Device Number
Determines the MIDI Device Number. This number must match the Device Number of the external MIDI
device when transmitting/receiving bulk data, parameter changes or other System Exclusive messages.
Settings: 1 – 16, All, Off

The purpose of the Device Number is to enable more than one Montage to be on the same MIDI bus and still target communication (at least SysEx) to a particular Montage (up to 16 different Montages). If you do not have more than one Montage on the same MIDI bus - setting this to "All" would be fine.

Note that this involves SysEx messages - so there's not much that this would have to do with Cubase as Cubase doesn't try to support trying to decode or encode what's inside of SysEx.

Here's what an old version of Cubase documented for the MIDI device number:

Sys Ex
System Exclusive messages are the only MIDI messages that don’t follow any specific
standard. A System Exclusive message may contain a Channel number (or a similar
value called a “device number”) but this may be found anywhere within the message
and Cubase VST is therefore not able to find it and replace it with the Channel number set at the top of the dialog box.

The Device Number determines a Channel for System messages. In general, you should leave this set to All (or 1). You would only need to use this if you are addressing two or more MONTAGEs... you could differentiate Sysex messages by setting the first MONTAGE to Device Number 1, and the second to Device Number 2.

The maximum number of MONTAGEs you can setup at once is 16. Each could be addressed individually by using different Device Numbers.

This rule is valid for the case when 16 Montages are connected to the same MIDI port. Which I doubt somebody would do. Not only because such person is enough rich to buy also more Multi port MIDI interfaces. 🙂

I suppose, when we use multi port MIDI interface, and each Montage is connected to different port, each of them can have set the same Device number. Addressing will be done by port, not by Device number.

But... how is it in the case of USB connection? Can we set something like Port (= one MIDI bus controlling 16 channels)? How many ports can we set? How many Montages can we connect through USB? How can we address them independently?

And what about the audio? Can we record multiple Montages connected through USB? Did somebody try this? Does Yamaha count with such possibility? Can Steinberg driver do such thing?

This rule is valid for the case when 16 Montages are connected to the same MIDI port. Which I doubt somebody would do. Not only because such person is enough rich to buy also more Multi port MIDI interfaces. 🙂

Device Numbers date back to the origins of MIDI (Circa 1983) — this predates multiple Ports, heck it predates USB. Back in those stone ages (rich enough or not) MIDI was a single Port System. Sending a System Exclusive message down that 5-pin cable to the first device and THRU to the second Device.... you used Device Number to differentiate which message was for which device. Even with MIDI junction boxes addressing System Exclusive you I.D. the message for specific devices - say one MONTAGE was doing just Strings in Equal Temperament normal tuning and the second MONTAGE was doing Woodwinds and in a different tuning system. Being able to address one without changing the other requires Device Numbers... sending a bulk load from the computer - you can designate which unit receives which data.

You can send a bulk dump to MONTAGE 1 (Device 1) and separate bulk dump to MONTAGE 2 (Device 2). It is the Device Number that allows MONTAGE 2 to completely ignore the bulk dump for MONTAGE 1.

You seem to think isolating the Port (as is possible in USB) is all you need to do... well, think again. The two bulk dumps, if just isolated on a port (with no device number system) why would MONTAGE 2 ignore anything... if it’s isolated on the port ?? Because you‘d also need to ensure that it never gets to see the data for MONTAGE 1. Without Device Number it will load every MONTAGE bulk it sees. So you’ve made more work for yourself at the “transmit end“ of this process, you must manually ensure that the data for MONTAGE 1 is never delivered to MONTAGE 2.

HOWEVER, with Device Numbers all your bulk data can be sent to your complete setup from one place/all at once and each receiving device will ‘know’ which messages to read and which ones it can ignore. Device Numbers are like MIDI channels for your Exclusive Messages... the receiving devices sort out what messages are for them, and ignore all others.

History: Studio Connections Recall was a system of bulk storage/retrieval Yamaha developed for large networked systems (This was about 17 years ago)... It was apart of the Studio Manager System, when you had a digital mixer, a couple of synths, a couple of synth modules, a few effect processors, an I/O expander, etc., etc... each networked in a System... each capable of hundreds of individual parameter settings per project.

Studio Connections managed each device’s bulk dumps... when you pressed Save each device would execute a bulk dump of the current setting, simultaneously captured by that device’s own editor graphic user interface. This all was bundled with your DAW Project. When you next opened that Project, Studio Connections would dutifully restore every setting to every device in your networked Studio. Device Numbers were used to load a different bank of sounds to any synths of the same type in the system. If you had two or three 02R Digital mixers cascaded, all settings could be captured for each mixer, and restored properly in a single click operation.

As to your other questions... you’d still use Device Numbers to address large systems where multiple devices of the same model appear. It’s so that your individual instruments remain individuals... and so you don’t have to manually sort out which port you need to route each bulk on.

How many MONTAGEs you can connect at once ? Really...? Looking to buy 16 are you?

With MIDI, you’ll quickly learn that you do not need to have more than one MONTAGE to record and use more than 16 MIDI Tracks. Even entry level DAWs let you FREEZE your MIDI data... that is, you record your 16 MIDI Tracks, FREEZE will take the data and render a temporary audio file while it Mutes the MIDI source Tracks. You can playback your first setup via the temporary audio file, thus freeing your MONTAGE hardware for the next 16 MIDI Tracks. Basically, allow you to reuse your hardware for new recording. Rinse and repeat as required.

You can unFreeze your MIDI Tracks, if you want to make changes... and when you are ready to render permanent Audio Tracks.

And what about the audio? Can we record multiple Montages connected through USB? Did somebody try this? Does Yamaha count with such possibility? Can Steinberg driver do such thing?

Yes, you can record multiple MONTAGES connected through USB — silly as your question is — In order to do this you will need to create an Aggregate Audio Device (which means you’ll have to be using a Mac)... you can setup 64 audio inputs simultaneously if you have two MONTAGEs... (which means you’ll need to have a Pro DAW, Cubase Pro, for example, which is capable of handling that many simultaneous Inputs).

Again, this is pretty silly, because you can accomplish this same thing without stressing out your computer’s CPU. I would not recommend getting a second MONTAGE just so you could record 64 audio inputs, simultaneously. Not only is the other method way less expensive (requires just one MONTAGE), but probably will prove to be a much better workflow in terms of your final results. We’ll let you tell us (please let us know). I cannot think of a scenario where this would be a good idea

You mean “Yamaha Steinberg USB Driver”
The number of audio channels available is a function of the device using this Driver (the driver is used by a bunch of different Yamaha and Steinberg products). Plug in and select a Yamaha AG03 it is three channels, plug in a Yamaha TF5 Digital Mixer its 34 channels, plug in a MODX it’s 10 channels, plug in a MONTAGE it’s 32 channels... and so on. The driver can handle it all just fine

Same argument can be made for the MODX (about how terrible or silly or ... the idea is). But still, the answer would be the same there. Two instances of the driver can expand simultaneous USB channels and Mac has better "front door" support for this within the OS itself.

Thank you for your lesson but it was not necessary to go to such details. I know them all well as an expert in this field with the nickname Dr. MIDI, author of 10 publications on electronic instruments, computers in music, recording studio and MIDI, and hundreds of expert articles, series, gear reviews and tests in music magazines. FYI - I’ve been working with electronic instruments since 1972, with MIDI and computers since 1985, running the recording studio since 1982. I did what you are doing for Yamaha Europe between 1992-2002 as a Product Specialist for 22 European countries. There were hundreds of clinics, seminars, demonstrations of new products at music fairs, shop chains and schools, also sound design, demo songs programming, manual translating and more. This all before the wide use of internet and YouTube which made many things more simple. I was a head of Electronics & Computer Music department and Electronic Instruments department at Music Academy, besides my other activities as multistyle composer and musician.

As for Device numbers, I was talking about their use in MIDI connection through multiport MIDI interfaces, not through direct USB connection. When each Montage is connected to different MIDI port, they can have the same Device number because addressing is done in the software sequencer or other application and each instrument got only data sent to its MIDI port.
It seems that you didn’t understand well to such use, as you argument that Montage 2 will get data for the Montage 1 and can’t ignore them when the Device numbers are the same. That’s wrong.

So you didn’t answered my question how to address two or more Montages connected directly through USB. Will each of them have its own MIDI port?
I’m not sure if you are aware that many people have two Montages, or two MODX, or combination of both. For sure they want to use them, not only at live gigs but in studio work. So what’s so bad with it when you don’t recommend to have two. Yamaha should be happy that one person owns two or more of their expensive instruments. Accept it as a fact, and be prepared to answer questions how to use both together.

I see that you again repeat your usual talk about that workflow which Yamaha seems to force all of us to use - that means to record audio tracks (+ MIDI tracks) to DAW. This method has some advantages as well as lot of disadvantages. Yamaha wants to sell Cubase as Steinberg owner, that’s a comprehensible policy, there are many other competitive DAW's. But believe me or not - there are still some people using different methods and DAW workflow.
Having many instruments in my studio allows me a luxury to use them in basic “one sound” mode receiving on one MIDI channel despite their ability to play more sounds on more MIDI channels in Multi, Layer, Patch, Performance or similar modes. There are over 800 MIDI channels to my disposal through more multiport Serial and USB MIDI interfaces, with some instruments connected directly to USB, and I select from them according to needs of various projects. I don’t record audio tracks, having used them rarely for few imported samples or loops when necessary (as I have samplers for this). I prepare everything on MIDI tracks - music data, program selection, real time sound editing, microtuning, mixing & effects (volume, expression, panning…) using MIDI controllers and SysEx, then press PLAY and record final stereo audio to different computer or recording machine (I have more AW4416, D24 and other).

That’s also reason why lot of us “old-fashioned” MIDI veterans working in similar way are unsatisfied with and disappointed by inflexible and limited MIDI implementation of Montage/MODX. It is an excellent synthesizer for live play but not for MIDI studio work, with recent OS. Hopefully Yamaha will listen to our wishes and offer more settings in future OS updates. If not, we have to live with it, creative person can always find some way how to work with limited resources.

I would appreciate if a respectable person with your knowledge and reputation is more flexible in thinking and accept that there are more ways and possible workflows. I have learned a lot from your articles, which unfortunately is not the case of this answer of yours.

And… please avoid to call any question “silly”. This is only your opinion, and opinions can differ, and can be wrong. From my long years clinics, seminars and teaching I know well that there are no silly questions, just aggressive and impolite answers. Such answers are not good for Yamaha, for you, and for a customer. My advice - if you have a bad day, don’t answer. Thank you, I'm looking forward to your better days.

For multiple direct USB connections, MIDI and audio will be addressed through the driver name which will display as unique for each Montage. 1-MONTAGE and 2-MONTAGE (as an example).

I agree about also about the general approach. Wish Yamaha's responses were more inclusive rather than exclusive unless it's clear from information given that someone is barking up the completely wrong tree. And even in these cases (the barking up the wrong tree stuff) it's an opportunity to make note of the customer experience and (perhaps) realize that the instrument may have growth potential to better guide a user, be more intuitive, be competitive with features from other vendors, etc.

I've got so many "silly" dings thrown at me through the years. And even at least one of these "silly" observations/suggestions ended up getting adopted into the firmware.