Apple is giving musicians and creators a reason to celebrate with its latest iOS 18.2 update. The Voice Memos app now allows iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max users to layer vocals over instrumental tracks directly in the app—no headphones required.
Thanks to the advanced microphones and speakers on these devices, users can record instruments and vocals simultaneously.
“Layered Recordings,” is a fresh alternative to Apple’s discontinued Music Memos app, which was a favorite among musicians before its shutdown in 2021. With Voice Memos’ upgrade, artists no longer need to rely on third-party apps like Tape It to create multi-track recordings.
The magic behind this update lies in Apple’s A18 Pro chip, which uses machine learning to separate the vocal and instrumental tracks. Musicians can start with an acoustic layer, like piano or guitar, or import an existing instrumental mix into the app. This allows two individual tracks that can be further edited and mixed in professional tools like Logic Pro.
Layered Recordings sync across devices via Voice Memos on Mac, where they can be dragged directly into Logic sessions. Apple even teamed up with Michael Bublé, Carly Pearce, and producer Greg Wells to showcase the feature in action with their holiday track, “Maybe This Christmas.”
The upgrade is exclusive to iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max running iOS 18.2. Sharing and editing these recordings in Logic Pro is supported on Mac with macOS Sequoia 15.2 or iPad with iPadOS 18.2.
Previously, iOS 18 added transcription capabilities to Voice Memos, letting users view and edit their recordings with text—a handy addition for all types of creators. Apple continues to make Voice Memos a powerhouse for musicians and everyday users alike.
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