Apple has announced a significant update to its Voice Memos app, introducing a new feature called Layered Recordings, which allows iPhone 16 Pro users to record vocals on top of existing instrumental tracks without the need for headphones. This innovation is made possible by the A18 Pro chip and machine learning capabilities in iOS 18.2.

The update is a welcome development for musicians and producers who have been seeking an alternative to Apple's discontinued Music Memos app, which was shut down in 2021. Since then, users have turned to third-party apps like Tape It to fill the void. With Layered Recordings, Apple is providing a native solution that integrates seamlessly with its ecosystem.

The new feature enables users to record their instruments using the iPhone's speaker while simultaneously capturing their vocals with the phone's microphones. The app can then create two individual tracks, which can be further mixed and produced in professional apps like Logic Pro. This flexibility allows musicians to choose from a variety of background instrumentals, such as piano or acoustic guitar, or import an existing instrumental mix directly into the Voice Memos app.

Apple has also confirmed that these Layered Recordings will be synced across devices, allowing users to access them on their Mac and easily drag and drop them into a Logic session. To demonstrate the feature's capabilities, Apple has released a new holiday track, "Maybe This Christmas," featuring Michael Bublé, Carly Pearce, and record producer Greg Wells. A behind-the-scenes video showcases how the artists used the Voice Memos app to separately record their vocals on an iPhone 16 Pro.

The Voice Memos app upgrade is available exclusively on iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max for users running iOS 18.2. Additionally, sharing to Voice Memos and importing a Layered Recording is possible on Logic Pro for Mac 11.1 with macOS Sequoia 15.2, and Logic Pro for iPad 2.1 with iPadOS 18.2.

This update marks a significant milestone in Apple's efforts to enhance its music creation capabilities, providing a powerful tool for musicians and producers to create high-quality recordings on the go. As the music technology landscape continues to evolve, Apple's Layered Recordings feature is poised to have a profound impact on the industry, empowering creatives to push the boundaries of music production.