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GStation-Edit

WARNING This application is no longer maintained. For a cross-platform equivalent with pre-built packages, see jstation-controller.

Description

GStation-Edit is a linux replacement for the J-Edit software from Johnson Amplification. J-Edit is an interface for the J-Station guitar / bass amp modeling and effect processing system.

The J-Station features a dozen of knobs to access the most common parameters. To get the full potential of the device, it is more convenient to use a computer based application. The application also allows saving / restoring parameters to / from files. The manufaturer ships the device with J-Edit, a Windows based application for that purpose.

The application communicates with the J-Station over a MIDI connection, exchanging sysex and CC events. By definition, sysex events are proprietary. As a consequence, most of the development effort was focused on understanding the exchanges, designing a communication framework and implementing the messages.

Screenshots

With default GNOME theme

Default theme

With dark GNOME theme

Dark theme

Features

  • Search the J-Station on the available MIDI ports.
  • Load user's bank programs.
  • Modify parameters/program from the UI and update the J-Station.
  • Modify parameters/program from the J-Station and update the UI.
  • Rename a program.
  • Undo or Store changes from the UI.
  • Import and export a program in the same format as J-Edit.
  • Import and export a programs bank in the same format as J-Edit.
  • Program copy / paste.
  • Update utility settings (digital output level, cabinet emulation, ...).
  • Track changes with a * in the bank list.

Not supported

  • Only version 2.0 of the firmware is supported.

How to run GStation-Edit

Dependencies

Make sure your system includes the following dependencies:

  • python-3
  • GTK 3.16 or higher
  • gobject-introspection-devel
  • alsa development files
  • The rest of the dependencies will be installed via python.

Provided you already have python-3 installed, use the following commands to pull the required dependencies:

Fedora

sudo dnf install gtk3-devel alsa-lib-devel

Debian & Unbuntu

sudo apt-get install libgtk-3-dev libasound2-dev

Install

Virtual Environment Initialization

Execute the following commands in the directory where you wish to add the venv:

python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

Install

From the dowload root directory:

pip install build wheel
python -m build
pip install --force-reinstall dist/gstation_edit-2.0.4-py3-none-any.whl

Execution

From the command line

(if you used a venv, enter the venv first).

Use the startup script:

gstation-edit
From the desktop environment

Copy gstation-edit.desktop to ~/.local/share/applications/ so that GStation-Edit appears in your DE.

Troubleshooting

Could not connect to J-Station

There are many reasons for not being able to connect to J-Station. This could range from a simple physical connection to conflicts with other MIDI devices.

Check the connection

  1. Make sure the MIDI OUT link from the computer is connected to the MIDI IN port on the J-Station and vice versa.
  2. Make sure the MIDI/J8 switch of the J-Station is switched to the right when looking at the back of the J-Station. The switch must be vertically aligned with the top mark next to the MIDI IN label.

Check that the MIDI interface is detected

The main window shows up

The MIDI ports detected by pyALSA should display In the comboboxes. If the comboboxes are empty, you probably have an issue with your MIDI interface. Drop me a message with any relevant information if you think your MIDI interface is properly installed and recognized by the OS.

If you can see the MIDI ports in the comboboxes but the connection fails when you try to auto-connect:

  • Disconnect any other MIDI device
  • Try different settings for the sysex device id.
  • Follow the J-Station User's Guide and change the MIDI channel (see Section 5 - Other Functions, p. 29 of the english version).

I've never been in this situation, so it is possible that GStaton-Edit is not robust to all cases. Send me a message with the details.