Get Creative With Sound by Layering Tracks in Voice Memos

[MacRumors]

On iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Voice Memos app includes a recording feature that lets you record a second audio layer – like vocals, narration, or an extra instrument – over an existing memo, all without needing headphones. Keep reading to learn how it's done.

Thanks to the A18 Pro chip's advanced audio processing, iPhone 16 Pro models can play an original Voice Memo recording through the speakers while simultaneously isolating and capturing new audio cleanly. Whether you're capturing a quick harmony, adding context to a saved memo, or simply experimenting with sound, layering recordings like this offers a seamless way to capture richer ideas.

Once finished, layered recordings can be edited, separated, and fine-tuned directly on the iPhone or easily transferred to apps like Logic Pro for more advanced mixing. For musicians, podcasters, or anyone who regularly records voice notes, it's a bit like having a mini studio setup right in your pocket. Here's how to make your first layered recording.

Add a Second Layer to a Recording

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap the recording you want to add a vocal layer to, then tap the waveform icon to view the waveform.
3. Tap the plus (+) button.
4. When you're ready to record the second layer, tap the red record button.

The recording will appear in Voice Memos' list of recordings with a layered symbol (two overlapping tiles) next to it.

Mix the Layers

While viewing the waveform, you can easily mix the layers by tapping the settings button in the top-left corner and dragging the Layer Mix slider.

Separate the Layers

You can also separate the two layers to edit or play them separately: Simply tap the More button (three encircled dots) in the top-right corner, then tap Separate Layers. If you then tap Done, you'll see the two layers appear as separate recordings in the list. From there, you can select them, edit them, and play them separately.

Things to Know

While creating layered recordings is exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, playback is more widely supported. Any device running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, or later can play layered recordings without issue.

It's worth noting that layered recordings are saved in the QuickTime Audio (QTA) format. Devices on earlier software versions, such as iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1, won't display layered memos. However, if you separate the layers, each track is converted into an individual .m4a file, making them accessible across older devices. Also, keep in mind that only the original layer can be transcribed or recorded in stereo – additional layers are captured in mono.

Article Link: Get Creative With Sound by Layering Tracks in Voice Memos

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Trying to start a new career?

 

[bigpoppa]

You’d think you’d be able to import the tracks into GarageBand.

 

[kkclstuff]

Great, they offer this but we have to have a subscription for Logic on iPad. Ugh

 

[Cameront9]

RIP Music Memos app which automatically detected the chords you were playing and was perfect for little demos you could export into GarageBand. No idea why they got rid of that app.

 

[alanvitek]

Messing around with this was pretty fun! Wish you could add more than just 2 layers though

 

[coolfactor]

Voice Memos is one of the simple, clean apps that reminds me about Apple's roots. I hope they never lose that. The interface just needs a bit more haptic feedback.

 

[coolfactor]

RIP Music Memos app which automatically detected the chords you were playing and was perfect for little demos you could export into GarageBand. No idea why they got rid of that app.

Strange, I don't even recall knowing about Music Memos. Seems like it was too niche to gain much of a user base?

 

[CalMin]

Bummer this requires iPhone 16.

 

[subjonas]

You’d think you’d be able to import the tracks into GarageBand.

RIP Music Memos app which automatically detected the chords you were playing and was perfect for little demos you could export into GarageBand. No idea why they got rid of that app.

It’s an unbelievable bummer that VM doesn’t integrate with GB. Before with MM, I could record impromptu, import seamlessly into GB (tempo/time/key/chords all automatically set), and make any changes—all right on my phone. Now, none of that. The VM two layer recording is an incredible feature, but the fun stops there. I don’t have Logic Pro, but even if I did, after I recorded I’d have to wait to continue working on the song until I switch to an iPad or Mac. Plus I doubt it sets the tempo/time/key/chords automatically, so I’d have to manually determine and set all those. What a workflow killer.

I used to casually create songs all the time with MM because it was so quick and easy to go from an idea to a somewhat fleshed out song. Now with VM I record an idea and it just sits there.

 

[subjonas]

Strange, I don't even recall knowing about Music Memos. Seems like it was too niche to gain much of a user base?

I don’t know how big the niche is, but I found it indispensable for quickly recording ideas and quickly getting them into a bigger music creation app (Garageband) to flesh out. It really seems to me that all music creation apps need a companion app like Music Memos for quick ideas, or the UI/functionality should be built into the app itself.

I think the problem may have been that Garageband was not a pro enough app. The niche of casual music creators who create on the fly like myself may have been too small. Music Memos may have been more successful if it was integrated with Logic Pro instead so that more pros would use it. But for myself, then I’d want a Logic iPhone app because I like being able to do as much as possible on the fly when I only have my phone.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Trying to start a new career?

View attachment 2506066

Ya… ya ya

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

Forget Siri, I’m wanting to mix some voice memos. I’m the Avicii of Voice Memos, boiiii!

 

[anthogag]

Voice memos should be better at recording ambient sounds around the iPhone. The layering is cool.

 

[svish]

Good to know about this. But this is something that I think I will not be using even if my 15 Pro Max supported it.

 

[wanha]

This feature is a great example of faster chips and better ML enabling new features that would previously have been impossible or very difficult to achieve.

Just posting this comment here for all the "my *Apple device* is plenty fast, I wish Apple spent time on something else instead of working on faster processors"

We simply don't know what future features and functionality will be unlocked in the future as computing power continues to increase.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Why this very simple software just on the latest phones??
Is Apple starting to rely more and more on software locks to differentiate newer and pricier phones because they've all been feeling like the same for 4 years now?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Why this very simple software just on the latest phones??
Is Apple starting to rely more and more on software locks to differentiate newer and pricier phones because they've all been feeling like the same for 4 years now?

To really know the answer to that question, you’d have to try coding something like this yourself on something other than an iPhone 16. Apple has a way of bringing forward features that LOOK simple even when there’s nothing simple about them.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Voice memos should be better at recording ambient sounds around the iPhone. The layering is cool.

I think because it’s “Voice Memos” and not a general recorder, it’s probably a feature that it doesn’t record every sound that reaches the mics. When I want to record THAT kind of audio, I use a different app. Even Apple’s Camera app is good in a pinch! (Tried using VM to capture ambient sounds, glad I listened before I left the site and re-recorded with someething else!)