File analyzer for Mac

I don't know if "analyzer" is the right term, but I'm looking for an app or online website where I can send my file to learn what it is. I've been trying to convert it to a format that is acceptable to a sound player/editor, but none of them, so far, will accept my file. In case I haven't made myself clear, I'm not sure exactly what my file is; however, the file in my Documents folder says, "MP3.webarchive." MP3 is obviously very common and acceptable everywhere. Maybe that "webchive" is the problem. EDIT: I should have mentioned that the link works. When I click on it, it produces a 14-minute musical sound clip together with a graph showing the visual depiction of the music. (A graph)

iMac 27", macOS 10.14

Posted on Jun 27, 2019 8:35 PM

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Posted on Jun 28, 2019 3:02 AM

That is not an audio file it is a safari link (shortcut) to the mp3 which lives online. Depending on where it is hosted you need to download the actual mp3 file.


I use the 64bit Audacity but there are others.

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27 replies

Jun 28, 2019 3:56 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Peter watt&Urquhart1244,


I cannot do what you are suggesting (I don't know how), but you have given me a useful tip.  All I have to do is send my file to someone who knows how to do what you suggest, or to a website that can do it. As you know there are websites to whom you can send files for opening. So far, all of them have failed me, but there are others. I might add one interesting fact: two days ago, I WAS USING Audacity to crop my clip, but I did't know enough, and the clip was too long. Anyway, although I was able to delete  sections, I never got near the finish line. Finally, I thought I had the answer, but I inadvertently deleted the entire clip, so I quit for the day. THE NEXT DAY, when I tried again, Audacity kept telling me, “Audacity did not recognize the type of file. Try installing FFmpeg. Also, try File>Import>Raw Data.”  Those tips  didn't help and Audacity is no longer the answer. I have no idea why.



Jun 28, 2019 7:51 AM in response to Keith Barkley

Another thought: I have been shopping for another free audio player/recorder/editor with which to do this job. I have also been thinking of buying a quality machine. Do you think that AutoHijack is unique in the ability you have described, or can it be done by most any editor? Hey, maybe I should make searches for "webarchive" decoders"? Does that make sense?

Jun 28, 2019 11:13 AM in response to Keith Barkley


Thanks for the information. I have looked at AutoHijack, but it's not on any of the "Best" lists I have seen. That's one thing that holds me back. I'll have to do more checking. If I stick separating this one file, I'll just have to try separating the part I want by sound. Unfortunately, the two times I've tried that didn't produce good results. On the other hand, if I decide to jump Into this field in a large way, I'll want a good machine. As to, "Safari is a web browser, so that is the connection with a web archive." I don't understand. All web browsers are web browsers, so what links Safari closer to this file than, say, Google Chrome, Opera, or dozens of other browsers?

Jun 28, 2019 8:48 PM in response to Keith Barkley

Well, this conversation has gone on long enough, so I'll leave not really understanding what Safari has to do with webarchive files. As far as I know, Safari is a browser. They don't manufacture anything. They don't create webarchives, or do they? Am I to understand that all webarchives are somehow related to Safari and only Safari? For that matter, what does any browser have to do with webarchives? They carry them, but do they produce them? Well, I've obviously missed an important point, but I don't mind dropping out knowing no more than when I started, and that's what I'm going to do.

Jun 29, 2019 5:02 AM in response to Niku

I think we did explain about Safari.


Bottom line is this file is a link you get when you try to download media for free when it is supposed to be purchased (I’ve been there with some Old Time Radio sites.


With some exceptions (Etrecheck free and Malwarebytes free) your experience on Apple devices will be good with paid for apps and downloads, and frustrating if you try to go freebie.

Jun 29, 2019 8:45 PM in response to LD150

I thought of a way to edit my webarchive file with my Mac, but I found that the sound is now missing. That was not a problem yesterday, and I played it many times, but today there is only the graph.


Others have apparently had this problem. See the following: For some reason unknown to me I can no longer open Webarchive files in Safari (Version 7.0.3 (9537.75.14). This used to work just fine, opening the saved web page for reference. I have a LOT of these files.


The "solution" I found was as follows: From the Safari menu bar click Safari > Preferences then select the Extensions tab. Turn that OFF, quit and relaunch Safari to test. 


What? How do you turn off the extensions tab?


I am convinced that there is a solution to my problem.What is it?

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File analyzer for Mac

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