iOS 18.2: New update brings layered recordings feature to Voice Memos app

The Layered Recording feature for the Voice Memos app brings greater value addition, especially for multimedia content creators with iPhones.

Apple recently released the iOS 18.2 update to iPhones worldwide. It introduced a second batch of Apple Intelligence features including text-to-image generator image playground, Image Wand, ChatGPT integration with Siri and more advanced writing tools.

Among the many new features, the Layered Recording for Voice Memos app is less known. However, it brings greater value addition, especially for multimedia content creators with iPhones.

Once updated to the latest version iOS 18.2, users can incorporate a variety of background instrumentals — like acoustic guitar or piano — as the first layer on the Voice Memos app.

Also, artists and music producers with Logic Pro software can send an instrumental music mix as a compressed audio file directly to Voice Memos on iPhone. This makes it easy to then record a vocal layer on top, wherever and whenever inspiration strikes.

Here's how to add Layered Recording on the Voice Memos app:

Step 1: Go to the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.

Step 2: In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to add a vocal layer to, then tap the Edit Recording button to view the waveform.

Step 3: Tap the Add a Vocal Layer button.

Steps on how to perform layered voice recording on iPhone.

Step 4: And, tap the Record button, then record the second layer.

In the list of recordings, layered recordings are indicated by the Layers button.

This particular feature Layered Recording is available only on iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max models. But, users can play a layered recording on any device with iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, or later.

Apple in collaboration with GRAMMY Award winners — multiplatinum entertainer Michael Bublé, country star Carly Pearce, and record producer Greg Wells — teamed up to bring their new track “Maybe This Christmas” to life with Voice Memos on iPhone 16 Pro.

“I don’t think people realize the critical role Voice Memos on iPhone plays in the creation process for musicians. 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,” said Bublé.

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