Archives For audacity

By releasing version 3.0.3 RC1, Audacity digital audio editor finally adds official Linux binary support!

It’s the 64-bit Appimage package that runs in most Linux Distributions. Without installing, it’s a single executable that launches the software via double-click.

According to the Privacy Notice, Audacity may COLLECT personal data necessary for law enforcement, litigation and authorities. And it dissuade those under 13 years old from using the App.

It is incompatible with the GPL license. Use it at your own risk!

Other changes in Audacity 3.0.3 so far includes:

  • switch to 64-bit Windows binary, and drop Windows XP support.
  • Improved default spectrogram colors
  • Fix user interface display issue on HiDPI display in Linux.
  • Fix that font size scales incorrectly.
  • Fix crashes with Macros on files when the macro-output folder is in an unwriteable location
  • No error message when attempting to save to SMB drive
  • Fix Macros running on files can’t be cancelled

To get the Audacity Appimage, go to:

Once you get it, add executable permission in file Properties dialog. Then click run to open the editor:

Audacity audio editor and recorder is easy to install in Ubuntu Software via Snap package. For those prefer the classic deb package, the Ubuntu PPA has updated for the latest Audacity 3.0.2.

Since Audacity 3.0, it requires the development branch of wxWidgets toolkit 3.1.x. However, Ubuntu provides only the stable v3.0 series packages.

Thanks to Pascal de Bruijn, I’ve successfully built wxWidgets 3.1.3 for Audacity. So the audio editor packages updated for Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 21.04, and Linux Mint 20.

Known issues:

There are however known issues in the PPA build. When starting Audacity in Ubuntu 21.04 or Linux Mint 20, it will popup “An assertion failed” dialog, which indicates:

./src/widgets/FileConfig.cpp(98): assert “mDirty == false” failed in ~FileConfig().

Just click on “continue” button, and the software should start.

Another issue is that the app window slow to open. It takes a few seconds to start due to AlSA issues and warning. However, it works once app window opens!

Install Audacity 3.0.2 via PPA:

Open terminal either from system application menu or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When terminal opens, run following commands one by one:

1.) Run command in terminal to add the Ubuntu PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

Type user password (no asterisk feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. Then either upgrade from an old release (if exist) via Software Updater, or run following commands one by one to check updates and install (or upgrade) audacity 3.0.2:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install audacity

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA repository, launch Software & Updates utility and remove relevant line under ‘Other Software’ tab. Or simply run command in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

To remove Audacity audio software, either use system package manager or run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove audacity audacity-data

The Audacity audio editor 3.0.0 was released a week ago as the new major release. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu / Linux Mint via Flatpak package.

Audacity 3.0.0 features new all-in-one-file aup3 project file format, improved ‘Noise Gate’ effect, new ‘Label Sounds’ analyzer, and over 160 bug-fixes.

According to the Privacy Notice, Audacity may COLLECT personal data necessary for law enforcement, litigation and authorities. And it dissuade those under 13 years old from using the App.

It is incompatible with the GPL license. USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Why Flatpak?

Ubuntu PPA has updated via the 3.0.x built against wxWidgets 3.1.3. As well, you can install the Snap package from Ubuntu Software.

The distribution’s build and Ubuntu PPAs are mostly “incorrectly built packages” as they are built against the wrong wxWidgets (3.0.x), however Audacity 3.0.0 requires wxWidgets 3.1.3.

Though I’m not a fan of the containerized Flatpak package, it’s so far the only ‘correctly’ build binary package since the Snap is still under testing.

Install Audacity 3.0.0 via Flatpak:

Firstly open terminal from system app launcher. When it opens, run following commands one by one.

1.) For Ubuntu 18.04, add the PPA for updated version of Flatpak framework:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:alexlarsson/flatpak && sudo apt update

2.) Install flatpak via command:

sudo apt install flatpak

3.) Add flathub repository that hosts the software packages:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

4.) Finally install Audacity flatpak package:

flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacity

The flatpak package won’t replace the classic deb package. If you have more than one app icon in launcher, either remove Audacity installed via apt, or launch Audacity Flatpak via command in terminal:

flatpak run org.audacityteam.Audacity

Remove Audacity Flatpak package:

To remove the software installed via flatpak, simply run command:

flatpak uninstall org.audacityteam.Audacity

Audacity audio editor 2.4.2 was released last night with updated wxwidgets library and numerous bug-fixes.

Audacity 2.4.2 release highlights:

  • upgrade to wxwidgets 3.1.3
  • add ‘Reset Configuration’ menu option.
  • a number of bug-fixes.

How to Install Audacity 2.4.2 in Ubuntu:

As the building system has changed, the PPA package (v2.4.1) does not fully work on Ubuntu. So it’s recommended to use Audacity Flatpak.

1.) If you’re first time installing a Flatpak package in Ubuntu, setup your system by running commands in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T):

  • Install flatpak framework via command:
    sudo apt install flatpak

  • Add Flathub repository via command:
    flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

2.) Then you can install Audacity flatpak package by running command:

flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacity

If you’ve previously installed it, run flatpak update org.audacityteam.Audacity command.

Uninstall Audacity flatpak:

To remove the flatpak package, simply run command in terminal:

flatpak uninstall org.audacityteam.Audacity

Audacity audio editor 2.4.0 was released a few days ago. The release was paused due to a critical bug. Now version 2.4.1 arrived with quick fixes.

What’s new in Audacity 2.4.1:

  • Works on Mac Catalina.
  • New Time Toolbar.
  • Presets for more effects can be imported and exported.
  • New Multi-View mode for tracks.
  • Export audio to Opus in Windows, Linux.
  • Easier to convert labels between point labels and range labels.
  • New Loudness Normalization effect.
  • New RMS measurement analyzer.
  • New Noise Gate effect.
  • New Spectral Delete effect.
  • Tons of bug-fixes.

How to Install Audacity 2.4.1 in Ubuntu:

The unofficial PPA has built the new release packages for Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 19.10, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 16.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

Type user password (no asterisk feedback due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. If you have a previous version installed, you can upgrade Audacity via Software Updater after adding the PPA.

upgrade audacity

or run following commands one by one to check updates and install (or upgrade) audacity 2.4.1:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install audacity

Uninstall:

To remove the PPA repository, launch Software & Updates utility and navigate to ‘Other Software’ tab.

To remove Audacity audio software, either use system package manager or run command in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove audacity audacity-data