New Voice Memos Multitrack Recording Feature Seemingly Exclusive to iPhone 16 Pro

[MacRumors]

Apple during its iPhone event earlier this week unveiled a significant upgrade to its Voice Memos app, introducing multitrack recording capabilities that appear to be exclusively for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models. The new feature marks a notable advancement in mobile audio recording, but it appears it will be unavailable for older iPhones or the standard iPhone 16.

Essentially, the multitrack functionality allows iPhone 16 Pro users to layer one audio track on top of an existing recording, a capability that is likely to be particularly attractive to musicians and songwriters. Users can record an initial track, for example a guitar part, and then add a vocal or another instrument as an overdub.

The way it works is that the Voice Memos app plays the music track through the iPhone's speakers, while simultaneously recording the user's voice. It can then isolate the overdubbed part using what Apple calls "advanced processing" and cancel the background music, leaving a "professional-sounding recording" without the need for headphones. This means users can effectively separate the layers for individual use or editing.

The update addresses a long-standing limitation of the Voice Memos app, which has been a popular tool for quickly capturing musical ideas despite its previously basic functionality. But the feature limitation to Apple's premium Pro models may come as an unwelcome surprise to some.

While Apple hasn't detailed the specific technical requirements that make it exclusive to iPhone 16 Pro models, it's likely that the feature leverages the enhanced processing power of the new A18 Pro chip and the devices' new four studio-quality microphones. The iPhone 16 series launches on September 20, with pre-orders starting on Friday, September 13, but the multitrack recording feature is expected to be available later in the year via a software update.

Article Link: New Voice Memos Multitrack Recording Feature Seemingly Exclusive to iPhone 16 Pro

 

[Trepex]

I like it!

 

[Total Respray]

multitrack recording capabilities that appear to be exclusively for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models

Based on what information, exactly?

 

[JeffPerrin]

I like this idea. Voice memos is my go-to app for capturing ideas quickly and on-the-fly.

 

[t0rqx]

A18 Pro is amazing that is able to do this!

Even while the A17 Pro is the same chip.

 

[madmin]

The mask has slipped so far it's slid down the drain and is on it's way out to sea

 

[Return Zero]

A18 Pro is amazing that is able to do this!

Even while the A17 Pro is the same chip.

I think it has more to do with the microphone array than the processing, but I could be wrong.

 

[spartan1967]

Based on what information, exactly?

And a big why??

 

[dumastudetto]

I think it has more to do with the microphone array than the processing, but I could be wrong.

That makes sense. It's also definitely a pro feature.

 

[mavis]

How is it "seemingly" exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro? They clearly said as much during the presentation. Only the Pro phones have the 4-mic array and the A18 Pro chip. They were very clear about that!

 

[swingerofbirch]

Is the latency of bluetooth too slow to do this with headphones?

 

[twintin]

Is the latency of bluetooth too slow to do this with headphones?

Don't know, but may have something to do with the microphone arrangement and quality.

 

[GrayFlannel]

Did the definition of multitrack recording just get changed?
Talking over background noise is not multitrack recording, is it?

 

[Total Respray]

And a big why??

MR usually states a source. Without that, we don’t know if this is based on actual information or just speculation.

 

[mavis]

MR usually states a source. Without that, we don’t know if this is based on actual information or just speculation.

The 'big reveal' of this Voice Memos upgrade was during the iPhone 16 Pro portion of the event; after explaining how great the A18 Pro chip is and how it allows for advanced media processing, and then explaining how the 16 Pro phones have "four studio-quality microphones," they talked about this new Voice Memos ability and said that it's not available on any other smartphone. So ... it was made abundantly clear that the feature would only be available on the Pro series phones.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Did the definition of multitrack recording just get changed?
Talking over background noise is not multitrack recording, is it?

Technically yes, layering a clip of someone talking over a clip of Background noise is indeed multitrack recording.

 

[Unami]

Btw, what happened to that apple musical ideas app? (What was it called?)

 

[bryo]

Can’t wait to beatbox a dnb track with this, lol

 

[OS X Dude]

If it works, this would be transformative for sending multitracks to friends. I likey.

 

[ignatius345]

This seems like a core Apple strategy: introduce new software features that are dependent on new hardware capabilities. In an era when even basic smartphones and computers are more than sufficent for everyday uses, seems like an effective way to drive high-end hardware sales.

 

[Stiksi]

This is a cool gimmick that you can easily get around by using headphones. So do the non-pro models at least get overdub functionality without the auto cancel feature?

Technically yes, layering a clip of someone talking over a clip of Background noise is indeed multitrack recording.

No, that's an overdub. If you record more than one track simultaneously – several inputs, that's multitrack recording.

If it works, this would be transformative for sending multitracks to friends. I likey.

Now I'm starting to think, maybe I misunderstood… isn't the result just one track with both the backing track and the recording mixed together?

 

[MacSince1985]

It can then isolate the overdubbed part using what Apple calls "advanced processing" and cancel the background music, leaving a "professional-sounding recording" without the need for headphones.

Of course, if playing the original track through headphones, you wouldn't need to do all that "advanced processing". I doubt any professionals would record overdubs without headphones (let alone using an iPhone mic).

 

[Mother Nature]

This seems like a core Apple strategy: introduce new software features that are dependent on new hardware capabilities. In an era when even basic smartphones and computers are more than sufficent for everyday uses, seems like an effective way to drive high-end hardware sales.

LOL, this is how every company works, not only mobile or computing technologies.

Have you ever owned a vehicle? 😂😂

 

[subjonas]

These are the kinds of features that get me to upgrade! Gamechangers—features that allow me to do something very useful that I couldn’t do before (vs just spec upgrades that allow me to do the same things a tiny bit faster, with tiny more fidelity, etc, which doesn't cut it for me unless it’s for work/making money). I often want to quickly record music ideas in layered tracks, but I’ve always had to do that in GarageBand and the number of steps it takes to get going in that is often too many for quick ideas on the fly or super casual sessions (have to create new project, set the key and tempo, etc)—plus of course I’ve had to use wired headphones. With this feature in the Voice Memos app, I can go into layered track recording mode immediately and without having to mess with headphones, which is going to result in me recording much much more frequently. Real gamechanger and really something to upgrade for.

I wonder though, how many layers one can make. Also I've never used Voice Memos for music. I still use Music Memos but disappointingly it no longer receives support and Apple has directed users to transition to Voice Memos. I wonder if any of Music Memos features are being incorporated into Voice Memos. Really hope so.

 

[stephen1108]

I wonder if this will be possible on the M4 iPad Pro?