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ChatGPT Can No Longer Analyze Audio Files — What to do?
In recent weeks, many ChatGPT Plus users have reported that the audio file analysis feature has suddenly stopped working. Users who previously relied on ChatGPT to review and evaluate audio tracks are now seeing error messages such as:
“It looks like the playback ran into a technical issue on my end.”
“Playback still isn’t cooperating due to a connection issue on my side—but we’re so close.”
The issue affects MP3 and other audio file uploads that were once processed successfully for analysis, including quality checks, noise evaluation, and room acoustics feedback.
The Issue: ChatGPT Audio Playback Failing
When users upload audio files, ChatGPT still acknowledges successful upload, but fails at the analysis stage. Instead of proceeding, it displays a series of technical error messages indicating that its audio playback service or backend plugin is malfunctioning.
Multiple paying subscribers have reported the same experience. Even with stable network connections, the problem persists across platforms — desktop, mobile, and web.
User Experiences and Frustrations
Several Plus members joined OpenAI’s premium plan specifically because of this feature. Before October, ChatGPT was able to accurately analyze short MP3 clips, providing feedback on tone balance, clarity, and background noise using the Librosa library.
Now, that backend system seems to be broken. Customer support has acknowledged that the Librosa plugin responsible for audio analysis “is not communicating properly.” However, there has been no confirmed timeline for a fix.
Some users described the situation as a “bait and switch,” since the ability to analyze audio was a key reason they subscribed. Despite multiple support tickets and emails, responses from OpenAI have been slow or generic, leaving users frustrated and seeking alternatives.
Temporary Workarounds and Alternatives
Until this feature is restored, users have shared a few ways to continue their audio evaluation workflow:
- Use external tools like VLP (Virtual Listener Panel):
This service offers detailed frequency analysis and sound evaluation. Signing up provides initial credits and allows users to review recordings with precision. - Export Spectrograms or Frequency Graphs:
Some users now export visual audio data (like 3D frequency maps) from software such as Wavelab and upload those screenshots for AI-based visual feedback. - Use Python and Librosa locally:
A few users have manually installed Librosa on their computers to analyze waveforms offline, guided by ChatGPT’s coding advice.
While these workarounds help temporarily, they lack the seamless experience ChatGPT once offered for direct audio upload and automatic feedback.
The Reason Behind the Removal
According to internal discussions and AI responses, the feature was disabled due to legal and technical concerns. OpenAI appears to be refining compliance and safety mechanisms around audio data handling. The rollback seems to have been gradual — some users lost access earlier than others.
The good news is that the audio analysis feature is expected to return, though no official timeline has been announced.
Community Response
The feature’s removal has sparked disappointment among creators, musicians, and sound engineers who relied on ChatGPT’s analytical capabilities. Many hope that OpenAI reinstates it soon, as it provided a rare combination of AI-driven technical feedback and conversational guidance in one platform.
As one user summed up:
“It was a handy tool and the only reason I subscribed. I really hope they bring it back.”
Conclusion
The sudden failure of ChatGPT’s audio analysis tool has disrupted workflows for many professionals and hobbyists alike. While temporary alternatives like VLP and manual tools exist, they cannot fully replace ChatGPT’s integrated experience.
OpenAI has acknowledged the issue and hinted at a return — but until then, users are left waiting for the feature that once made ChatGPT uniquely powerful for audio processing.