diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 19bf16f..914ef0a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ public APIs may still change while the backend design stabilizes.
 - Added `hardware_latency` to stream statistics. macOS reports Core Audio
   device latency plus safety offset; Linux reports `None` until a reliable
   miniaudio latency value is available.
+- Added blocking convenience helpers `OutputStream.write_all()` and
+  `InputStream.read_exactly()`.
 
 ## [0.2.0a2] - 2026-06-10
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1c11b7a..cbfd22d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ an underrun.
 Use `tachyaudio.play()` for finite stimuli that should start, drain, and close
 as a single operation.
 
+Use blocking helpers when callers need complete buffer transfer:
+
+- `OutputStream.write_all(frames, timeout=None)`: wait until all frames are
+  accepted by the output ring
+- `InputStream.read_exactly(frame_count, timeout=None)`: wait until exactly the
+  requested number of frames has been captured
+
 Lifecycle semantics:
 
 - `stop()`: stop playback without discarding queued frames
diff --git a/docs/architecture.md b/docs/architecture.md
index 453ffbc..6e10b8c 100644
--- a/docs/architecture.md
+++ b/docs/architecture.md
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ Input capture mirrors output buffering in reverse: Core Audio callbacks write
 captured float32 frames into a native ring buffer, and Python reads available
 frames without invoking Python from the audio callback.
 
+The core stream methods remain nonblocking: `write()` accepts as many frames as
+the output ring can hold, and `read()` returns currently available captured
+frames. Blocking helpers (`write_all()` and `read_exactly()`) are Python-level
+conveniences layered on top of those primitives.
+
 Stream statistics distinguish queue state from hardware behavior. `queued_frames`
 and `queued_latency` describe the native ring buffer. `hardware_latency`
 describes backend-reported device latency when available. `buffer_size`
diff --git a/src/tachyaudio/_stream.py b/src/tachyaudio/_stream.py
index 2dcf876..f22ae23 100644
--- a/src/tachyaudio/_stream.py
+++ b/src/tachyaudio/_stream.py
@@ -3,12 +3,29 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+import time
 from typing import Any
 
 from tachyaudio._backend import get_backend
 from tachyaudio._errors import StreamClosed
 
 
+_POLL_INTERVAL = 0.001
+
+
+def _validate_timeout(timeout: float | None) -> None:
+    if timeout is not None and timeout < 0:
+        raise ValueError("timeout cannot be negative")
+
+
+def _deadline(timeout: float | None) -> float | None:
+    return None if timeout is None else time.monotonic() + timeout
+
+
+def _timed_out(deadline: float | None) -> bool:
+    return deadline is not None and time.monotonic() >= deadline
+
+
 @dataclass(frozen=True, slots=True)
 class StreamConfig:
     """Audio stream configuration."""
@@ -127,8 +144,7 @@ def drain(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> bool:
         """
 
         self._require_open()
-        if timeout is not None and timeout < 0:
-            raise ValueError("timeout cannot be negative")
+        _validate_timeout(timeout)
         return self._handle.drain(timeout)
 
     def flush(self) -> None:
@@ -150,6 +166,40 @@ def write(self, frames: Any) -> int:
         self._require_open()
         return self._handle.write(frames)
 
+    def write_all(self, frames: Any, timeout: float | None = None) -> int:
+        """Write all interleaved frames, waiting for ring-buffer capacity.
+
+        Returns the number of frames accepted. Raises `TimeoutError` if the
+        stream does not accept the complete buffer before `timeout`.
+        """
+
+        self._require_open()
+        _validate_timeout(timeout)
+        view = memoryview(frames).cast("B")
+        frame_bytes = self.config.channels * 4
+        if len(view) == 0 or len(view) % frame_bytes != 0:
+            raise ValueError("frames must contain whole interleaved float32 frames")
+
+        deadline = _deadline(timeout)
+        total_frames = len(view) // frame_bytes
+        written_frames = 0
+        while written_frames < total_frames:
+            start = written_frames * frame_bytes
+            remaining_frames = total_frames - written_frames
+            accepted = self.write(view[start:])
+            if accepted < 0:
+                raise RuntimeError("backend returned a negative frame count")
+            if accepted > remaining_frames:
+                raise RuntimeError("backend accepted more frames than requested")
+            written_frames += accepted
+            if written_frames >= total_frames:
+                return written_frames
+            if _timed_out(deadline):
+                raise TimeoutError("audio write did not complete before timeout")
+            time.sleep(_POLL_INTERVAL)
+
+        return written_frames
+
     def stats(self) -> StreamStats:
         """Return current stream counters."""
 
@@ -183,8 +233,8 @@ def play(
         dtype=dtype,
     )
     try:
-        stream.write(frames)
         stream.start()
+        stream.write_all(frames, timeout)
         if not stream.drain(timeout):
             raise TimeoutError("audio playback did not drain before timeout")
         return stream.stats()
@@ -262,6 +312,44 @@ def read(self, frame_count: int) -> memoryview:
             raise ValueError("frame_count must be positive")
         return self._handle.read(frame_count)
 
+    def read_exactly(self, frame_count: int, timeout: float | None = None) -> memoryview:
+        """Read exactly `frame_count` frames, waiting for captured input.
+
+        Raises `TimeoutError` if the requested frame count is not available
+        before `timeout`.
+        """
+
+        self._require_open()
+        if frame_count < 1:
+            raise ValueError("frame_count must be positive")
+        _validate_timeout(timeout)
+
+        frame_bytes = self.config.channels * 4
+        deadline = _deadline(timeout)
+        chunks: list[memoryview] = []
+        captured_frames = 0
+        while captured_frames < frame_count:
+            chunk = self.read(frame_count - captured_frames)
+            if len(chunk) % frame_bytes != 0:
+                raise RuntimeError("backend returned partial frame bytes")
+            chunk_frames = len(chunk) // frame_bytes
+            if chunk_frames > frame_count - captured_frames:
+                raise RuntimeError("backend returned more frames than requested")
+            if chunk_frames:
+                chunks.append(chunk)
+                captured_frames += chunk_frames
+                continue
+            if _timed_out(deadline):
+                raise TimeoutError("audio read did not complete before timeout")
+            time.sleep(_POLL_INTERVAL)
+
+        output = bytearray(frame_count * frame_bytes)
+        offset = 0
+        for chunk in chunks:
+            output[offset : offset + len(chunk)] = chunk
+            offset += len(chunk)
+        return memoryview(output)
+
     def stats(self) -> StreamStats:
         """Return current stream counters."""
 
diff --git a/tests/test_public_api.py b/tests/test_public_api.py
index dec46f4..ed60dd3 100644
--- a/tests/test_public_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_public_api.py
@@ -145,15 +145,17 @@ def open_input_stream(self, config: object) -> object:
     def test_play_helper_returns_stats(self) -> None:
         class OutputHandle:
             def __init__(self) -> None:
+                self.events: list[str] = []
                 self.frames = 0
 
             def start(self) -> None:
-                pass
+                self.events.append("start")
 
             def stop(self) -> None:
                 pass
 
             def drain(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> bool:
+                self.events.append("drain")
                 return True
 
             def flush(self) -> None:
@@ -163,6 +165,7 @@ def close(self) -> None:
                 pass
 
             def write(self, frames: object) -> int:
+                self.events.append("write")
                 self.frames = 4
                 return self.frames
 
@@ -184,9 +187,105 @@ def open_output_stream(self, config: object) -> OutputHandle:
             def open_input_stream(self, config: object) -> object:
                 raise NotImplementedError
 
-        ta.set_backend(Backend())
-        stats = ta.play(b"frames", timeout=0.1)
+        backend = Backend()
+        ta.set_backend(backend)
+        stats = ta.play(b"\x00" * 16, channels=1, timeout=0.1)
         self.assertEqual(stats.frames_processed, 4)
+        self.assertEqual(backend.handle.events, ["start", "write", "drain"])
+
+    def test_output_stream_write_all_handles_partial_writes(self) -> None:
+        class OutputHandle:
+            def __init__(self) -> None:
+                self.frames = 0
+
+            def start(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def stop(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def drain(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> bool:
+                return True
+
+            def flush(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def close(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def write(self, frames: object) -> int:
+                del frames
+                self.frames += 1
+                return 1
+
+            def stats(self) -> ta.StreamStats:
+                return ta.StreamStats(frames_processed=self.frames)
+
+        class Backend:
+            name = "test"
+
+            def __init__(self) -> None:
+                self.handle = OutputHandle()
+
+            def list_devices(self) -> tuple[ta.DeviceInfo, ...]:
+                return ()
+
+            def open_output_stream(self, config: object) -> OutputHandle:
+                return self.handle
+
+            def open_input_stream(self, config: object) -> object:
+                raise NotImplementedError
+
+        ta.set_backend(Backend())
+        stream = ta.OutputStream(channels=1)
+        try:
+            self.assertEqual(stream.write_all(b"\x00" * 12, timeout=0.1), 3)
+            self.assertEqual(stream.stats().frames_processed, 3)
+        finally:
+            stream.close()
+
+    def test_output_stream_write_all_times_out(self) -> None:
+        class OutputHandle:
+            def start(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def stop(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def drain(self, timeout: float | None = None) -> bool:
+                return True
+
+            def flush(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def close(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def write(self, frames: object) -> int:
+                return 0
+
+            def stats(self) -> ta.StreamStats:
+                return ta.StreamStats()
+
+        class Backend:
+            name = "test"
+
+            def list_devices(self) -> tuple[ta.DeviceInfo, ...]:
+                return ()
+
+            def open_output_stream(self, config: object) -> OutputHandle:
+                return OutputHandle()
+
+            def open_input_stream(self, config: object) -> object:
+                raise NotImplementedError
+
+        ta.set_backend(Backend())
+        stream = ta.OutputStream(channels=1)
+        try:
+            with self.assertRaises(TimeoutError):
+                stream.write_all(b"\x00" * 4, timeout=0.001)
+        finally:
+            stream.close()
 
     def test_input_stream_lifecycle_delegates_to_backend(self) -> None:
         class InputHandle:
@@ -247,6 +346,93 @@ def open_input_stream(self, config: object) -> InputHandle:
         with self.assertRaises(ta.StreamClosed):
             stream.read(1)
 
+    def test_input_stream_read_exactly_combines_chunks(self) -> None:
+        class InputHandle:
+            def __init__(self) -> None:
+                self.chunks = [b"\x01" * 8, b"\x02" * 8]
+
+            def start(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def stop(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def close(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def flush(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def read(self, frame_count: int) -> memoryview:
+                del frame_count
+                return memoryview(self.chunks.pop(0) if self.chunks else b"")
+
+            def stats(self) -> ta.StreamStats:
+                return ta.StreamStats()
+
+        class Backend:
+            name = "test"
+
+            def __init__(self) -> None:
+                self.handle = InputHandle()
+
+            def list_devices(self) -> tuple[ta.DeviceInfo, ...]:
+                return ()
+
+            def open_output_stream(self, config: object) -> object:
+                raise NotImplementedError
+
+            def open_input_stream(self, config: object) -> InputHandle:
+                return self.handle
+
+        ta.set_backend(Backend())
+        stream = ta.InputStream(channels=1)
+        try:
+            data = stream.read_exactly(4, timeout=0.1)
+            self.assertEqual(bytes(data), b"\x01" * 8 + b"\x02" * 8)
+        finally:
+            stream.close()
+
+    def test_input_stream_read_exactly_times_out(self) -> None:
+        class InputHandle:
+            def start(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def stop(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def close(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def flush(self) -> None:
+                pass
+
+            def read(self, frame_count: int) -> memoryview:
+                return memoryview(b"")
+
+            def stats(self) -> ta.StreamStats:
+                return ta.StreamStats()
+
+        class Backend:
+            name = "test"
+
+            def list_devices(self) -> tuple[ta.DeviceInfo, ...]:
+                return ()
+
+            def open_output_stream(self, config: object) -> object:
+                raise NotImplementedError
+
+            def open_input_stream(self, config: object) -> InputHandle:
+                return InputHandle()
+
+        ta.set_backend(Backend())
+        stream = ta.InputStream(channels=1)
+        try:
+            with self.assertRaises(TimeoutError):
+                stream.read_exactly(1, timeout=0.001)
+        finally:
+            stream.close()
+
     def test_stream_stats_preserves_zero_latency(self) -> None:
         stats = ta.StreamStats(estimated_latency=0.0)
         self.assertEqual(stats.estimated_latency, 0.0)