diff --git a/plugins/vst_base/RemoteVstPlugin.cpp b/plugins/vst_base/RemoteVstPlugin.cpp
index 39124ed04..c6203440e 100644
--- a/plugins/vst_base/RemoteVstPlugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/vst_base/RemoteVstPlugin.cpp
@@ -438,11 +438,24 @@ bool RemoteVstPlugin::processMessage( const message & _m )
 			break;
 
 		case IdVstSetParameter:
+			lock();
 			m_plugin->setParameter( m_plugin, _m.getInt( 0 ), _m.getFloat( 1 ) );
+			unlock();
 			sendMessage( IdVstSetParameter );
 			break;
 
 
+		case IdVstIdleUpdate:
+		{
+			int newCurrentProgram = pluginDispatch( effGetProgram );
+			if( newCurrentProgram != m_currentProgram )
+			{
+				m_currentProgram = newCurrentProgram;
+				sendCurrentProgramName();
+			}
+
+			break;
+		}
 
 		default:
 			return RemotePluginClient::processMessage( _m );
@@ -691,6 +704,8 @@ void RemoteVstPlugin::process( const sampleFrame * _in, sampleFrame * _out )
 		memset( m_outputs[i], 0, bufferSize() * sizeof( float ) );
 	}
 
+	lock();
+
 #ifdef OLD_VST_SDK
 	if( m_plugin->flags & effFlagsCanReplacing )
 	{
@@ -706,14 +721,9 @@ void RemoteVstPlugin::process( const sampleFrame * _in, sampleFrame * _out )
 	}
 #endif
 
-	m_currentSamplePos += bufferSize();
+	unlock();
 
-	int newCurrentProgram = pluginDispatch( effGetProgram );
-	if( newCurrentProgram != m_currentProgram )
-	{
-		m_currentProgram = newCurrentProgram;
-		sendCurrentProgramName();
-	}
+	m_currentSamplePos += bufferSize();
 }
 
 
@@ -807,7 +817,7 @@ const char * RemoteVstPlugin::presetName()
 void RemoteVstPlugin::sendCurrentProgramName()
 {
 	char presName[64];
-	sprintf( presName, " %d/%d: %s", pluginDispatch( effGetProgram ) + 1, m_plugin->numPrograms, presetName() );
+	sprintf( presName, "%d/%d: %s", pluginDispatch( effGetProgram ) + 1, m_plugin->numPrograms, presetName() );
 
 	sendMessage( message( IdVstCurrentProgramName ).addString( presName ) );
 }
diff --git a/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.cpp b/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.cpp
index 7c828fcc0..59d75fb53 100644
--- a/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.cpp
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ VstPlugin::VstPlugin( const QString & _plugin ) :
 	m_currentProgramName(),
 	m_allProgramNames(),
 	p_name(),
-	m_currentProgram()
+	m_currentProgram(),
+	m_idleTimer()
 {
 	setSplittedChannels( true );
 
@@ -110,6 +111,11 @@ VstPlugin::VstPlugin( const QString & _plugin ) :
 			this, SLOT( setTempo( bpm_t ) ) );
 	connect( engine::getMixer(), SIGNAL( sampleRateChanged() ),
 				this, SLOT( updateSampleRate() ) );
+
+	// update once per second
+	m_idleTimer.start( 1000 );
+	connect( &m_idleTimer, SIGNAL( timeout() ),
+				this, SLOT( idleUpdate() ) );
 }
 
 
@@ -574,6 +580,14 @@ void VstPlugin::setParam( int i, float f )
 
 
 
+void VstPlugin::idleUpdate()
+{
+	lock();
+	sendMessage( message( IdVstIdleUpdate ) );
+	unlock();
+}
+
+
 
 void VstPlugin::loadChunk( const QByteArray & _chunk )
 {
diff --git a/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.h b/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.h
index 157788f83..c932d50aa 100644
--- a/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.h
+++ b/plugins/vst_base/VstPlugin.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <QtCore/QMutex>
 #include <QtCore/QPointer>
 #include <QtCore/QString>
+#include <QtCore/QTimer>
 #include <QtGui/QWidget>
 
 #include "mixer.h"
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ public slots:
 	void loadProgramNames();
 	void savePreset( void );
 	void setParam( int i, float f );
+	void idleUpdate();
 
 
 private:
@@ -147,6 +149,8 @@ private:
 
 	int m_currentProgram;
 
+	QTimer m_idleTimer;
+
 } ;
 
 
diff --git a/plugins/vst_base/communication.h b/plugins/vst_base/communication.h
index cc6133b68..652af1c83 100644
--- a/plugins/vst_base/communication.h
+++ b/plugins/vst_base/communication.h
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ enum VstRemoteMessageIDs
 	IdVstCurrentProgramName,
 	IdVstSetProgram,
 	IdVstRotateProgram,
+	IdVstIdleUpdate,
 
 	// remoteVstPlugin -> vstPlugin
 	IdVstFailedLoadingPlugin,