Hi Gale and steve,
The exec line in the audacity.desktop file that you suggested works like a charm:
Exec=env UBUNTU_MENUPROXY=0 LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ audacity %F
Thank you so much!
To also get back to you steve; the first command:
me@mycomputer:~$ dpkg -s audacity
Package: audacity
Status: install ok installed
Priority: optional
Section: sound
Installed-Size: 12804
Maintainer: Debian Multimedia Maintainers <pkg-multimedia-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>
Architecture: amd64
Version: 2.1.3-0build1~ubuntu17.04
Depends: audacity-data (= 2.1.3-0build1~ubuntu17.04), libasound2 (>= 1.0.16), libavcodec57 (>= 7:3.2.4) | libavcodec-extra57 (>= 7:3.2.4), libavformat57 (>= 7:3.2.4), libavutil55 (>= 7:3.2.4), libc6 (>= 2.15), libexpat1 (>= 2.0.1), libflac++6v5 (>= 1.3.1), libflac8 (>= 1.3.0), libgcc1 (>= 1:3.0), libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0 (>= 2.22.0), libglib2.0-0 (>= 2.12.0), libgtk2.0-0 (>= 2.24.0), libid3tag0 (>= 0.15.1b), liblilv-0-0 (>= 0.16.0~dfsg0), libmad0 (>= 0.15.1b-3), libmp3lame0, libogg0 (>= 1.0rc3), libportaudio2 (>= 19+svn20101113-2~), libportsmf0v5, libsndfile1 (>= 1.0.20), libsoundtouch1 (>= 1.9.2), libsoxr0 (>= 0.1.0), libstdc++6 (>= 5.2), libsuil-0-0 (>= 0.8.0~dfsg0), libtwolame0 (>= 0.3.6), libvamp-hostsdk3v5, libvorbis0a (>= 1.1.2), libvorbisenc2 (>= 1.1.2), libvorbisfile3 (>= 1.1.2), libwxbase3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.2+dfsg), libwxgtk3.0-0v5 (>= 3.0.2+dfsg)
Suggests: ladspa-plugin
Description: fast, cross-platform audio editor
Audacity is a multi-track audio editor for Linux/Unix, MacOS and
Windows. It is designed for easy recording, playing and editing of
digital audio. Audacity features digital effects and spectrum
analysis tools. Editing is very fast and provides unlimited
undo/redo.
.
Supported file formats include Ogg Vorbis, MP2, MP3, WAV, AIFF, and AU.
Homepage: http://audacityteam.org/
The second command:
me@mycomputer:~$ apt-cache showpkg audacity
Package: audacity
Versions:
2.1.3-0build1~ubuntu17.04 (/var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_ubuntuhandbook1_audacity_ubuntu_dists_zesty_main_binary-amd64_Packages) (/var/lib/dpkg/status)
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-amd64_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-i386_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language: en
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_i18n_Translation-en
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_ubuntuhandbook1_audacity_ubuntu_dists_zesty_main_binary-amd64_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_ubuntuhandbook1_audacity_ubuntu_dists_zesty_main_binary-i386_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
2.1.2-2 (/var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-amd64_Packages)
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-amd64_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-i386_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language: en
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_i18n_Translation-en
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_ubuntuhandbook1_audacity_ubuntu_dists_zesty_main_binary-amd64_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/ppa.launchpad.net_ubuntuhandbook1_audacity_ubuntu_dists_zesty_main_binary-i386_Packages
MD5: f3049c5343ef448931624eb10a0c6627
Reverse Depends:
audacity-data,audacity
audacity:i386,audacity
audacity-data,audacity
audacity:i386,audacity
ubuntustudio-video,audacity
ubuntustudio-audio,audacity
tucnak,audacity
multimedia-recording,audacity
multimedia-mixing,audacity
multimedia-audio-utilities,audacity
games-content-dev,audacity
forensics-extra-gui,audacity
Dependencies:
2.1.3-0build1~ubuntu17.04 - audacity-data (5 2.1.3-0build1~ubuntu17.04) libasound2 (2 1.0.16) libavcodec57 (18 7:3.2.4) libavcodec-extra57 (2 7:3.2.4) libavformat57 (2 7:3.2.4) libavutil55 (2 7:3.2.4) libc6 (2 2.15) libexpat1 (2 2.0.1) libflac++6v5 (2 1.3.1) libflac8 (2 1.3.0) libgcc1 (2 1:3.0) libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0 (2 2.22.0) libglib2.0-0 (2 2.12.0) libgtk2.0-0 (2 2.24.0) libid3tag0 (2 0.15.1b) liblilv-0-0 (2 0.16.0~dfsg0) libmad0 (2 0.15.1b-3) libmp3lame0 (0 (null)) libogg0 (2 1.0rc3) libportaudio2 (2 19+svn20101113-2~) libportsmf0v5 (0 (null)) libsndfile1 (2 1.0.20) libsoundtouch1 (2 1.9.2) libsoxr0 (2 0.1.0) libstdc++6 (2 5.2) libsuil-0-0 (2 0.8.0~dfsg0) libtwolame0 (2 0.3.6) libvamp-hostsdk3v5 (0 (null)) libvorbis0a (2 1.1.2) libvorbisenc2 (2 1.1.2) libvorbisfile3 (2 1.1.2) libwxbase3.0-0v5 (2 3.0.2+dfsg) libwxgtk3.0-0v5 (2 3.0.2+dfsg) ladspa-plugin (0 (null)) audacity:i386 (32 (null))
2.1.2-2 - audacity-data (5 2.1.2-2) libasound2 (2 1.0.16) libavcodec57 (18 7:3.2) libavcodec-extra57 (2 7:3.2) libavformat57 (2 7:3.2) libavutil55 (2 7:3.2) libc6 (2 2.15) libexpat1 (2 2.0.1) libflac++6v5 (2 1.3.1) libflac8 (2 1.3.0) libgcc1 (2 1:3.0) libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0 (2 2.22.0) libglib2.0-0 (2 2.12.0) libgtk2.0-0 (2 2.24.0) libid3tag0 (2 0.15.1b) liblilv-0-0 (2 0.16.0~dfsg0) libmad0 (2 0.15.1b-3) libmp3lame0 (0 (null)) libogg0 (2 1.0rc3) libportaudio2 (2 19+svn20101113-2~) libportsmf0v5 (0 (null)) libsbsms10 (0 (null)) libsndfile1 (2 1.0.20) libsoundtouch1 (2 1.9.2) libsoxr0 (2 0.1.0) libstdc++6 (2 5.2) libsuil-0-0 (2 0.8.0~dfsg0) libtwolame0 (2 0.3.6) libvamp-hostsdk3v5 (0 (null)) libvorbis0a (2 1.1.2) libvorbisenc2 (2 1.1.2) libvorbisfile3 (2 1.1.2) libwxbase3.0-0v5 (2 3.0.2+dfsg) libwxgtk3.0-0v5 (2 3.0.2+dfsg) ladspa-plugin (0 (null)) audacity:i386 (32 (null))
Provides:
2.1.3-0build1~ubuntu17.04 -
2.1.2-2 -
Reverse Provides:
First for libportaudio2:
w@computerg:~$ dpkg -s libportaudio2
Package: libportaudio2
Status: install ok installed
Priority: optional
Section: libs
Installed-Size: 210
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com>
Architecture: amd64
Multi-Arch: same
Source: portaudio19
Version: 19.6.0-1
Depends: libasound2 (>= 1.0.16), libc6 (>= 2.15), libjack-jackd2-0 (>= 1.9.10+20150825) | libjack-0.125
Description: Portable audio I/O - shared library
PortAudio is a portable audio I/O library designed for cross-platform
support of audio. It uses a callback mechanism to request audio
processing. Audio can be generated in various formats, including 32
bit floating point, and will be converted to the native format
internally.
.
This package contains the shared library.
Original-Maintainer: Debian VoIP Team <pkg-voip-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org>
Homepage: http://www.portaudio.com/
Second for libportaudio2:
w@computerg:~$ apt-cache showpkg libportaudio2
Package: libportaudio2
Versions:
19.6.0-1 (/var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-amd64_Packages) (/var/lib/dpkg/status)
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-amd64_Packages
MD5: a71bbbd00a98fe093b85cc97ff79e9ae
Description Language:
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_binary-i386_Packages
MD5: a71bbbd00a98fe093b85cc97ff79e9ae
Description Language: en
File: /var/lib/apt/lists/nl.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_zesty_universe_i18n_Translation-en
MD5: a71bbbd00a98fe093b85cc97ff79e9ae
Reverse Depends:
portaudio19-dev,libportaudio2 19.6.0-1
audacity,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113-2~
libportaudio2:i386,libportaudio2 19.6.0-1
libportaudio2:i386,libportaudio2 19.6.0-1
wsjtx,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
wsjt,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
wordwarvi,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
wireshark-gtk,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
transcend,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
squeezelite-pa,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
sonic-visualiser,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
roger-router-cli,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
roaraudio,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
quisk,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
python3-pyo,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
python3-pyaudio,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
python-pyo,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
python-pyaudio,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
puredata-core,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
audacity,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113-2~
performous,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
paulstretch,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
openmpt123,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
octave,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
musescore,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
mpg123,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
mixxx,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
mame,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
lmms,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
lirc,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
liquidsoap-plugin-portaudio,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libportaudiocpp0,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libportaudio-ocaml,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libpjmedia-audiodev2,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libopenal1,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libguvcview-2.0-2,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libgnuradio-audio3.7.10,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libespeak1,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
libcsound64-6.0,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
hydrogen,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
hatari,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
glob2,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
freemat,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
freedv,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
fldigi,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
espeakedit,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
dolphin-emu,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
denemo,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
cultivation,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
crrcsim,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
abx,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
asterisk-modules,libportaudio2 19+svn20101113
Dependencies:
19.6.0-1 - libasound2 (2 1.0.16) libc6 (2 2.15) libjack-jackd2-0 (18 1.9.10+20150825) libjack-0.125 (0 (null)) libportaudio2:i386 (35 19.6.0-1) libportaudio2:i386 (38 19.6.0-1)
Provides:
19.6.0-1 -
Reverse Provides:
Please do tell me if you find anything that could be of interest to me in there, because my audio when using the plug (ALSA) is not in very good shape. But perhaps that is something for the regular Ubuntu forum. 
Thanks again for the support!
Cheers, sirdude