iOS 18.2 Brings Layered Voice Memo Recordings to iPhone 16 Pro

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.

ios 18 2 layered voice memos
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.

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Top Rated Comments

oneMadRssn Avatar
2 hours ago at 02:08 pm
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.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
canyonblue737 Avatar
1 hour ago at 02:25 pm

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...)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mozz2020 Avatar
2 hours ago at 01:18 pm
It's great. But it's not replacing the studio setting.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FSMBP Avatar
2 hours ago at 01:25 pm
This is painful...I get its nifty, but a 3 minute promo video was pushing it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macbeth1026 Avatar
2 hours ago at 01:28 pm

It's great. But it's not replacing the studio setting.
.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jgdeschamps Avatar
2 hours ago at 01:36 pm

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.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)