diff --git a/plugins/vst/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/vst/CMakeLists.txt
index 147139fe..8eb8e29c 100644
--- a/plugins/vst/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/vst/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ add_library(sfizz-vst3-core STATIC
     SfizzVstUpdates.h
     SfizzVstUpdates.cpp
     SfizzVstIDs.h
+    OrderedEventProcessor.h
+    OrderedEventProcessor.cpp
     IdleUpdateHandler.h
     X11RunLoop.h
     X11RunLoop.cpp)
diff --git a/plugins/vst/OrderedEventProcessor.cpp b/plugins/vst/OrderedEventProcessor.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..548f079b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/vst/OrderedEventProcessor.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#include "OrderedEventProcessor.h"
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <cassert>
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::initializeEventProcessor(const Vst::ProcessSetup& setup, int32 paramCount, int32 subdivSize)
+{
+    paramCount_ = paramCount;
+    subdivSize_ = subdivSize;
+    queues_.reset(new Cell<QueueStatus>[paramCount]);
+    pointsBySample_.reset(new ParameterAndValue[paramCount * subdivSize]);
+    numPointsBySample_.reset(new uint32[subdivSize]);
+}
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::processUnorderedEvents(int32 numSamples, Vst::IParameterChanges* pcs, Vst::IEventList* evs)
+{
+    int32 sampleIndex = 0;
+    int32 subdivNumber = 0;
+    const int32 subdivSize = subdivSize_;
+
+    startProcessing(evs, pcs);
+
+    while (sampleIndex < numSamples || subdivNumber == 0) {
+        int32 subdivCurrentSize = std::min(numSamples - sampleIndex, subdivSize);
+        processSubdiv(evs, sampleIndex, sampleIndex + subdivCurrentSize - 1);
+        sampleIndex += subdivCurrentSize;
+        ++subdivNumber;
+    }
+
+    playRemainder(std::max(int32(0), numSamples - 1), evs);
+}
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::startProcessing(Vst::IEventList* evs, Vst::IParameterChanges* pcs)
+{
+    // collect the parameter queues which have values on them
+    // push them onto a work list
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* head = nullptr;
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* queues = queues_.get();
+
+    if (pcs) {
+        const int32 count = pcs->getParameterCount();
+        for (int32 index = count; index-- > 0; ) {
+            Vst::IParamValueQueue* vq = pcs->getParameterData(index);
+            if (vq) {
+                // Note: expectation that hosts does not send more than one
+                //       queue for one parameter
+                Vst::ParamID id = vq->getParameterId();
+                Cell<QueueStatus>* cell = &queues[id];
+                cell->next = head;
+                cell->value.queue = vq;
+                cell->value.pointIndex = 0;
+                cell->value.pointCount = vq->getPointCount();
+                head = cell;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    queueList_ = head;
+
+    // position ourselves to the start of the event list
+    eventIndex_ = 0;
+    eventCount_ = evs ? evs->getEventCount() : 0;
+    haveCurrentEvent_ = eventCount_ > 0 &&
+        evs->getEvent(eventIndex_, currentEvent_) == kResultTrue;
+}
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::processSubdiv(Vst::IEventList* evs, int32 firstOffset, int32 lastOffset)
+{
+    sortSubdiv(firstOffset, lastOffset);
+    playSubdiv(evs, firstOffset, lastOffset);
+}
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::sortSubdiv(int32 firstOffset, int32 lastOffset)
+{
+    // this collects parameter changes from the subdivision that goes from
+    // first offset to last offset, included.
+
+    // these parameter changes are on a array of lists.
+    // this 2D structure is backed by a contiguous array dimensioned for
+    // the worst case.
+
+    // Example:
+    //     pointsBySample (column-major →)   |  numPointsBySample[sample]
+    //  ====================================================================
+    //     sample 0   [P1] [P2] [  ] [  ]    |  2
+    //     sample 1   [P3] [  ] [  ] [  ]    |  1
+    //     sample 2   [  ] [  ] [  ] [  ]    |  0
+    //     sample 3   [P1] [P2] [P3] [P4]    |  4
+
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* head = queueList_;
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* queues = queues_.get();
+    const int32 paramCount = paramCount_;
+    ParameterAndValue* pointsBySample = pointsBySample_.get();
+    uint32* numPointsBySample = numPointsBySample_.get();
+
+    std::fill_n(numPointsBySample, lastOffset - firstOffset + 1, 0);
+
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* cur = head;
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* prev = nullptr;
+
+    while (cur) {
+        Vst::IParamValueQueue* vq = cur->value.queue;
+        const Vst::ParamID id = Vst::ParamID(std::distance(queues, cur));
+
+        int32 pointIndex = cur->value.pointIndex;
+        int32 pointCount = cur->value.pointCount;
+
+        int32 previousOffset = firstOffset;
+        while (pointIndex < pointCount) {
+            int32 sampleOffset;
+            Vst::ParamValue value;
+
+            if (vq->getPoint(pointIndex, sampleOffset, value) != kResultTrue) {
+                ++pointIndex;
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (sampleOffset > lastOffset)
+                break;
+
+            // ensure that offsets never go back
+            if (sampleOffset < previousOffset)
+                sampleOffset = previousOffset;
+
+            int32 listSize = numPointsBySample[sampleOffset - firstOffset];
+            ParameterAndValue* listItems = &pointsBySample[paramCount * (sampleOffset - firstOffset)];
+
+            bool isDuplicatePoint = listSize > 0 && listItems[listSize - 1].id == id;
+            if (isDuplicatePoint) {
+                // protect against duplicates, which might overflow the list
+                listItems[listSize - 1].value = value;
+            }
+            else {
+                assert(listSize < paramCount);
+                listItems[listSize].id = id;
+                listItems[listSize].value = value;
+                numPointsBySample[sampleOffset - firstOffset] = ++listSize;
+            }
+
+            previousOffset = sampleOffset;
+            ++pointIndex;
+        }
+
+        if (pointIndex < pointCount) {
+            cur->value.pointIndex = pointIndex;
+            prev = cur;
+        }
+        else {
+            // if no more points, take this queue off the list
+            if (prev)
+                prev->next = cur->next;
+            else {
+                head = cur->next;
+                prev = nullptr;
+            }
+        }
+        cur = cur->next;
+    }
+
+    queueList_ = head;
+}
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::playSubdiv(Vst::IEventList* evs, int32 firstOffset, int32 lastOffset)
+{
+    // go over the points in sample order, and play them intermittently with the
+    // event queue according to the sample offsets.
+
+    const int32 paramCount = paramCount_;
+    const ParameterAndValue* pointsBySample = pointsBySample_.get();
+    const uint32* numPointsBySample = numPointsBySample_.get();
+
+    for (int32 sampleOffset = firstOffset; sampleOffset <= lastOffset; ++sampleOffset) {
+        const int32 listSize = numPointsBySample[sampleOffset - firstOffset];
+        const ParameterAndValue* listItems = &pointsBySample[paramCount * (sampleOffset - firstOffset)];
+        playEventsUpTo(evs, sampleOffset);
+        for (int32 i = 0; i < listSize; ++i) {
+            const ParameterAndValue item = listItems[i];
+            playOrderedParameter(sampleOffset, item.id, item.value);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::playRemainder(int32 sampleOffset, Vst::IEventList* evs)
+{
+    // play any remaining events and parameters in arbitrary order,
+    // disregarding their respective offsets
+
+    int32 eventIndex = eventIndex_;
+    int32 eventCount = eventCount_;
+    bool haveCurrentEvent = haveCurrentEvent_;
+    while (haveCurrentEvent) {
+        currentEvent_.sampleOffset = std::min(sampleOffset, currentEvent_.sampleOffset);
+        playOrderedEvent(currentEvent_);
+        haveCurrentEvent = false;
+        while (!haveCurrentEvent && ++eventIndex < eventCount)
+            haveCurrentEvent = evs->getEvent(eventIndex, currentEvent_) == kResultTrue;
+    }
+
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* queues = queues_.get();
+    for (Cell<QueueStatus>* cur = queueList_; cur; cur = cur->next) {
+        for (int32 i = cur->value.pointIndex, n = cur->value.pointCount; i < n; ++i) {
+            Vst::IParamValueQueue* vq = cur->value.queue;
+            const Vst::ParamID id = Vst::ParamID(std::distance(queues, cur));
+            int32 unusedSampleOffset;
+            Vst::ParamValue value;
+            if (vq->getPoint(i, unusedSampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue)
+                playOrderedParameter(sampleOffset, id, value);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void OrderedEventProcessor::playEventsUpTo(Vst::IEventList* evs, int32 sampleOffset)
+{
+    int32 index = eventIndex_;
+    int32 count = eventCount_;
+    bool haveCurrentEvent = haveCurrentEvent_;
+
+    while (haveCurrentEvent && currentEvent_.sampleOffset <= sampleOffset) {
+        playOrderedEvent(currentEvent_);
+        haveCurrentEvent = false;
+        while (!haveCurrentEvent && ++index < count)
+            haveCurrentEvent = evs->getEvent(index, currentEvent_) == kResultTrue;
+    }
+
+    eventIndex_ = index;
+    haveCurrentEvent_ = haveCurrentEvent;
+}
diff --git a/plugins/vst/OrderedEventProcessor.h b/plugins/vst/OrderedEventProcessor.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b13b3fa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/vst/OrderedEventProcessor.h
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+
+// This code is part of the sfizz library and is licensed under a BSD 2-clause
+// license. You should have receive a LICENSE.md file along with the code.
+// If not, contact the sfizz maintainers at https://github.com/sfztools/sfizz
+
+#pragma once
+#include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstevents.h"
+#include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstparameterchanges.h"
+#include "pluginterfaces/vst/ivstaudioprocessor.h"
+#include <memory>
+
+using namespace Steinberg;
+
+class OrderedEventProcessor {
+public:
+    virtual ~OrderedEventProcessor() {}
+
+    void initializeEventProcessor(const Vst::ProcessSetup& setup, int32 paramCount, int32 subdivSize = 128);
+    void processUnorderedEvents(int32 numSamples, Vst::IParameterChanges* pcs, Vst::IEventList* evs);
+
+protected:
+    virtual void playOrderedParameter(int32 sampleOffset, Vst::ParamID id, Vst::ParamValue value) = 0;
+    virtual void playOrderedEvent(const Vst::Event& event) = 0;
+
+private:
+    void startProcessing(Vst::IEventList* evs, Vst::IParameterChanges* pcs);
+    void processSubdiv(Vst::IEventList* evs, int32 firstOffset, int32 lastOffset);
+
+    void sortSubdiv(int32 firstOffset, int32 lastOffset);
+    void playSubdiv(Vst::IEventList* evs, int32 firstOffset, int32 lastOffset);
+
+    void playRemainder(int32 sampleOffset, Vst::IEventList* evs);
+
+    void playEventsUpTo(Vst::IEventList* evs, int32 sampleOffset);
+
+private:
+    template <class T> struct Cell {
+        Cell<T>* next = nullptr;
+        T value {};
+    };
+
+    struct QueueStatus {
+        Vst::IParamValueQueue* queue = nullptr;
+        int32 pointIndex = 0;
+        int32 pointCount = 0;
+    };
+
+    int32 paramCount_ = 0;
+    int32 subdivSize_ = 0;
+    std::unique_ptr<Cell<QueueStatus>[]> queues_;
+    Cell<QueueStatus>* queueList_ = nullptr;
+
+    struct ParameterAndValue {
+        Vst::ParamID id {};
+        Vst::ParamValue value {};
+    };
+
+    std::unique_ptr<ParameterAndValue[]> pointsBySample_;
+    std::unique_ptr<uint32[]> numPointsBySample_;
+
+    int32 eventIndex_ = 0;
+    int32 eventCount_ = 0;
+    bool haveCurrentEvent_ = false;
+    Vst::Event currentEvent_ {};
+};
diff --git a/plugins/vst/SfizzVstParameters.h b/plugins/vst/SfizzVstParameters.h
index e9367c8d..9574d463 100644
--- a/plugins/vst/SfizzVstParameters.h
+++ b/plugins/vst/SfizzVstParameters.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ enum {
     kPidCC0,
     kPidCCLast = kPidCC0 + sfz::config::numCCs - 1,
     /* Reserved */
+    kNumParameters,
 };
 
 struct SfizzRange {
diff --git a/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp b/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp
index 590445e0..14f2f704 100644
--- a/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp
+++ b/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.cpp
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API SfizzVstProcessor::setActive(TBool state)
     if (state) {
         synth->setSampleRate(processSetup.sampleRate);
         synth->setSamplesPerBlock(processSetup.maxSamplesPerBlock);
+        initializeEventProcessor(processSetup, kNumParameters);
         startBackgroundWork();
     } else {
         stopBackgroundWork();
@@ -241,16 +242,22 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API SfizzVstProcessor::process(Vst::ProcessData& data)
 {
     sfz::Sfizz& synth = *_synth;
 
+    std::unique_lock<SpinMutex> lock(_processMutex, std::defer_lock);
+    if (data.processMode == Vst::kOffline)
+        lock.lock();
+    else
+        lock.try_lock();
+
     if (data.processContext)
         updateTimeInfo(*data.processContext);
 
-    if (Vst::IParameterChanges* pc = data.inputParameterChanges)
-        processParameterChanges(*pc);
+    const uint32 numFrames = data.numSamples;
+    _canPerformEventsAndParameters = lock.owns_lock();
+    processUnorderedEvents(numFrames, data.inputParameterChanges, data.inputEvents);
 
     if (data.numOutputs < 1)  // flush mode
         return kResultTrue;
 
-    uint32 numFrames = data.numSamples;
     constexpr uint32 numChannels = 2;
     float* outputs[numChannels];
 
@@ -259,8 +266,6 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API SfizzVstProcessor::process(Vst::ProcessData& data)
     for (unsigned c = 0; c < numChannels; ++c)
         outputs[c] = data.outputs[0].channelBuffers32[c];
 
-    std::unique_lock<SpinMutex> lock(_processMutex, std::try_to_lock);
-
     if (!lock.owns_lock()) {
         for (unsigned c = 0; c < numChannels; ++c)
             std::memset(outputs[c], 0, numFrames * sizeof(float));
@@ -275,12 +280,6 @@ tresult PLUGIN_API SfizzVstProcessor::process(Vst::ProcessData& data)
 
     processMessagesFromUi();
 
-    if (Vst::IParameterChanges* pc = data.inputParameterChanges)
-        processControllerChanges(*pc);
-
-    if (Vst::IEventList* events = data.inputEvents)
-        processEvents(*events);
-
     synth.setVolume(_state.volume);
     synth.setScalaRootKey(_state.scalaRootKey);
     synth.setTuningFrequency(_state.tuningFrequency);
@@ -336,153 +335,105 @@ void SfizzVstProcessor::updateTimeInfo(const Vst::ProcessContext& context)
     synth.playbackState(0, (context.state & context.kPlaying) != 0);
 }
 
-void SfizzVstProcessor::processParameterChanges(Vst::IParameterChanges& pc)
+void SfizzVstProcessor::playOrderedParameter(int32 sampleOffset, Vst::ParamID id, Vst::ParamValue value)
 {
-    uint32 paramCount = pc.getParameterCount();
+    if (!_canPerformEventsAndParameters)
+        return;
 
-    for (uint32 paramIndex = 0; paramIndex < paramCount; ++paramIndex) {
-        Vst::IParamValueQueue* vq = pc.getParameterData(paramIndex);
-        if (!vq)
-            continue;
+    sfz::Sfizz& synth = *_synth;
+    const SfizzRange range = SfizzRange::getForParameter(id);
 
-        const Vst::ParamID id = vq->getParameterId();
-        const SfizzRange range = SfizzRange::getForParameter(id);
-
-        uint32 pointCount = vq->getPointCount();
-        int32 sampleOffset;
-        Vst::ParamValue value;
-
-        switch (id) {
-        case kPidVolume:
-            if (pointCount > 0 && vq->getPoint(pointCount - 1, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue)
-                _state.volume = range.denormalize(value);
-            break;
-        case kPidNumVoices:
-            if (pointCount > 0 && vq->getPoint(pointCount - 1, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue) {
-                int32 data = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
-                _state.numVoices = data;
-                if (writeWorkerMessage(kMsgIdSetNumVoices, &data, sizeof(data)))
-                    _semaToWorker.post();
-            }
-            break;
-        case kPidOversampling:
-            if (pointCount > 0 && vq->getPoint(pointCount - 1, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue) {
-                int32 data = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
-                _state.oversamplingLog2 = data;
-                if (writeWorkerMessage(kMsgIdSetOversampling, &data, sizeof(data)))
-                    _semaToWorker.post();
-            }
-            break;
-        case kPidPreloadSize:
-            if (pointCount > 0 && vq->getPoint(pointCount - 1, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue) {
-                int32 data = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
-                _state.preloadSize = data;
-                if (writeWorkerMessage(kMsgIdSetPreloadSize, &data, sizeof(data)))
-                    _semaToWorker.post();
-            }
-            break;
-        case kPidScalaRootKey:
-            if (pointCount > 0 && vq->getPoint(pointCount - 1, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue)
-                _state.scalaRootKey = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
-            break;
-        case kPidTuningFrequency:
-            if (pointCount > 0 && vq->getPoint(pointCount - 1, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue)
-                _state.tuningFrequency = range.denormalize(value);
-            break;
-        case kPidStretchedTuning:
-            if (pointCount > 0 && vq->getPoint(pointCount - 1, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue)
-                _state.stretchedTuning = range.denormalize(value);
-            break;
+    switch (id) {
+    case kPidVolume:
+        _state.volume = range.denormalize(value);
+        break;
+    case kPidNumVoices:
+        {
+            int32 data = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
+            _state.numVoices = data;
+            if (writeWorkerMessage(kMsgIdSetNumVoices, &data, sizeof(data)))
+                _semaToWorker.post();
         }
+        break;
+    case kPidOversampling:
+        {
+            int32 data = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
+            _state.oversamplingLog2 = data;
+            if (writeWorkerMessage(kMsgIdSetOversampling, &data, sizeof(data)))
+                _semaToWorker.post();
+        }
+        break;
+    case kPidPreloadSize:
+        {
+            int32 data = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
+            _state.preloadSize = data;
+            if (writeWorkerMessage(kMsgIdSetPreloadSize, &data, sizeof(data)))
+                _semaToWorker.post();
+        }
+        break;
+    case kPidScalaRootKey:
+        _state.scalaRootKey = static_cast<int32>(range.denormalize(value));
+        break;
+    case kPidTuningFrequency:
+        _state.tuningFrequency = range.denormalize(value);
+        break;
+    case kPidStretchedTuning:
+        _state.stretchedTuning = range.denormalize(value);
+        break;
+    case kPidAftertouch:
+        synth.aftertouch(sampleOffset, fastRound(value * 127.0));
+        break;
+    case kPidPitchBend:
+        synth.pitchWheel(sampleOffset, fastRound(value * 16383) - 8192);
+        break;
+    default:
+        if (id >= kPidCC0 && id <= kPidCCLast) {
+            int32 ccNumber = static_cast<int32>(id - kPidCC0);
+            synth.hdcc(sampleOffset, ccNumber, value);
+            _state.controllers[ccNumber] = value;
+        }
+        break;
     }
 }
 
-void SfizzVstProcessor::processControllerChanges(Vst::IParameterChanges& pc)
+void SfizzVstProcessor::playOrderedEvent(const Vst::Event& event)
 {
+    if (!_canPerformEventsAndParameters)
+        return;
+
     sfz::Sfizz& synth = *_synth;
-    uint32 paramCount = pc.getParameterCount();
+    const int32 sampleOffset = event.sampleOffset;
 
-    for (uint32 paramIndex = 0; paramIndex < paramCount; ++paramIndex) {
-        Vst::IParamValueQueue* vq = pc.getParameterData(paramIndex);
-        if (!vq)
-            continue;
-
-        Vst::ParamID id = vq->getParameterId();
-        uint32 pointCount = vq->getPointCount();
-        int32 sampleOffset;
-        Vst::ParamValue value;
-
-        switch (id) {
-        default:
-            if (id >= kPidCC0 && id <= kPidCCLast) {
-                auto ccNumber = static_cast<int>(id - kPidCC0);
-                for (uint32 pointIndex = 0; pointIndex < pointCount; ++pointIndex) {
-                    if (vq->getPoint(pointIndex, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue) {
-                        synth.hdcc(sampleOffset, ccNumber, value);
-                        _state.controllers[ccNumber] = value;
-                    }
-                }
-            }
+    switch (event.type) {
+    case Vst::Event::kNoteOnEvent: {
+        int pitch = event.noteOn.pitch;
+        if (pitch < 0 || pitch >= 128)
             break;
-
-        case kPidAftertouch:
-            for (uint32 pointIndex = 0; pointIndex < pointCount; ++pointIndex) {
-                if (vq->getPoint(pointIndex, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue)
-                    synth.aftertouch(sampleOffset, fastRound(value * 127.0));
-            }
-            break;
-
-        case kPidPitchBend:
-            for (uint32 pointIndex = 0; pointIndex < pointCount; ++pointIndex) {
-                if (vq->getPoint(pointIndex, sampleOffset, value) == kResultTrue)
-                    synth.pitchWheel(sampleOffset, fastRound(value * 16383) - 8192);
-            }
-            break;
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-void SfizzVstProcessor::processEvents(Vst::IEventList& events)
-{
-    sfz::Sfizz& synth = *_synth;
-    uint32 numEvents = events.getEventCount();
-
-    for (uint32 i = 0; i < numEvents; i++) {
-        Vst::Event e;
-        if (events.getEvent(i, e) != kResultTrue)
-            continue;
-
-        switch (e.type) {
-        case Vst::Event::kNoteOnEvent: {
-            int pitch = e.noteOn.pitch;
-            if (pitch < 0 || pitch >= 128)
-                break;
-            if (e.noteOn.velocity <= 0.0f) {
-                synth.noteOff(e.sampleOffset, pitch, 0);
-                _noteEventsCurrentCycle[pitch] = 0.0f;
-            }
-            else {
-                synth.noteOn(e.sampleOffset, pitch, convertVelocityFromFloat(e.noteOn.velocity));
-                _noteEventsCurrentCycle[pitch] = e.noteOn.velocity;
-            }
-            break;
-        }
-        case Vst::Event::kNoteOffEvent: {
-            int pitch = e.noteOn.pitch;
-            if (pitch < 0 || pitch >= 128)
-                break;
-            synth.noteOff(e.sampleOffset, pitch, convertVelocityFromFloat(e.noteOff.velocity));
+        if (event.noteOn.velocity <= 0.0f) {
+            synth.noteOff(sampleOffset, pitch, 0);
             _noteEventsCurrentCycle[pitch] = 0.0f;
+        }
+        else {
+            synth.noteOn(sampleOffset, pitch, convertVelocityFromFloat(event.noteOn.velocity));
+            _noteEventsCurrentCycle[pitch] = event.noteOn.velocity;
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+    case Vst::Event::kNoteOffEvent: {
+        int pitch = event.noteOn.pitch;
+        if (pitch < 0 || pitch >= 128)
             break;
-        }
-        case Vst::Event::kPolyPressureEvent: {
-            int pitch = e.polyPressure.pitch;
-            if (pitch < 0 || pitch >= 128)
-                break;
-            synth.polyAftertouch(e.sampleOffset, pitch, convertVelocityFromFloat(e.polyPressure.pressure));
+        synth.noteOff(sampleOffset, pitch, convertVelocityFromFloat(event.noteOff.velocity));
+        _noteEventsCurrentCycle[pitch] = 0.0f;
+        break;
+    }
+    case Vst::Event::kPolyPressureEvent: {
+        int pitch = event.polyPressure.pitch;
+        if (pitch < 0 || pitch >= 128)
             break;
-        }
-        }
+        synth.polyAftertouch(sampleOffset, pitch, convertVelocityFromFloat(event.polyPressure.pressure));
+        break;
+    }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.h b/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.h
index ad764ff7..30c5e607 100644
--- a/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.h
+++ b/plugins/vst/SfizzVstProcessor.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 #include "SfizzVstState.h"
+#include "OrderedEventProcessor.h"
 #include "sfizz/RTSemaphore.h"
 #include "ring_buffer/ring_buffer.h"
 #include "public.sdk/source/vst/vstaudioeffect.h"
@@ -18,7 +19,8 @@
 
 using namespace Steinberg;
 
-class SfizzVstProcessor : public Vst::AudioEffect {
+class SfizzVstProcessor : public Vst::AudioEffect,
+                          public OrderedEventProcessor {
 public:
     SfizzVstProcessor();
     ~SfizzVstProcessor();
@@ -35,9 +37,11 @@ public:
     tresult PLUGIN_API canProcessSampleSize(int32 symbolicSampleSize) override;
     tresult PLUGIN_API setActive(TBool state) override;
     tresult PLUGIN_API process(Vst::ProcessData& data) override;
-    void processParameterChanges(Vst::IParameterChanges& pc);
-    void processControllerChanges(Vst::IParameterChanges& pc);
-    void processEvents(Vst::IEventList& events);
+
+    // OrderedEventProcessor
+    void playOrderedParameter(int32 sampleOffset, Vst::ParamID id, Vst::ParamValue value) override;
+    void playOrderedEvent(const Vst::Event& event) override;
+
     void processMessagesFromUi();
     static int convertVelocityFromFloat(float x);
 
@@ -57,6 +61,9 @@ private:
     SfizzVstState _state;
     float _currentStretchedTuning = 0;
 
+    // whether allowed to perform events (owns the processing lock)
+    bool _canPerformEventsAndParameters {};
+
     // client
     sfz::ClientPtr _client;
     std::unique_ptr<uint8_t[]> _oscTemp;