diff --git a/include/FxMixer.h b/include/FxMixer.h
index 8ff396cc6..7cecb7803 100644
--- a/include/FxMixer.h
+++ b/include/FxMixer.h
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ class FxChannel : public ThreadableJob
 
 		EffectChain m_fxChain;
 
+		// set to true when input fed from mixToChannel or child channel
+		bool m_hasInput;
 		// set to true if any effect in the channel is enabled and running
 		bool m_stillRunning;
 
diff --git a/src/core/FxMixer.cpp b/src/core/FxMixer.cpp
index 669a2de4e..d2c79a972 100644
--- a/src/core/FxMixer.cpp
+++ b/src/core/FxMixer.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 
 FxChannel::FxChannel( int idx, Model * _parent ) :
 	m_fxChain( NULL ),
+	m_hasInput( false ),
 	m_stillRunning( false ),
 	m_peakLeft( 0.0f ),
 	m_peakRight( 0.0f ),
@@ -100,25 +101,38 @@ void FxChannel::doProcessing( sampleFrame * _buf )
 				sender->process();
 			}
 
-			// get the send level...
-			const float amt =
-				fxm->channelSendModel( senderIndex, m_channelIndex )->value();
-
-			// mix it's output with this one's output
-			sampleFrame * ch_buf = sender->m_buffer;
-			const float v = sender->m_volumeModel.value() * amt;
-			for( f_cnt_t f = 0; f < fpp; ++f )
+			if( sender->m_hasInput || sender->m_stillRunning )
 			{
-				_buf[f][0] += ch_buf[f][0] * v;
-				_buf[f][1] += ch_buf[f][1] * v;
+				// get the send level...
+				const float amt =
+					fxm->channelSendModel( senderIndex, m_channelIndex )->value();
+
+				// mix it's output with this one's output
+				sampleFrame * ch_buf = sender->m_buffer;
+				const float v = sender->m_volumeModel.value() * amt;
+				for( f_cnt_t f = 0; f < fpp; ++f )
+				{
+					_buf[f][0] += ch_buf[f][0] * v;
+					_buf[f][1] += ch_buf[f][1] * v;
+				}
 			}
+			
+			// if sender channel hasInput, then we hasInput too
+			if( sender->m_hasInput ) m_hasInput = true;
 		}
 	}
 
 	const float v = m_volumeModel.value();
 
-	m_fxChain.startRunning();
-	m_stillRunning = m_fxChain.processAudioBuffer( _buf, fpp, true );
+	if( m_hasInput ) 
+	{
+		// only start fxchain when we have input...
+		m_fxChain.startRunning(); 
+	}
+	if( m_hasInput || m_stillRunning )
+	{
+		m_stillRunning = m_fxChain.processAudioBuffer( _buf, fpp, m_hasInput );
+	}
 	m_peakLeft = qMax( m_peakLeft, engine::mixer()->peakValueLeft( _buf, fpp ) * v );
 	m_peakRight = qMax( m_peakRight, engine::mixer()->peakValueRight( _buf, fpp ) * v );
 }
@@ -420,6 +434,7 @@ void FxMixer::mixToChannel( const sampleFrame * _buf, fx_ch_t _ch )
 	{
 		m_fxChannels[_ch]->m_lock.lock();
 		MixHelpers::add( m_fxChannels[_ch]->m_buffer, _buf, engine::mixer()->framesPerPeriod() );
+		m_fxChannels[_ch]->m_hasInput = true;
 		m_fxChannels[_ch]->m_lock.unlock();
 	}
 }
@@ -486,6 +501,8 @@ void FxMixer::masterMix( sampleFrame * _buf )
 		engine::mixer()->clearAudioBuffer( m_fxChannels[i]->m_buffer, engine::mixer()->framesPerPeriod() );
 		m_fxChannels[i]->reset();
 		m_fxChannels[i]->m_queued = false;
+		// also reset hasInput
+		m_fxChannels[i]->m_hasInput = false;
 	}
 }