diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 513e4fa23..58811e025 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ INCLUDE(FindPkgConfig)
 SET(VERSION_MAJOR "0")
 SET(VERSION_MINOR "4")
 SET(VERSION_PATCH "0")
-SET(VERSION_SUFFIX "beta")
+SET(VERSION_SUFFIX "beta1")
 SET(VERSION "${VERSION_MAJOR}.${VERSION_MINOR}.${VERSION_PATCH}")
 IF(VERSION_SUFFIX)
 	SET (VERSION "${VERSION}-${VERSION_SUFFIX}")
diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 532e8b00f..384b794e1 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,26 @@
+2008-08-04	Tobias Doerffel	<tobydox/at/users/dot/sourceforge/dot/net>
+
+	* plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_effect.cpp:
+	* plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_subplugin_features.cpp:
+	* plugins/vst_effect/vst_subplugin_features.cpp:
+	* plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect.cpp:
+	* plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect_controls.cpp:
+	* include/plugin.h:
+	* include/base64.h:
+	* include/ladspa_base.h:
+	* src/core/plugin.cpp:
+	* src/core/effect_chain.cpp:
+	* src/core/mmp.cpp:
+	* src/core/ladspa_manager.cpp:
+	* CMakeLists.txt:
+	use XML rather than binary blobs for saving plugin-/effect-key
+
+	* src/core/project_journal.cpp:
+	use random-number-generator correctly - fixes predictable random
+	numbers and avoids used Journalling-Object-IDs upon loading
+	project (closes #2036745) - anyways this still might happen under rare
+	circumstances and needs a further fix
+
 2008-08-03	Tobias Doerffel	<tobydox/at/users/dot/sourceforge/dot/net>
 
 	* include/lmms_math.h:
diff --git a/include/base64.h b/include/base64.h
index 4f54701c8..74578684f 100644
--- a/include/base64.h
+++ b/include/base64.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * base64.h - namespace base64 with methods for encoding/decoding binary data
  *            to/from base64
  *
- * Copyright (c) 2006 Tobias Doerffel <tobydox/at/users.sourceforge.net>
+ * Copyright (c) 2006-2008 Tobias Doerffel <tobydox/at/users.sourceforge.net>
  * 
  * This file is part of Linux MultiMedia Studio - http://lmms.sourceforge.net
  *
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ namespace base64
 		*_data = new char[*_size];
 		memcpy( *_data, data.constData(), *_size );
 	}
+	// deprecated!!
 	QString encode( const QVariant & _data );
+	// for compatibility-code only
 	QVariant decode( const QString & _b64,
 			QVariant::Type _force_type = QVariant::Invalid );
 
diff --git a/include/ladspa_base.h b/include/ladspa_base.h
index ea6e427ec..d290f7baf 100644
--- a/include/ladspa_base.h
+++ b/include/ladspa_base.h
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * ladspa_base.h - basic declarations concerning LADSPA
  *
  * Copyright (c) 2006-2007 Danny McRae <khjklujn/at/users.sourceforge.net>
- * Copyright (c) 2006-2007 Tobias Doerffel <tobydox/at/users.sourceforge.net>
+ * Copyright (c) 2006-2008 Tobias Doerffel <tobydox/at/users.sourceforge.net>
  * 
  * This file is part of Linux MultiMedia Studio - http://lmms.sourceforge.net
  *
@@ -74,8 +74,11 @@ inline plugin::descriptor::subPluginFeatures::key ladspaKeyToSubPluginKey(
 						const QString & _name,
 						const ladspa_key_t & _key )
 {
+	plugin::descriptor::subPluginFeatures::key::attributeMap m;
+	m["file"] = _key.first;
+	m["plugin"] = _key.second;
 	return( plugin::descriptor::subPluginFeatures::key( _desc, _name,
-		QVariant( QStringList() << _key.first << _key.second ) ) );
+									m ) );
 }
 
 
diff --git a/include/plugin.h b/include/plugin.h
index 0806260fd..c90b858c2 100644
--- a/include/plugin.h
+++ b/include/plugin.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <QtCore/QString>
 #include <QtCore/QStringList>
 #include <QtCore/QVector>
+#include <QtXml/QDomDocument>
 
 #include "journalling_object.h"
 #include "mv_base.h"
@@ -76,42 +77,23 @@ public:
 		public:
 			struct key
 			{
+				typedef QMap<QString, QString> attributeMap;
+
 				inline key( plugin::descriptor * _desc = NULL,
 					const QString & _name = QString::null,
-					const QVariant & _user = QVariant() )
+					const attributeMap & _am =
+							attributeMap() )
 					:
 					desc( _desc ),
 					name( _name ),
-					user( _user )
+					attributes( _am )
 				{
 				}
 
-				inline key( const QString & _dump_data )	
-					:
-					desc( NULL )
-				{
-					const QList<QVariant> l =
-						base64::decode( _dump_data,
-							QVariant::List ).
-								toList();
-					if( l.empty() )
-					{
-						name = QString::null;
-						user = QVariant();
-					}
-					else
-					{
-						name = l[0].toString();
-						user = l[1];
-					}
-				}
+				key( const QDomElement & _key );
 
-				inline QString dumpBase64( void ) const
-				{
-					return( base64::encode(
-						QList<QVariant>()
-							<< name << user ) );
-				}
+				QDomElement saveXML( QDomDocument &
+								_doc ) const;
 
 				inline bool isValid( void ) const
 				{
@@ -121,8 +103,8 @@ public:
 
 				plugin::descriptor * desc;
 				QString name;
-				QVariant user;
-			};
+				attributeMap attributes;
+			} ;
 
 			typedef QList<key> keyList;
 
@@ -140,8 +122,9 @@ public:
 								const key * )
 			{
 			}
+
 			virtual void listSubPluginKeys( plugin::descriptor *,
-							keyList & )
+								keyList & )
 			{
 			}
 
@@ -154,8 +137,9 @@ public:
 
 		protected:
 			const plugin::PluginTypes m_type;
-		}
-			* sub_plugin_features;
+		} ;
+
+		subPluginFeatures * sub_plugin_features;
 
 	} ;
 
diff --git a/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_effect.cpp b/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_effect.cpp
index 4b3e04aa0..757769aa3 100644
--- a/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_effect.cpp
+++ b/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_effect.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ ladspaEffect::ladspaEffect( model * _parent,
 	if( manager->getDescription( m_key ) == NULL )
 	{
 		QMessageBox::warning( 0, "Effect", 
-			"Unknown LADSPA plugin requested: " + m_key.first, 
+			"Unknown LADSPA plugin requested: " + m_key.second, 
 			QMessageBox::Ok, QMessageBox::NoButton );
 		setOkay( FALSE );
 		return;
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ void ladspaEffect::pluginInstantiation( void )
 	if( m_descriptor == NULL )
 	{
 		QMessageBox::warning( 0, "Effect", 
-			"Can't get LADSPA descriptor function: " + m_key.first,
+			"Can't get LADSPA descriptor function: " + m_key.second,
 			QMessageBox::Ok, QMessageBox::NoButton );
 		setOkay( FALSE );
 		return;
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ void ladspaEffect::pluginInstantiation( void )
 	if( m_descriptor->run == NULL )
 	{
 		QMessageBox::warning( 0, "Effect",
-			"Plugin has no processor: " + m_key.first,
+			"Plugin has no processor: " + m_key.second,
 			QMessageBox::Ok, QMessageBox::NoButton );
 		setDontRun( TRUE );
 	}
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ void ladspaEffect::pluginInstantiation( void )
 		if( effect == NULL )
 		{
 			QMessageBox::warning( 0, "Effect",
-				"Can't get LADSPA instance: " + m_key.first,
+				"Can't get LADSPA instance: " + m_key.second,
 				QMessageBox::Ok, QMessageBox::NoButton );
 			setOkay( FALSE );
 			return;
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ void ladspaEffect::pluginInstantiation( void )
 						m_ports[proc][port]->buffer ) )
 			{
 				QMessageBox::warning( 0, "Effect", 
-				"Failed to connect port: " + m_key.first, 
+				"Failed to connect port: " + m_key.second, 
 				QMessageBox::Ok, QMessageBox::NoButton );
 				setDontRun( TRUE );
 				return;
diff --git a/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_subplugin_features.cpp b/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_subplugin_features.cpp
index 5ce78e6a8..873ef2da6 100644
--- a/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_subplugin_features.cpp
+++ b/plugins/ladspa_effect/ladspa_subplugin_features.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *                                 hosting LADSPA-plugins
  *
  * Copyright (c) 2006-2007 Danny McRae <khjklujn/at/users.sourceforge.net>
- * Copyright (c) 2006-2007 Tobias Doerffel <tobydox/at/users.sourceforge.net>
+ * Copyright (c) 2006-2008 Tobias Doerffel <tobydox/at/users.sourceforge.net>
  *
  * This file is part of Linux MultiMedia Studio - http://lmms.sourceforge.net
  *
@@ -162,10 +162,7 @@ void ladspaSubPluginFeatures::listSubPluginKeys( plugin::descriptor * _desc,
 ladspa_key_t ladspaSubPluginFeatures::subPluginKeyToLadspaKey(
 							const key * _key )
 {
-	QStringList list = _key->user.toStringList();
-	if( list.empty() )
-	{
-		return( ladspa_key_t() );
-	}
-	return( ladspa_key_t( list.first(), list.last() ) );
+	return( ladspa_key_t( _key->attributes["file"],
+						_key->attributes["plugin"] ) );
 }
+
diff --git a/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect.cpp b/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect.cpp
index 5b7344019..48f65f377 100644
--- a/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect.cpp
+++ b/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect.cpp
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ vstEffect::vstEffect( model * _parent,
 	m_key( *_key ),
 	m_vstControls( this )
 {
-	if( !m_key.user.toString().isEmpty() )
+	if( !m_key.attributes["file"].isEmpty() )
 	{
-		openPlugin( m_key.user.toString() );
+		openPlugin( m_key.attributes["file"] );
 	}
 }
 
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ void vstEffect::openPlugin( const QString & _plugin )
 	m_plugin->setTempo( engine::getSong()->getTempo() );
 	m_pluginMutex.unlock();
 	delete tf;
+
+	m_key.attributes["file"] = _plugin;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect_controls.cpp b/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect_controls.cpp
index aac673d1b..f44b5deb3 100755
--- a/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect_controls.cpp
+++ b/plugins/vst_effect/vst_effect_controls.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void vstEffectControls::loadSettings( const QDomElement & _this )
 
 void vstEffectControls::saveSettings( QDomDocument & _doc, QDomElement & _this )
 {
-	_this.setAttribute( "plugin", m_effect->m_key.user.toString() );
+	_this.setAttribute( "plugin", m_effect->m_key.attributes["file"] );
 	m_effect->m_pluginMutex.lock();
 	if( m_effect->m_plugin != NULL )
 	{
diff --git a/plugins/vst_effect/vst_subplugin_features.cpp b/plugins/vst_effect/vst_subplugin_features.cpp
index 1f3dd05b9..7e6dc1b4c 100644
--- a/plugins/vst_effect/vst_subplugin_features.cpp
+++ b/plugins/vst_effect/vst_subplugin_features.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ void vstSubPluginFeatures::fillDescriptionWidget( QWidget * _parent,
 							const key * _key  )
 {
 	new QLabel( QWidget::tr( "Name: " ) + _key->name, _parent );
-	new QLabel( QWidget::tr( "File: " ) + _key->user.toString(), _parent );
+	new QLabel( QWidget::tr( "File: " ) + _key->attributes["file"],
+								_parent );
 }
 
 
@@ -61,8 +62,9 @@ void vstSubPluginFeatures::listSubPluginKeys( plugin::descriptor * _desc,
 	for( QStringList::const_iterator it = dlls.begin();
 							it != dlls.end(); ++it )
 	{
-			_kl.push_back( key( _desc, QFileInfo( *it ).baseName(),
-								*it ) );
+		effectKey::attributeMap am;
+		am["file"] = *it;
+		_kl.push_back( key( _desc, QFileInfo( *it ).baseName(), am ) );
 	}
 
 }
diff --git a/src/core/effect_chain.cpp b/src/core/effect_chain.cpp
index d51fe001e..877ab7970 100644
--- a/src/core/effect_chain.cpp
+++ b/src/core/effect_chain.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ void effectChain::saveSettings( QDomDocument & _doc, QDomElement & _this )
 	{
 		QDomElement ef = ( *it )->saveState( _doc, _this );
 		ef.setAttribute( "name", ( *it )->getDescriptor()->name );
-		ef.setAttribute( "key", ( *it )->getKey().dumpBase64() );
+		ef.appendChild( ( *it )->getKey().saveXML( _doc ) );
 	}
 }
 
@@ -85,10 +85,8 @@ void effectChain::loadSettings( const QDomElement & _this )
 		{
 			QDomElement cn = node.toElement();
 			const QString name = cn.attribute( "name" );
-			// we have this really convenient key-ctor
-			// which takes a QString and decodes the
-			// base64-data inside :-)
-			effectKey key( cn.attribute( "key" ) );
+			effectKey key( cn.elementsByTagName( "key" ).
+							item( 0 ).toElement() );
 			effect * e = effect::instantiate( name, this, &key );
 			if( e->isOkay() )
 			{
@@ -96,7 +94,7 @@ void effectChain::loadSettings( const QDomElement & _this )
 				{
 					if( e->nodeName() == node.nodeName() )
 					{
-						e->restoreState( node.toElement() );
+				e->restoreState( node.toElement() );
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/src/core/ladspa_manager.cpp b/src/core/ladspa_manager.cpp
index 136580e44..922a3e95d 100644
--- a/src/core/ladspa_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/ladspa_manager.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ void ladspaManager::addPlugins(
 		( descriptor = _descriptor_func( pluginIndex ) ) != NULL;
 								++pluginIndex )
 	{
-		ladspa_key_t key( QString( descriptor->Label ), _file );
+		ladspa_key_t key( _file, QString( descriptor->Label ) );
 		if( m_ladspaManagerMap.contains( key ) )
 		{
 			continue;
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ void ladspaManager::addPlugins(
 		{
 			plugIn->type = OTHER;
 		}
-		
+
 		m_ladspaManagerMap[key] = plugIn;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/core/mmp.cpp b/src/core/mmp.cpp
index 09fae3bc6..194122d07 100644
--- a/src/core/mmp.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mmp.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@
 #include "config_mgr.h"
 #include "project_version.h"
 #include "song_editor.h"
+#include "effect.h"
+
 
 
 multimediaProject::typeDescStruct
@@ -667,6 +669,46 @@ void multimediaProject::upgrade( void )
 			el.setAttribute( "src", s );
 		}
 	}
+
+	if( version < "0.4.0-beta1" )
+	{
+		// convert binary effect-key-blobs to XML
+		QDomNodeList list;
+		list = elementsByTagName( "effect" );
+		for( int i = 0; !list.item( i ).isNull(); ++i )
+		{
+			QDomElement el = list.item( i ).toElement();
+			QString k = el.attribute( "key" );
+			if( !k.isEmpty() )
+			{
+				const QList<QVariant> l =
+					base64::decode( k, QVariant::List ).
+								toList();
+				if( !l.isEmpty() )
+				{
+					QString name = l[0].toString();
+					QVariant u = l[1];
+					effectKey::attributeMap m;
+					// VST-effect?
+					if( u.type() == QVariant::String )
+					{
+						m["file"] = u.toString();
+					}
+					// LADSPA-effect?
+					else if( u.type() ==
+							QVariant::StringList )
+					{
+						const QStringList sl =
+							u.toStringList();
+						m["plugin"] = sl.value( 0 );
+						m["file"] = sl.value( 1 );
+					}
+					effectKey key( NULL, name, m );
+					el.appendChild( key.saveXML( *this ) );
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
 /*	if( version < "0.4.0-beta" )
 	{
 		QDomNodeList list;
diff --git a/src/core/plugin.cpp b/src/core/plugin.cpp
index 01efd75b2..a6639c23e 100644
--- a/src/core/plugin.cpp
+++ b/src/core/plugin.cpp
@@ -205,5 +205,38 @@ pluginView * plugin::createView( QWidget * _parent )
 
 
 
+plugin::descriptor::subPluginFeatures::key::key(
+						const QDomElement & _key ) :
+	desc( NULL ),
+	name( _key.attribute( "key" ) ),
+	attributes()
+{
+	QDomNodeList l = _key.elementsByTagName( "attribute" );
+	for( int i = 0; !l.item( i ).isNull(); ++i )
+	{
+		QDomElement e = l.item( i ).toElement();
+		attributes[e.attribute( "name" )] = e.attribute( "value" );
+	}
+		
+}
+
+
+
+
+QDomElement plugin::descriptor::subPluginFeatures::key::saveXML(
+						QDomDocument & _doc ) const
+{
+	QDomElement e = _doc.createElement( "key" );
+	for( attributeMap::const_iterator it = attributes.begin();
+						it != attributes.end(); ++it )
+	{
+		QDomElement a = _doc.createElement( "attribute" );
+		a.setAttribute( "name", it.key() );
+		a.setAttribute( "value", it.value() );
+		e.appendChild( a );
+	}
+	return( e );
+}
+
 
 #endif