In this tutorial, we'll walk you through the process of installing Audacity 3.7.5 on your Chromebook. Audacity is a powerful, open-source audio editor that's become the go-to choice for podcasters, musicians, and content creators around the world. Whether you're looking to record voice-overs, edit podcasts, clean up audio recordings, or create music, Audacity provides professional-grade tools completely free of charge.

The best part? You can run this versatile audio editor directly on your Chromebook using Linux apps support. Follow along with the video tutorial below and use the commands provided in this guide to get started.

Before You Begin: System Requirements

This installation method is specifically designed for Chromebooks with Intel or AMD processors that support Linux Apps (also known as Crostini). Unfortunately, this tutorial will not work on Chromebooks with ARM64 architecture processors due to compatibility differences.

If you're unsure whether your Chromebook supports Linux apps, check out our comprehensive guide on all currently supported Chromebooks with Linux Apps (Crostini) support.

Step 1: Enable Linux Apps on Your Chromebook

Before we can install Audacity, you'll need to enable Linux apps on your Chromebook. This feature creates a secure Linux container where you can run traditional Linux applications alongside your Chrome OS apps.

To enable Linux apps:

1. Open your Chromebook's Settings
2. Click on "About Chrome OS" in the left panel
3. Find the "Developers" section
4. Click "Set up" next to Linux development environment
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to turn on Linux

The setup process may take a few minutes as Chrome OS downloads and configures the necessary Linux components. Once complete, you'll have access to a terminal application where you can run Linux commands.

Step 2: Install Audacity Using Terminal Commands

Now that Linux is enabled, we'll use the terminal to install Audacity. Don't worry if you're not familiar with command-line interfaces—we'll guide you through each step. Open the Terminal app from your app launcher and execute the following commands in order.

Update Your System Repositories

First, we'll update the package repository information to ensure we're working with the latest available software versions:

sudo apt update

This command refreshes the list of available packages and their versions. It's a good practice to run this before installing any new software.

Install Required Dependencies

Next, we'll install a menu editor and a required library package. The menu editor will allow us to create a convenient application launcher for Audacity, making it accessible from your app drawer just like any other Chromebook app:

sudo apt install kmenuedit libecore1

Press Enter when prompted to confirm the installation.

Download Audacity

Now we'll download the Audacity package directly from the official source:

wget https://cdn.builder.blender.org/download/daily/blender-5.0.0-beta+v50.2c555a604ad8-linux.x86_64-release.tar.xz

Note: There appears to be a discrepancy in the original commands. Please refer to the Google Doc used in the tutorial for the correct download link for Audacity.

Extract the Downloaded Package

Once the download completes, extract the compressed archive:

tar -xf blender-5.0.0-beta+v50.2c555a604ad8-linux.x86_64-release.tar.xz

This command unpacks the archive, creating a folder with all the Audacity program files.

Test the Installation

Before creating a launcher, let's verify that Audacity runs correctly by launching it directly from the terminal:

./blender-5.0.0-beta+v50.2c555a604ad8-linux.x86_64-release/blender

If Audacity opens successfully, you're ready to proceed to the next step. You can close the application for now.

Create an Application Launcher

To make Audacity easily accessible from your app drawer, we'll create a desktop entry using the menu editor:

kmenuedit

In the menu editor:

1. Select a category where you'd like Audacity to appear (such as "Sound & Video")
2. Click "New Item"
3. Enter a name for the application (e.g., "Audacity")
4. In the command field, enter the path to the Audacity executable from the extracted folder
5. Save the launcher

You should now see Audacity in your Chromebook's app launcher, and you can start it just like any other application.

Step 3: Enable Audio Input

To use Audacity's recording features, you'll need to enable microphone access for Linux apps:

1. Open your Chromebook Settings
2. Navigate to the Linux section
3. Find "Manage shared folders and devices"
4. Enable the microphone toggle

This grants Linux applications, including Audacity, permission to access your Chromebook's microphone for recording purposes.

Working with Audio Files in Audacity

One important thing to understand about Linux apps on Chrome OS is file system access. When you export audio files from Audacity, they'll be saved in your Linux files folder. Similarly, if you want to import audio files into Audacity, you'll need to place them in the Linux files directory first.

To access your Linux files:

1. Open the Files app on your Chromebook
2. Look for "Linux files" in the left sidebar
3. This is where all your Audacity projects and exports will be stored

You can drag and drop files between your regular Chrome OS downloads folder and the Linux files folder as needed.

Why Choose Audacity?

Audacity has been a staple in the audio editing community for over two decades. It offers an impressive array of features including multi-track editing, a wide variety of audio effects, noise reduction tools, and support for numerous audio formats. The software supports VST and LADSPA plugins, allowing you to expand its capabilities even further.

Common uses for Audacity include:

• Recording and editing podcasts
• Creating voice-overs for videos
• Digitizing recordings from cassette tapes or vinyl records
• Removing background noise from audio recordings
• Mixing multiple audio tracks together
• Converting audio files between different formats
• Editing music files and creating mashups

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter any problems during installation or while using Audacity, here are some tips:

• Audio input not working: Double-check that you've enabled microphone access in the Linux settings as described above.
• Application won't launch: Try running the executable directly from the terminal to see if any error messages appear.
• Can't find exported files: Remember that files are saved in the Linux files folder, not your regular Downloads folder.
• Installation commands fail: Make sure you've enabled Linux apps properly and that your Chromebook has a stable internet connection.

Additional Resources

For more information about Audacity, including detailed documentation and tutorials, visit the official Audacity website.

If you have questions about this installation process or run into any issues, please leave a comment on the YouTube video, and we'll be happy to help you troubleshoot!

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