridge/src/main.cpp
+++ b/native_bridge/src/main.cpp
@@ -717,6 +717,10 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
     }
     auto* shmIPC = (SharedAudioBufferIPC*)MapViewOfFile(hMapFile, FILE_MAP_ALL_ACCESS, 0, 0, sizeof(SharedAudioBufferIPC));
     if (!shmIPC) { CloseHandle(hMapFile); return 1; }
+    // VSTi crackle fix: 8-slot audio ring (see SharedMemoryIPC.h). Must be set
+    // on Windows too — ringMask stays 0 otherwise and the ring collapses to
+    // 1 slot (slot = writeIndex & 0), dropping whole blocks on any jank.
+    shmIPC->ringMask = 7;
 #else
     (void)shmName; // POSIX shm mapping (shm_open) added when porting off Windows
     auto* shmIPC = (SharedAudioBufferIPC*)std::calloc(1, sizeof(SharedAudioBufferIPC));