New Mr. S Song On BandCamp, (I Played A Monkey On) Faces Of Death

Wanna rock out but don't want to hear any stupid old-fashioned guitars?
Wanna rock lo-fi?
Wanna hear the distorted yelling of an over-excited alien?

"(I Played A Monkey On) Faces Of Death" is definitely for you!



Like the cover art work? No? Buy it as a poster or print on RedBubble!

Also, you can "watch" the "video" on Youtube!

(Song originally produced circa 2002. Copyright Oh The Glamour Music. Artwork adapted from "Distorted Self-Perception" by Keith Miller. Originally produced circa 2002. Copyright Burning City Studios.)

Control VSTi's With A Guitar-type Pedalboard?

I've been trying for a while now to figure out how to get some external midi gear to control things in Cubase 5 and Ableton. Part of the problem is that I'm using a Behringer FCB1010 midi foot controller, which apparently, can do most of what I need. But, programming it is a freaking bitch!
Here's what I'm trying to get control of. I have Sonuus G2M ver2 that I've been using to control VSTi's in Cubase. I want to have multiple instruments that can be played alone or as a stack along with the guitar; all at once. I want to be able to turn them off and on via footswitch.

Cubase is not designed for live uses, but I personally think it sounds better and I also know it much better than Ableton. I have used it in live situations in the past with success as my guitar effects rig but that was being controlled by Cubase internally by automation. This was possible because, at the time, the band was playing with a drum machine, also in Cubase.

It also can be controlled by outboard gear for recording purposes. Which would lead me to assume I could mute/unmute channels, control channel volume, etc. Which could be my solution. But I can't for the life of me figure out how, at least with the FCB1010. I also have a midi controller keyboard with programmable sliders that I think I can set to at least control track volume. That I haven't tried yet as it would be only a partial solution; I can't be playing guitar and simultaneously moving sliders on a keyboard.

I have had some minor success in Ableton switching things on and off with the FCB1010 but I emphasize the word 'minor.' One problem with that is that the FCB1010 can be set to turn a channel off and on but there is no feedback, i.e. there is no light that shows if it's active or not. The most success I had controlling Ableton was with a computer keyboard that I modified and then programmed Ableton to make the necessary changes when certain keys are stomped. Yes, i used a computer keyboard as a foot controller (I'll post on that setup sometime soon, as it worked well for some things and was a very very cheap solution.) All of the dedicated gear I have seen for Ableton seems specifically designed for DJs, not something I can control with my feet.

All the gear to control music software is made specifically for DJ's, guitarists, or recording engineers. I'm kind of stuck in the middle of them, wanting some of each.

Are there any dedicated Ableton controllers that are footswitches? Footswitches that aren't specifically designed to control guitar amp emulators? Am I overlooking something in Cubase? I've been wracking my brain here. So if anyone has had success with something similar to what I'm describing, your help would be greatly appreciated!


P.S.- I thought also about using two or more G2Ms along with A/B switches sent on different midi channels but the G2M only outputs to channel one. If anyone knows of a cheap hardware device that can take input data and output the same data to a different channel, that would be very useful too. I've been googling that for the past hour or so with no success.

'Get This Show In The Tubes' and Mr. S Links

So, after months of letting it sit fallow, I've decided to start using this blog yet again. Since I've been trying to get my stuff on every single music outlet on the web and also started with the Twitter and the Facebookery, I figured I should start using this blog as well to hopefully tie it all together.

Here's links to the sites I've got up so far.

Oh The Glamour Music (My ASCAP) on Youtube - Videos for Mr. S and The Inner Party

Mr. S on Twitter (User BunnyProle)

Mr. S on Facebook

Mr. S on ReverbNation

Mr. S on Bandcamp

Mr. S on SoundCloud

Mr. S on Grooveshark

That's about it for now, I'm still setting up other pages. And some of the above are only marginally set up. But there will definitely be more to come soon....

Mr. S - Untitled (Dog On A Pole)

Untitled (Dog On A Pole)

Another seeming instant bit that I wrote this week. It should be the theme song for the "It Gets Better" campaign because it starts out crappy and gets better. Then I want to hear it again, and it starts out better. Then I want to hear it again, and I like the way it starts. And again, I really like the way it starts. Now, I'm addicted.

Another one I need to finish very soon. Cheers!!!

Untitled (Dirty Glass) (2 Hours Work with Errors)

Mr. S - Untitled (Dirty Glass) (2 Hrs Work) by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

Untitled (Dirty Glass) (2 Hrs Work with Errors)

This is literally about two hours' work. I just started humming the simple little three note, five octave lead line and something about it told me to start programming. I have no idea what it was about it, it's really unremarkable. But with the rest, it becomes something more.

I can't wait to hear a finished version; which may never happen. And that, in the end, is probably for the best. Cheers!!!

R2D2 Tells A Scary Story

R2D2 Tells A Scary Story by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

Late at night, in your best friend's back yard, you're sitting in a tent. You and five other kids are listening to a truly riveting scary story. You gasp as each new twist unfolds. You shriek with a combination of fear and excitement. You cover your ears, you cover your eyes. But nothing you can do can withstand the horror that is--R2D2's scary story!!

Just a bit of fun, really. Enjoy!

The Pretty Girls Are Scaring Me

The Pretty Girls Are Scaring Me 07B by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

Sitting in a bar, you notice an attractive girl sitting across from you. You periodically look over at her and eventually catch her eye and she actually seems happy you're looking at her. For a little while, you engage in that weird, smiley, eye play and it seems promising. Do you A)get up and go over and talk to her or, B)stay in your comfortable little space with your friends and your drink, where there is no danger of utter embarrassment?

How many times is it 'B?' Once? Ten times?
Uncountable?
Welcome home!

(Photo: "Golden Girls" by Lomo-Cam on Flickr.
Used and edited under Creative Commons)

Coty Rides The Bus On A Tuesday Afternoon

Coty Rides The Bus On A Tuesday Afternoon by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

It's a bland rainy Tuesday afternoon and Coty doesn't have a car.
Staring out the raindrop running window of the bus, this is the music she hears as she passes the damp busy people with their umbrellas and raincoats, trying to get their days work done without getting soaked; all dreaming of a warm place in a warm chair with some warm tea or coffee and a warm friend...

Morning Time (First Version)

Morning Time (First Version) by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

I love noise and loud music but I HATE alarms. They nearly give me a heart attack in the morning. Some way to wake up.

This song, or a version very similar, is going to be the first track on my ‘Time’ album; all songs with time in the name a la ‘Nap Time,’ ‘Lunch Time.’ I’m attempting to make it thematically fall somewhere between an adult’s work day and a child’s school day with all the songs ordered chronologically from morning to night, kinda like that Moody Blues record.

Staplers On Kill (Rough Mix)

Staplers On Kill (Rough Mix) by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

This is a jolly little dancy number, the theme song for the Secretaries Revolt. Scores of irate secretaries and other office staff attacking management and other upper level idiots with Swinglines, stapling ‘Kick Me’ notes written on manila folders to suits’ backs and yelling, “Alphabetize this!”

“Oh, I seem to have dropped my pen……”

This is the most recent song like thing I’ve written and so it’s my first post. It is mostly complete, it still needs some arrangement as I feel some parts get a little…. umm, hmm. Once finalized I’ll upload that thing then.

Now go build a snowman.

(Nota Bene: This is a repost from my first Mr. S blog "Mr. S's Musical Misadventures" with the original post date being early February of 2011.)