Elektron Musical Instruments

HI,
Just getting going with laying my MD tracks into Cubase SX 3.0.
I want to use a LOT of complex muting/unmuting of tracks (machines) in each 
kit and I'm wondering what's the fastest/most efficient way to do this?

I understand there is no CC message for muting/unmuting a particular 
machine and I guess most do it by sending Volume = 0?

But I'm imagining programming so many of these right into a MIDI editor 
would take forever.  What do others do?

Best thing i can think of is to use an external controller somehow to record as 
much of the muting/unmuting in realtime.  I have an M-audio Radium 49 with 
8 knobs and 8 sliders, but no buttons.  Any way to program some other 
controller so it's buttons can somehow become mute/unmute?

Suggestions appreciated!