The 2.1.1 release of Audacity audio editor and recorder was released more than a week ago with some new features and fixes. Now it’s ready in PPA for Ubuntu users (unofficial).

Release highlights of Audacity 2.1.1:

• The most visible new feature is scrubbing and seeking, including backwards play. Updates to Quick-Play also help with finding a precise position in the audio.
• You can now install plug-ins without restarting Audacity or add and remove any effect or generator from the menus.
• Over 50 bugs have been addressed with this release. Edits are now processed much faster in longer projects of a few hours duration.
• Effects now have presets. A new Limiter replaces the Hard Limiter effect. There’s a new version of Vocal Removal, a cross-fade effect for combining clips on the same track and ‘classic filters’ available as an opt-in effect.
• There’s also been lots of work behind the scenes, including VI usability enhancements and upgrade to new libraries.

For more, see the wiki page.

How to Install Audacity 2.1.1 in Ubuntu:

The 2.1.1 release is available in PPA for Ubuntu 15.10, Ubuntu 15.04, Ubuntu 14.04 and their derivatives. Due to the old libsuil-0-0 library, Ubuntu 12.04 is excluded but the 2.1.0 release is available.

1. To add the PPA repository, open terminal from the Dash, Launcher, or via Ctrl+Alt+T shortcut keys. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

2. After adding the PPA, you can install/upgrade the editor either via below commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install audacity

or by using Software Updater if you’ve a previous release installed:

Hope this helps those who are not good at compiling from source tarball.

A new stable release of the free and open-source Audio Editor and Recorder, Audacity 2.1.0, was announced a few days ago.

The new release brings Real-Time Preview feature and lots of improvements and bug fixes. Here’s the release highlights:

• For a long time, we have wanted Real-Time Preview for effects. It seemed nearly unachievable without major restructuring. But with Audacity 2.1.0, we have it in LADSPA, VST, and Audio Unit (OS X) effects! Thanks to Leland Lucius for these great new capabilities!
• Much improved Noise Reduction effect replaces Noise Removal. Thanks to new contributor Paul Licameli!
• Lots of other improvements to effects, also thanks to Leland, including:
  • VST: FXB preset banks, hosting multiple plugins
  • All effects can now be used in Chains, and can be sorted on name, publisher, or class.
  • Most Nyquist effects now have Preview button.
• Redesigned Meter Toolbars show a lot more information in smaller area. Thanks, Leland Lucius and James Crook!
• Spectral Selection in Spectrogram view. Thanks to Paul Licameli!

For more details, see the release note.

Install / Upgrade to Audacity 2.1.0 in Ubuntu / Linux Mint:

Since Audacity Team only provides an daily build PPA with latest development packages and Ubuntu repositories still provide old versions in Software Center, I’ve uploaded Audacity 2.1.0 into this PPA.

So far, Ubuntu 12.04, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 14.10, Ubuntu 15.04, Linux Mint 13 and 17 are supported.

Update: PPA updated with the 2.1.1 packages for 15.10, 15.04, and 14.04! Ubuntu 12.04 is excluded due to the old libsuil library.

1. To add the PPA, open terminal from the Dash, Menu, or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

2. After adding the PPA, you can upgrade the editor using Software Updater (or Updater Manager).

Or just run below commands one by one in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install audacity

For issue and help, please use Audacity Forum.