Audacity 3.2.0 Released with Realtime Effects & Apple Silicon Support

Last updated: September 25, 2022 — Leave a comment

Audacity audio editor got a new major update few days ago, features real-time effects and VST3 support.

In the new 3.2.0 release, there’s a new “Effects” button in the tracks menu, allowing to place realtime effects. However, it does not yet ship with any effect so far. User has to get effects via plugins, though only Audio Units (macOS only), VST3, LV2, and LADSPA formats are supported at the moment.

The release also merged the mixer bar with the meter bars. The device tool-bar has been replaced with a new Audio Setup button, though it can be re-enabled via “View -> Toolbars” menu.

As the screenshot above shows you, there also introduced a new “Share Audio” button, allowing to upload audio into audio.com either with login account or anonymously, then share the link with your friend.

Other changes in Audacity 3.2.0 include:

  • Apple Silicon (arm64) is now supported on macOS. Though, need arm64 versions of FFMPEG and plugins.
  • Add support for Wavpack
  • Possible to compile without JACK present in Linux.
  • Use XDG directories on Linux. Need to delete .audacity-data and .audacity folders in user home if exist.
  • Use mpg123 as mp3 importer instead of mad.
  • Update license to GNU General Public License V3, though most code files remain GPLv2 or later.
  • Update icons, remove Zoom tool and various bug-fixes.

How to Install Audacity 3.2.0 in Ubuntu Linux

There seems no native .deb package for the latest Audacity. User can however get the application via the universal AppImage, Snap, or Flatpak that works in most Linux.

Option 1: AppImage

For the non-install AppImage, go to the github releases page and grab the package under “Assets” section:

Audacity Releases (Assets)

Then, right-click on the package and open “Properties” dialog. Add executable permission under ‘Permissions’ tab and finally click run the package to launch Audacity.

Audacity AppImage

Option 2: Flatpak

User can also install Audacity via universal Flatpak package that runs in sandbox.

First, press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard to open terminal in Ubuntu, then run command to make sure the daemon package is installed:

sudo apt install flatpak

Then install the audio editor as Flatpak by running command:

flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/org.audacityteam.Audacity.flatpakref

Like normal applications, search for and launch it from system start menu (‘Activities’ overview) after installation.

Option 3: Snap

Audacity is also available as Snap package that runs in sandbox. I put this method as last choice because it does not yet update to v3.2.0 at the moment of writing.

However, it’s quite easy to install for Ubuntu users. Simply open the Software App, search for and click install it:

Uninstall Audacity

Depends how you install the software package, uninstall the editor via:

  • For AppImage, just remove the package file.
  • For the Flatpak package, open terminal and run command: 
    flatpak uninstall org.audacityteam.Audacity
  • And remove the snap package by either using Ubuntu Software or running command in terminal: 
    sudo snap remove audacity
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Stupid Simple App to create Light & Dark Wallpapers in GNOME

Last updated: September 23, 2022 — Leave a comment

Got photo images in both light and dark style? There’s a super simple application to set them as dynamic wallpapers in GNOME 42+ desktop.

As you may know, GNOME 42+ support light and dark wallpapers that change automatically depends on system color scheme. Ubuntu 22.04 does not support the feature, but in upcoming Ubuntu 22.10 you may add your own ones into wallpaper selection dialog:

It’s easy to group your light and dark photo images as a single wallpaper selection. Just create a XML file under “.local/share/gnome-background-properties” (create folder if not exist), and write following rules:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE wallpapers SYSTEM "gnome-wp-list.dtd">
<wallpapers>
  <wallpaper deleted="false">
    <name>TYPE_NAME_HERE</name>
    <filename>/PATH/TO/PICTURE_LIGHT</filename>
    <filename-dark>/PATH/TO/PICTURE_DARK</filename-dark>
    <options>zoom</options>
    <shade_type>solid</shade_type>
    <pcolor>#3465a4</pcolor>
    <scolor>#000000</scolor>
  </wallpaper>
</wallpapers>

It will then be available in the “Appearance” settings pages (Ubuntu 22.10 will merge ‘Background’ into ‘Appearance’).

To make life easier, a stupid simple application called “Dynamic Wallpaper” is created to do the job. With it, you may just type a name, select the 2 photo images and click “Create” button.

As mentioned above, it automatically creates a XML file with the name you typed, and saves to “.local/share/gnome-background-properties” directory. It also makes a copy of the photo images into “.local/share/backgrounds“, and refers to them in the XML file.

When done, you may go to “Appearance” in GNOME Control Center (aka “Settings” utility) to select that wallpapers.

How to Install the “Dynamic Wallpaper” app

The tool is available to install as Flatpak package, that works in Ubuntu 22.10+, Fedora 36+, Arch and Manjaro Linux with GNOME Desktop.

1. First, search for and open terminal from ‘Activities’ overview (or press Ctrl+Alt+T on Ubuntu). When it opens, run command to install Flatpak daemon:

sudo apt install flatpak

2. Next, run the command below to install the tool:

flatpak install https://dl.flathub.org/repo/appstream/me.dusansimic.DynamicWallpaper.flatpakref

If you’re first time installing a Flatpak package, there will be also hundred MB run-time libraries to install.

Finally, click the top-left corner ‘Activities’, then search for and open the application:

Uninstall:

To remove the tool, open terminal and run command:

flatpak uninstall --delete-data me.dusansimic.DynamicWallpaper

And clear useless libraries via flatpak uninstall --unused.

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Oracle Java JDK 19 Released with Linux/RISC-V Port [How to Install]

Last updated: September 21, 2022 — Leave a comment

Oracle Java JDK 19 is out! Here are the new features and how to install instructions for Ubuntu users.

First, for Linux users the release now ported to support the RV64GV configuration of RISC-V, a general-purpose 64-bit ISA.

The release also introduced record patterns to deconstruct record values. Record patterns and type patterns can be nested to enable a powerful, declarative, and composable form of data navigation and processing. Though it’s a preview feature so far.

There are also 2 other preview features: a foreign function & memory API can interoperate with code and data outside of the Java runtime; a lightweight virtual threads that dramatically reduce the effort of writing, maintaining, and observing high-throughput concurrent applications; pattern matching for switch expressions and statements.

JDK 19 also introduced an API to express vector computations that reliably compile at runtime to optimal vector instructions, and an API for structured concurrency.

Other changes include:

  • New system properties for System.out and System.err.
  • upgrade Unicode support to 14.0
  • HTTPS channel binding support for Java GSS/Kerberos.
  • Support for PAC-RET protection on Linux/AArch64
  • Add a -providerPath option to jarsigner
  • New options for ktab to provide Non-Default salt
  • As well, there are removed and deprecated APIs and features. See release note details.

How to Install Java JDK 19 in Ubuntu Linux:

Oracle website provides the 64-bit DEB/RPM packages for Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora based systems. Just go download the package for your system from the link below:

Download Oracle Java JDK

In recent Linux systems, you can simply double-click on the package to install via system Software App. To set the Java home variable and use JDK 19 as default, see this step by step how to tutorial.

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Darktable 4.0.1 Released with Various Bug-Fixes, PPA Updated

Last updated: September 19, 2022 — Leave a comment

The free open-source photography software Darktable got a new update few days ago with various bug-fixes, new cameras support and some other changes.

Darktable 4.0.1 added base support for CANON EOS R7 and CANON EOS R10, and noise profiles for NIKON D780, CANON EOS M50 Mark II, CANON EOS 850D.

The $(MAKER) and $(MODEL) can now be used when importing files. And display infinity for very large focus distance as supported by the exif standard.

The release also added support for fast pipe mode on the diffuse module, HEIF media type association for the desktop, and various bug-fixes for issues ranging from DNG creation, TIFF export, Latex export, to memory corruption. See more details via the official release note.

How to Install Darktable 4.0.1 in Ubuntu

The software website refers to the OBS repository that contains native packages for Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora and SUSE.

Darktable OBS repository

For choice, here’s an unofficial Ubuntu PPA contains the packages for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, & Ubuntu 22.04. Simply press Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard and run the commands below one by one to add PPA & install Darktable:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/darktable
sudo apt update
sudo apt install darktable

Darktable is also available as universal Flatpak package that works in most Linux systems.

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This Extension Enables More Useful Top Bar Buttons in Ubuntu 22.04

Last updated: September 17, 2022 — Leave a comment

For Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 22.10, Fedora 36/37 & other Linux with GNOME 42/43, there’s a new extension to enable more useful gadgets into top panel.

It’s “Aylur’s Widgets” extension that adds Dash, Workspace dots, Media playback control, Battery bar, Power menu in top-bar. All of them have ON/OFF switches, position option (left, center, right) as well as other settings.

Dash is a trigger to quickly access frequently used system settings, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Settings, Shutdown Menu, Favorite Apps, Playback Control, Social Media websites, and have a glance at time & date, battery status, CPU usage, core temperature.

The button has configurable text and icon, and allows to replace the “Activities” button. With it enabled, user may also press Super + D on keyboard to trigger the menu. In case you use the shortcut key to show/hide desktop, you may assign another shortcut via Dconf Editor.

It also displays round dots on panel indicates all available desktop workspaces, and allows to quickly switch between them by clicking a single click. As well, there are music playback control, customizable date time format, battery bar and power button for choice.

How to Install Aylur’s Widget Extension

NOTE: the extension so far supports GNOME 42/43, which means you need Ubuntu 22.04|22.10, Fedora 36/37, Manjaro or Arch Linux with GNOME.

For Ubuntu, first search for and install “Extension Manager” from Ubuntu Software.

Install Extension Manager in Ubuntu 22.04

Then, search for and open the tool from ‘Activities’ Overview:

When it opens, navigate to ‘Browse’ tab, search for and install the ‘Aylur’s Widget’ extension:

After installation, go back ‘Installed’ tab, and click on gear button to configure the extension:

For other Linux, go to the extension page below and use the ON/OFF switch to install it:

Aylur’s Widgets

And configure it using “Gnome Extensions” app which is available to install via GNOME Software or your system software manager.

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