diff --git a/mixer/src/AUX_Module.C b/mixer/src/AUX_Module.C
index d8aa58e..5566998 100644
--- a/mixer/src/AUX_Module.C
+++ b/mixer/src/AUX_Module.C
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ AUX_Module::AUX_Module ( ) : JACK_Module ( false )
 {
     is_default( false );
 
-    _number = 0;
-
     {
         Port p( this, Port::INPUT, Port::CONTROL, "Gain (dB)" );
         p.hints.type = Port::Hints::LINEAR;
@@ -49,8 +47,6 @@ AUX_Module::AUX_Module ( ) : JACK_Module ( false )
 
     color( FL_DARK1 );
 
-    copy_label( "Aux" );
-
     smoothing.sample_rate( sample_rate() );
 }
 
@@ -62,35 +58,10 @@ AUX_Module::~AUX_Module ( )
 
 
 
-void
-AUX_Module::get ( Log_Entry &e ) const
-{
-    e.add( ":number", number() );
-    JACK_Module::get(e);
-}
-
-void
-AUX_Module::set ( Log_Entry &e )
-{
-    for ( int i = 0; i < e.size(); ++i )
-    {
-        const char *s, *v;
-
-        e.get( i, &s, &v );
-
-        if ( ! ( strcmp( s, ":number" ) ) )
-        {
-            number( atoi(v) );
-        }
-    }
-
-    JACK_Module::set(e);
-}
-
 void
 AUX_Module::number ( int n )
 {
-    _number = n;
+    JACK_Module::number(n);
 
     char s[10];
     snprintf( s, sizeof(s), "aux-%c", 'A' + n ); 
diff --git a/mixer/src/AUX_Module.H b/mixer/src/AUX_Module.H
index e422a54..6d37879 100644
--- a/mixer/src/AUX_Module.H
+++ b/mixer/src/AUX_Module.H
@@ -24,17 +24,12 @@
 
 class AUX_Module : public JACK_Module
 {
-    int _number;
-
     Value_Smoothing_Filter smoothing;
 
-protected:
-
-    virtual void get ( Log_Entry &e ) const;
-    virtual void set ( Log_Entry &e );
-
 public:
 
+    virtual void number ( int v );
+
     virtual const char *name ( void ) const { return "AUX"; }
 
     int can_support_inputs ( int n ) { return n > 0 ? n : -1; }
@@ -42,9 +37,6 @@ public:
     virtual bool configure_outputs ( int n );
     virtual bool configure_inputs ( int n );
 
-    void number ( int n );
-    int number ( void ) const { return _number; }
-
     AUX_Module ( );
     virtual ~AUX_Module ( );
 
diff --git a/mixer/src/Chain.C b/mixer/src/Chain.C
index ef4f9dd..650c45e 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Chain.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Chain.C
@@ -450,8 +450,8 @@ Chain::get_module_instance_number ( Module *m )
 {
     int n = 0;
 
-    for ( int i = 0; i < modules() && module(i) != m; ++i )
-        if ( ! strcmp( module(i)->label(), m->label() ) )
+    for ( int i = 0; i < modules(); ++i )
+        if ( ! strcmp( module(i)->base_label(), m->base_label() ) )
             n++;
 
     return n;
@@ -575,6 +575,10 @@ Chain::insert ( Module *m, Module *n )
 
     Module::sample_rate( client()->sample_rate() );
     n->resize_buffers( client()->nframes() );
+
+    /* inserting a new instance */
+    if ( -1 == n->number() ) 
+	n->number( get_module_instance_number( n ) );
     
     if ( !m )
     {
diff --git a/mixer/src/Controller_Module.C b/mixer/src/Controller_Module.C
index c3e3a92..5a4a39a 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Controller_Module.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Controller_Module.C
@@ -189,7 +189,6 @@ Controller_Module::set ( Log_Entry &e )
     {
         connect_to( &module->control_input[port] );
         module->chain()->add_control( this );
-        label( module->control_input[port].name() );
     }
 
     for ( int i = 0; i < e.size(); ++i )
@@ -220,8 +219,15 @@ Controller_Module::mode ( Mode m )
             Port *p = control_output[0].connected_port();
             
             char prefix[512];
-            snprintf( prefix, sizeof(prefix), "CV-%s", p->name() );
-            
+
+	    const Module *m = p->module();
+	    
+	    if ( m->number() >= 0 )
+		/* we do it this way now to ensure uniqueness */
+		snprintf( prefix, sizeof(prefix), "CV-%s/%s", m->label(), p->name() );
+	    else
+		snprintf( prefix, sizeof(prefix), "CV-%s", p->name() );
+
             add_aux_cv_input( prefix, 0 );
 
             chain()->client()->unlock();
@@ -404,6 +410,19 @@ Controller_Module::connect_spatializer_to ( Module *m )
     return true;
 }
 
+void
+Controller_Module::apply_label ( Port *p, Fl_Widget *o )
+{
+    char path[256];
+
+    if ( is_default() )
+	snprintf( path, sizeof(path) - 1, "%s", p->name() );
+    else
+	snprintf( path, sizeof(path) - 1, "%s/%s", p->module()->label(), p->name() );
+
+    o->copy_label(path);
+}
+
 void
 Controller_Module::connect_to ( Port *p )
 {
@@ -415,7 +434,7 @@ Controller_Module::connect_to ( Port *p )
 
     if ( p->hints.type == Module::Port::Hints::BOOLEAN )
     {
-        Fl_Button *o = new Fl_Button( 0, 0, 40, 40, p->name() );
+        Fl_Button *o = new Fl_Button( 0, 0, 40, 40 );
         w = o;
         o->type( FL_TOGGLE_BUTTON );
         o->value( p->control_value() );
@@ -429,7 +448,8 @@ Controller_Module::connect_to ( Port *p )
     else if ( p->hints.type == Module::Port::Hints::INTEGER )
     {
 
-        Fl_Counter *o = new Fl_Counter(0, 0, 58, 24, p->name() );
+        Fl_Counter *o = new Fl_Counter(0, 0, 58, 24 );
+
         control = o;
         w = o;
 
@@ -449,7 +469,8 @@ Controller_Module::connect_to ( Port *p )
     //  else if ( p->hints.type == Module::Port::Hints::LOGARITHMIC )
     else
     {
-        Fl_Value_SliderX *o = new Fl_Value_SliderX(0, 0, 30, 250, p->name() );
+        Fl_Value_SliderX *o = new Fl_Value_SliderX(0, 0, 30, 250 );
+
         control = o;
         w = o;
 
@@ -513,6 +534,8 @@ Controller_Module::connect_to ( Port *p )
     /*     _type = KNOB; */
     /* } */
 
+    apply_label(p,control);
+    
     control_value = p->control_value();
 
     w->clear_visible_focus();
diff --git a/mixer/src/Controller_Module.H b/mixer/src/Controller_Module.H
index c466a50..26909bd 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Controller_Module.H
+++ b/mixer/src/Controller_Module.H
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ protected:
 
 private:
 
+    void apply_label ( Port *p, Fl_Widget *o );
     void maybe_create_panner ( void );
     char *generate_osc_path ( void );
     void change_osc_path ( char *path );
diff --git a/mixer/src/Module.C b/mixer/src/Module.C
index dfb4381..050440a 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Module.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Module.C
@@ -170,6 +170,8 @@ Module::init ( void )
     _instances = 1;
     _bypass = 0;
     _pending_feedback = false;
+    _base_label = NULL;
+    _number = -2;	/* magic number indicates old instance, before numbering */
     
     box( FL_UP_BOX );
     labeltype( FL_NO_LABEL );
@@ -208,6 +210,8 @@ Module::get ( Log_Entry &e ) const
     e.add( ":is_default", is_default() );
     e.add( ":chain", chain() );
     e.add( ":active", ! bypass() );
+    if ( number() >= 0 )
+	e.add( ":number", number() );
 }
 
 bool
@@ -238,7 +242,8 @@ Module::copy ( void ) const
             /* we don't want this module to get added to the current
                chain... */
             if ( !( !strcmp( s, ":chain" ) ||
-                    !strcmp( s, ":is_default" ) ) )
+                    !strcmp( s, ":is_default" ) ||
+		    !strcmp( s, ":number" ) ) )
             {
                 DMESSAGE( "%s = %s", s, v );
                 ne->add_raw( s, v );
@@ -251,6 +256,7 @@ Module::copy ( void ) const
     return true;
 }
 
+    
 void
 Module::paste_before ( void )
 {
@@ -267,6 +273,8 @@ Module::paste_before ( void )
 
     m->set( le );
 
+    m->number(-1);
+
     if ( ! chain()->insert( this, m ) )
     {
         fl_alert( "Copied module cannot be inserted at this point in the chain" );
@@ -280,6 +288,33 @@ Module::paste_before ( void )
     m->copy();
 }
 
+void
+Module::number ( int v )
+{
+    _number = v;
+
+    char s[255];
+
+    if ( v > 0 && !is_default() )
+	snprintf( s, sizeof(s), "%s.%i", base_label(), v );
+    else
+	snprintf( s, sizeof(s), "%s", base_label() );
+    
+    copy_label( s );
+}
+
+void
+Module::base_label ( const char *s )
+{
+    if ( _base_label )
+	free( _base_label );
+
+    _base_label = NULL;
+
+    if ( s )
+	_base_label = strdup(s);
+}
+
 
 
 void
@@ -430,12 +465,7 @@ Module::Port::generate_osc_path ()
         return NULL;
     }
 
-    int n = module()->chain()->get_module_instance_number( module() );
-
-    if ( n > 0 )        
-        asprintf( &path, "/strip/%s/%s.%i/%s", module()->chain()->name(), p->module()->label(), n, p->name() );
-    else
-        asprintf( &path, "/strip/%s/%s/%s", module()->chain()->name(), p->module()->label(), p->name() );
+    asprintf( &path, "/strip/%s/%s/%s", module()->chain()->name(), p->module()->label(), p->name() );
 
     char *s = escape_url( path );
     
@@ -574,6 +604,24 @@ Module::Port::osc_control_change_cv ( float v, void *user_data )
 void
 Module::set ( Log_Entry &e )
 {
+    /* have to do this before adding to chain... */
+
+    int n = -2;
+    
+    for ( int i = 0; i < e.size(); ++i )
+    {
+        const char *s, *v;
+
+        e.get( i, &s, &v );
+
+    	if ( ! strcmp(s, ":number" ) )
+	{
+	    n = atoi(v);
+	}
+    }
+    
+    number(n);
+    
     for ( int i = 0; i < e.size(); ++i )
     {
         const char *s, *v;
@@ -901,19 +949,7 @@ Module::insert_menu_cb ( const Fl_Menu_ *m )
     
     if ( !strcmp( picked, "Aux" ) )
     {
-        int n = 0;
-        for ( int i = 0; i < chain()->modules(); i++ )
-        {
-            if ( !strcmp( chain()->module(i)->name(), "AUX" ) )
-                n++;
-        }
-
         AUX_Module *jm = new AUX_Module();
-        jm->chain( chain() );
-        jm->number( n );
-        jm->configure_inputs( ninputs() );
-        jm->configure_outputs( ninputs() );
-        jm->initialize();
      
         mod = jm;
     }
@@ -931,9 +967,6 @@ Module::insert_menu_cb ( const Fl_Menu_ *m )
             Spatializer_Module *jm = new Spatializer_Module();
             
             jm->chain( chain() );
-//        jm->number( n );
-//        jm->configure_inputs( ninputs() );
-//        jm->configure_outputs( ninputs() );
             jm->initialize();
             
             mod = jm;
@@ -941,8 +974,6 @@ Module::insert_menu_cb ( const Fl_Menu_ *m )
     }
     else if ( !strcmp( picked, "Gain" ) )
             mod = new Gain_Module();
-    /* else if ( !strcmp( picked, "Spatializer" ) ) */
-    /*         mod = new Spatializer_Module(); */
     else if ( !strcmp( picked, "Meter" ) )
         mod = new Meter_Module();
     else if ( !strcmp( picked, "Mono Pan" ))
@@ -963,6 +994,8 @@ Module::insert_menu_cb ( const Fl_Menu_ *m )
 
     if ( mod )
     {
+	mod->number(-1);
+	
         if ( ! chain()->insert( this, mod ) )
         {
             fl_alert( "Cannot insert this module at this point in the chain" );
diff --git a/mixer/src/Module.H b/mixer/src/Module.H
index 2b85146..48bfde0 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Module.H
+++ b/mixer/src/Module.H
@@ -49,12 +49,15 @@ class Module : public Fl_Group, public Loggable {
     Chain *_chain;
     bool _is_default;
     bool _pending_feedback;
+    char *_base_label;
     
     nframes_t _nframes;
     static nframes_t _sample_rate;
     static Module *_copied_module_empty;
     static char *_copied_module_settings;
 
+    int _number;
+    
     void init ( void );
 
     void insert_menu_cb ( const Fl_Menu_ *m );
@@ -75,6 +78,13 @@ protected:
 
 public:
 
+    
+    virtual int number ( void ) const { return _number; }
+    virtual void number ( int v );
+
+    virtual const char * base_label ( void ) const { return _base_label ? _base_label : name(); }
+    virtual void base_label ( const char * );
+    
     virtual nframes_t get_module_latency ( void ) const { return 0; }
 
     virtual void get_latency ( JACK::Port::direction_e dir, nframes_t *min, nframes_t *max ) const;
diff --git a/mixer/src/Plugin_Module.C b/mixer/src/Plugin_Module.C
index 29c38df..45f73ee 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Plugin_Module.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Plugin_Module.C
@@ -98,6 +98,24 @@ Plugin_Module::get ( Log_Entry &e ) const
 void
 Plugin_Module::set ( Log_Entry &e )
 {
+    int n = 0;
+
+    /* we need to have number() defined before we create the control inputs in load() */
+    for ( int i = 0; i < e.size(); ++i )
+    {
+        const char *s, *v;
+	
+        e.get( i, &s, &v );
+
+    	if ( ! strcmp(s, ":number" ) )
+	{
+	    n = atoi(v);
+	}
+    }
+    
+    /* need to call this to set label even for version 0 modules */
+    number(n);
+    
     for ( int i = 0; i < e.size(); ++i )
     {
         const char *s, *v;
@@ -443,11 +461,15 @@ Plugin_Module::load ( unsigned long id )
     {
         /* unknown plugin ID */
         WARNING( "Unknown plugin ID: %lu", id );
-        label( "----" );
+	char s[25];
+
+	snprintf( s, 24, "! %lu", id );
+	
+        base_label( s );
         return false;
     }
 
-    label( _idata->descriptor->Name );
+    base_label( _idata->descriptor->Name );
 
     if ( _idata->descriptor )
     {