diff --git a/Source/PluginProcessor.cpp b/Source/PluginProcessor.cpp
index 55a9b17..6e61dc5 100644
--- a/Source/PluginProcessor.cpp
+++ b/Source/PluginProcessor.cpp
@@ -3,16 +3,6 @@
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-static inline void dbgNote (const char* ev, int note, float vel)
-{
-    juce::File (juce::File::getSpecialLocation (juce::File::userHomeDirectory)
-                .getChildFile ("rmx19_notes.log"))
-        .appendText (juce::String ("t=") + juce::String ((juce::int64) juce::Time::getMillisecondCounter())
-                     + " " + ev + " n=" + juce::String (note)
-                     + (vel >= 0.0f ? juce::String (" v=") + juce::String (vel, 2) : juce::String())
-                     + "\n");
-}
-
 class RMX19AudioProcessor::FxEngine
 {
 public:
@@ -369,8 +359,9 @@ void RMX19AudioProcessor::processMidi (juce::MidiBuffer& midi, const VParams& p)
     (void) p;
     constexpr double bendSemis = 2.0;
     bool arpOn = false;
+    // arp is only allocated by prepareToPlay(); treat it as off until then.
     if (auto* par = apvts.getRawParameterValue ("arpon"))
-        arpOn = par->load() >= 0.5f;
+        arpOn = (arp != nullptr) && par->load() >= 0.5f;
 
     for (const auto meta : midi)
     {
@@ -383,7 +374,6 @@ void RMX19AudioProcessor::processMidi (juce::MidiBuffer& midi, const VParams& p)
                 arp->noteOn (msg.getNoteNumber(), msg.getFloatVelocity());
             else
                 engine.noteOn (msg.getNoteNumber(), msg.getFloatVelocity());
-            dbgNote ("ON", msg.getNoteNumber(), msg.getFloatVelocity());
         }
         else if (msg.isNoteOff())
         {
@@ -391,7 +381,6 @@ void RMX19AudioProcessor::processMidi (juce::MidiBuffer& midi, const VParams& p)
                 arp->noteOff (msg.getNoteNumber());
             else
                 engine.noteOff (msg.getNoteNumber());
-            dbgNote ("OFF", msg.getNoteNumber(), -1.0f);
         }
         else if (msg.isPitchWheel())
         {
@@ -596,17 +585,6 @@ void RMX19AudioProcessor::processBlock (juce::AudioBuffer<float>& buffer, juce::
     outMeter = juce::jmax (peak, outMeter * std::exp (-blockSec / 0.25f));
 
     cpu = 0.7f * cpu + 0.3f * (float) (juce::Time::getMillisecondCounter() - start);
-
-    // real-time health check (offline probe + debug): flag blocks near the limit
-    const float blockMs = (numSamples == 0) ? 0.0f
-                         : (float) numSamples / (float) std::max (1.0, getSampleRate()) * 1000.0f;
-    const float usedMs = (float) (juce::Time::getMillisecondCounter() - start);
-    if (usedMs > 0.5f * blockMs)
-        juce::File (juce::File::getSpecialLocation (juce::File::userHomeDirectory)
-                    .getChildFile ("rmx19_notes.log"))
-            .appendText (juce::String ("OVER t=") + juce::String ((juce::int64) juce::Time::getMillisecondCounter())
-                         + " used=" + juce::String (usedMs, 2)
-                         + "ms budget=" + juce::String (blockMs, 2) + "ms\n");
 }
 
 void RMX19AudioProcessor::selectPatch (int i)