iOS 18.2 Brings Layered Voice Memo Recordings to iPhone 16 Pro

[MacRumors]

The iOS 18.2 update that Apple introduced today brings layered Voice Memos recordings to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max for the first time, making it easier for musicians to flesh out song ideas and experiment with new ideas.

Apple teamed up with Canadian singer songwriter Michael Bublé, country star Carly Pearce, and record producer Greg Wells to demonstrate the feature. The trio recorded Michael Bublé's new song "Maybe This Christmas" with vocals recorded using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 16 Pro.

"I don't think people realize the critical role Voice Memos on iPhone plays in the creation process for musicians," said Bublé. "And now with Layered Recordings, if an artist has a moment of inspiration, being unencumbered by the traditional studio experience becomes the advantage, not the limitation. It's so typically Apple to build something we didn't know we needed -- and now won't be able to live without."

Once installing iOS 18.2, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max users can layer a vocal track on top of an existing instrumental recording, with no headphones needed. Instrumental compositions can be played through the iPhone's speaker while vocals are recorded at the same time using the iPhone 16 Pro microphones.

Apple says that this feature is powered by the A18 Pro chip, using advanced processing and machine learning to isolate the vocal recording. Voice Memos is able to create two individual tracks so users can apply additional mixing and production in apps like Logic Pro.

A variety of background instrumentals like acoustic guitar or piano can be used as the first layer for a recording, and using Logic Pro, artists and producers can send an instrumental music mix as a compressed audio file directly to Voice Memos for layering vocals on top.

Michael Bublé's "Maybe This Christmas" song can be streamed on Apple Music in Spatial Audio.

Article Link: iOS 18.2 Brings Layered Voice Memo Recordings to iPhone 16 Pro

 

[mozz2020]

It's great. But it's not replacing the studio setting.

 

[FSMBP]

This is painful...I get its nifty, but a 3 minute promo video was pushing it.

 

[macbeth1026]

It's great. But it's not replacing the studio setting.

.

 

[jgdeschamps]

It's great. But it's not replacing the studio setting.

It's not trying to. And it's actually quite good for fleshing out musical ideas. I use Voice Memos all the time for this. The downside is that it seems you need an iPhone 16 Pro for the layering/isolation feature to work.

 

[oneMadRssn]

This ad sucks.

The genius of old Apple ads was that they showed you how to use a feature. It was a mini tutorial packaged as an attention-grabbing advertisement.

This here doesn't show me how to use the feature at all. It talks about how amazing the feature is, it abstractly talks about what the feature can be used for. But I still have no idea what the feature really is, how to access it, or how to use it. The ad taught me nothing.

 

[SebCohen]

This is painful...I get its nifty, but a 3 minute promo video was pushing it.

But they’ve invested 15% of their R&D budget for the Dual Layer Multi Media Voice Recording Coprocessor Intelligence (aka the DLMMVRCI). It’s the sole reason why the 15 doesn’t have much improved battery even if they managed to increase the actual capacity 3w.3%.

 

[SebCohen]

Honestly, between the AI and this, it feels like Apple has run out of oxygen and there’s absolutely no reason (unless your phone gets stolen) to be the 16. It’s actually starting to become slightly stupid.

 

[canyonblue737]

It's not trying to. And it's actually quite good for fleshing out musical ideas. I use Voice Memos all the time for this. The downside is that it seems you need an iPhone 16 Pro for the layering/isolation feature to work.

I think that's exactly the reason for the feature which is why I think this "ad" goes a step too far because Michael Buble clearly states he thinks it the future of recording tracks, how he doesn't need to wear about a sound room, how he doesn't need to have a pro mic, how he doesn't need a headset and he can just send his track to his sound guy and have it be released. And in fact Apple does just that, the song is currently on Apple Music recorded fully on iPhone etc. (although *I am sure* it was recorded in sound rooms etc.). They should have leaned into how now the phone can be a legit tool for composing tracks and recording demos but instead they spread the hype too far and imply this is how the final recordings will be made (again I'm sure the people who made the feature know that isn't going to be true and know why they really made it but the PR department strikes again...)

 

[canadianreader]

Good on Michael Bublé getting paid for this. The ad itself is soulless as most of Apple ads and keynotes for the past 4 to 5 years.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

For the record, there have been final recordings that were partially done on iPhones and iPads before.

The Guy Who Produced Kendrick Lamar’s Best New Track Did It All on His iPhone

Up-and-coming hip-hop producer Steve Lacy uses his smartphone as his personal studio.

www.wired.com

Damon Albarn created an entire Gorillaz album on an iPad

The musical genius behind Gorillaz, Damon Albarn, once made an entire album for the band on the road, using an iPad.

faroutmagazine.co.uk

So it’s not a terrible idea for Apple to try to tap into this market.

 

[Wanted797]

It's great. But it's not replacing the studio setting.

It’s not meant to…

I’d have loved this a teenager playing guitar solo and with friends. I had no way of recording my music in 2005. But I had a phone, I could only record for 3 mins in VGA quality and I did.

I can see this being an excellent feature for people/kids/students wanting to try stuff without forking out the big $$ “for a studio setting”.

 

[Mr Fide]

It seems like the crooner Michaels are quite funny - like this guy and Michael Bolton too. I wonder if there's some kind of comedy timing connection will their big notes. Anyway, I was quite enjoying that song, but "again" is a weak word for the big finish. So it looks like they got Apple Intelligence to do the lyrics too. And hey - I do believe that after checking MacRumors almost daily for the last twenty years, this is my 100th post. See you in the political comments!

 

[mrr]

Good job Apple.

 

[alexandr]

Awesome, now I can finally drop my record!

 

[benface]

NOT my “Maybe This Christmas”. Ron Sexsmith FTW.

 

[akidokraja]

Music illiterate here. Can someone explain what makes this unique vs voice notes on iPhone from 10 years ago?

 

[subjonas]

For non-musicians, this feature will mean nothing to you, but for musicians this is potentially a serious game-changer, like Bublé said.

But I sure wish Apple or MR or someone would explain how to use this feature. What are the steps to record two tracks and send them back and forth with Logic? Does Logic auto detect the tempo and key? How extensively are the apps integrated?

Also why no integration with GarageBand like Music Memos had (before MM got axed and users were told to migrate to Voice Memos)? With GB I could add more track ideas and develop the song even more right on my phone on the fly. There is no Logic Pro on iPhone.

 

[subjonas]

This is painful...I get its nifty, but a 3 minute promo video was pushing it.

I imagine it’s painful for you because the feature isn’t meant for you. For those whom it is, the ad is fine but it could stand to show some more details of how it works.

 

[subjonas]

Music illiterate here. Can someone explain what makes this unique vs voice notes on iPhone from 10 years ago?

Until now Voice Memos couldn’t record you while playing another recording at the same time, because unless you use headphones if it did play at the same time then the new recording would pick up the old recording and be a mash up of the old and new recording. Now VM can record and play simultaneously, without headphones (which are often not available on the fly), and via machine learning the second recording will be cleanly separated from the first so you end up with two distinct recordings that can play together but that can be manipulated separately as needed. This is called layering tracks and it’s the basis of how pretty much all studio musicians record music.

 

[podycust]

What’s stop this from working on non pro models?

 

[zobby]

What’s stop this from working on non pro models?

Apple.

 

[RyanFlynn]

I'm a professional composer, and I've been using iPhone voice memo for quick takes for years. Works just fine in a pinch, nice to see apple taking this seriously.

 

[Geoffb9]

I am almost certain that the people who are criticizing this ad and feature here are not the ones who will actually use the feature. I can get the potential usefulness of this feature.

 

[SebCohen]

I think that's exactly the reason for the feature which is why I think this "ad" goes a step too far because Michael Buble clearly states he thinks it the future of recording tracks, how he doesn't need to wear about a sound room, how he doesn't need to have a pro mic, how he doesn't need a headset and he can just send his track to his sound guy and have it be released. And in fact Apple does just that, the song is currently on Apple Music recorded fully on iPhone etc. (although *I am sure* it was recorded in sound rooms etc.). They should have leaned into how now the phone can be a legit tool for composing tracks and recording demos but instead they spread the hype too far and imply this is how the final recordings will be made (again I'm sure the people who made the feature know that isn't going to be true and know why they really made it but the PR department strikes again...)

This is a niche of niches function….and completely removed from 99.99999999% of users. Which in turn makes the iPhone rather removed from people’s reality.