1. A system for use in an audio-video (AV) playback chain, comprising: an AV renderer peripheral for processing an input datastream; a first interrupt service request output at a first interrupt line to be generated by a predetermined event occurring in the AV renderer peripheral, and providing for a first processor to begin a first interrupt service routine to service a first task for the AV renderer peripheral; a second interrupt service request output providing for a second processor to begin a second interrupt service routine to service a second task for the AV renderer peripheral; and a programmable delay timer configured to be triggered by the first interrupt service request output and to generate the second interrupt service request output at a second interrupt line after a delay relative to the first interrupt service request output, wherein the delay depends on a programmed register value.