diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h
index 52fce1096c..7878077a98 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/automation_control.h
@@ -68,7 +68,13 @@ public:
 		return ((ARDOUR::AutomationList*)_list.get())->stop_touch();
 	}
 
+	/** Set the value and do the right thing based on automation state
+	 * (e.g. record if necessary, etc.)
+	 */
 	void set_value(float val);
+
+	/** Get the current effective value based on automation state.
+	 */
 	float get_value() const;
 
 protected:
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/parameter.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/parameter.h
index 5ccbd4a6e3..edb157ed57 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/parameter.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/parameter.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class Parameter : public Evoral::Parameter
 {
 public:
 	Parameter(AutomationType type = NullAutomation, uint32_t id=0, uint8_t channel=0)
-		: Evoral::Parameter((uint32_t)type, id, channel)
+		: Evoral::Parameter((uint32_t)type, channel, id)
 	{
 		init_metadata(type);
 	}
diff --git a/libs/ardour/automatable.cc b/libs/ardour/automatable.cc
index a54bad5f6f..ea14fa648b 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/automatable.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/automatable.cc
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ Automatable::automation_snapshot (nframes_t now, bool force)
 			boost::shared_ptr<AutomationControl> c
 					= boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<AutomationControl>(i->second);
 			if (c->automation_write()) {
-				c->list()->rt_add (now, i->second->user_value());
+				c->list()->rt_add (now, i->second->user_float());
 			}
 		}
 		
diff --git a/libs/ardour/automation_control.cc b/libs/ardour/automation_control.cc
index afa14c3f98..769f111a23 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/automation_control.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/automation_control.cc
@@ -41,13 +41,11 @@ AutomationControl::AutomationControl(
 }
 
 
-/** Get the currently effective value (ie the one that corresponds to current output)
- */
 float
 AutomationControl::get_value() const
 {
 	bool from_list = _list && ((AutomationList*)_list.get())->automation_playback();
-	return Control::get_value(from_list, _session.transport_frame());
+	return Control::get_float(from_list, _session.transport_frame());
 }
 
 
@@ -57,7 +55,7 @@ AutomationControl::set_value(float value)
 	bool to_list = _list && _session.transport_stopped()
 		&& ((AutomationList*)_list.get())->automation_playback();
 	
-	Control::set_value(value, to_list, _session.transport_frame());
+	Control::set_float(value, to_list, _session.transport_frame());
 
 	Changed(); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
 }
diff --git a/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc b/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc
index fde0281ed1..e9956836b5 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/plugin_insert.cc
@@ -368,9 +368,15 @@ PluginInsert::set_parameter (Parameter param, float val)
 
 	_plugins[0]->set_parameter (param.id(), val);
 	
-	boost::shared_ptr<Evoral::Control> c = data().control (param);
-	if (c)
-		c->set_value(val);
+	boost::shared_ptr<AutomationControl> ac
+			= boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<AutomationControl>(data().control(param));
+	
+	if (ac) {
+		ac->set_value(val);
+	} else {
+		warning << "set_parameter called for nonexistant parameter "
+			<< param.symbol() << endmsg;
+	}
 
 	_session.set_dirty();
 }
diff --git a/libs/evoral/evoral/Control.hpp b/libs/evoral/evoral/Control.hpp
index 01dc2eebed..173356b60f 100644
--- a/libs/evoral/evoral/Control.hpp
+++ b/libs/evoral/evoral/Control.hpp
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ public:
 	Control(const Parameter& parameter, boost::shared_ptr<ControlList>);
 	virtual ~Control() {}
 
-	void  set_value(float val, bool to_list=false, nframes_t frame=0);
-	float get_value(bool from_list=false, nframes_t frame=0) const;
-	float user_value() const;
+	virtual void  set_float(float val, bool to_list=false, nframes_t frame=0);
+	virtual float get_float(bool from_list=false, nframes_t frame=0) const;
+	virtual float user_float() const;
 
 	void set_list(boost::shared_ptr<ControlList>);
 
diff --git a/libs/evoral/src/Control.cpp b/libs/evoral/src/Control.cpp
index 75b038f1d4..e5301b833c 100644
--- a/libs/evoral/src/Control.cpp
+++ b/libs/evoral/src/Control.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Control::Control(const Parameter& parameter, boost::shared_ptr<ControlList> list
 /** Get the currently effective value (ie the one that corresponds to current output)
  */
 float
-Control::get_value(bool from_list, nframes_t frame) const
+Control::get_float(bool from_list, nframes_t frame) const
 {
 	if (from_list)
 		return _list->eval(frame);
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ Control::get_value(bool from_list, nframes_t frame) const
 
 
 void
-Control::set_value(float value, bool to_list, nframes_t frame)
+Control::set_float(float value, bool to_list, nframes_t frame)
 {
 	_user_value = value;
 	
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ Control::set_value(float value, bool to_list, nframes_t frame)
  * to the AutomationList.
  */
 float
-Control::user_value() const
+Control::user_float() const
 {
 	return _user_value;
 }