Have you ever wondered how you can create professional audio recordings using your iPhone? With IOS 18.2 update And the Voice Memos recording application on IPhone 16 Pro With the iPhone 16 Pro Max, you can easily add multiple audio layers to your recordings, without the need for headphones or professional equipment. Whether you're a podcast creator or even a hobbyist who loves experimenting with audio, this new feature will open up amazing creative possibilities. In this article, we'll take you through a comprehensive tour of how to use the multi-layer recording feature in the app. Voice Memos, with practical tips for achieving the best results.
What is the multi-layer recording feature in Voice Memos?
The multi-layer recording feature is an innovative addition provided by Apple exclusively for users. iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro MaxThanks to the powerful A18 Pro chip, the app can play an existing audio recording through the phone's speakers while simultaneously recording a new audio layer, such as Quran recitation, religious chanting, or voiceover. This allows you to add commentary or sound effects to existing recordings without additional equipment.
What makes this process unique is the phone's ability to isolate the new audio from the original recording using advanced processing techniques and machine learning, resulting in clean, professional recordings.
How to Add a Second Audio Layer to Your Recording
Creating a composite recording using Voice Memos is simple and straightforward. Here's how:
◉ Open the Voice Memos recording app, find it in the Utilities folder on your iPhone, or move it to the Home screen for quick access.
◉ Select the original recording, from the recordings list, tap the recording you want to add an audio layer to.
◉ Click on the waveform icon to view the waveform.
◉ Start a new registration, click on the add (+) button in the application interface.
◉ When you're ready, press the red record button to start recording the second layer.
Once finished, you'll see the new recording in the recordings list with the layers icon (two overlapping squares) next to it, indicating that it's a composite recording.
Advice
Try recording your audio in a quiet environment for better audio quality. For example, if you're adding a nasheed to an Islamic sigh track, place your phone on a stable surface to avoid vibrations.
How to mix and modify audio layers
After creating a composite recording, you can edit and blend the layers directly within the app. Here's how:
Blend layers
◉ Open the composite recording and view the waveform.
◉ Click on the settings button in the top corner.
◉ Use the Layer Mix slider to adjust the volume between the original layer and the new layer. For example, you can increase the vocal volume compared to the instrument.
Layer separation
◉ If you want to edit each layer individually, tap the “More” button or the three dots inside a circle in the upper corner.
◉ Choose “Separate Layers.”
◉ After pressing “Done,” you’ll see the two layers as separate recordings in the recordings list, allowing you to edit or play them independently.
Additional editing tools
◉ Crop and trim, use the crop tool to remove unwanted parts from the recording.
◉ Replacement: If you need to re-record a specific part, you can replace it without affecting the rest of the recording.
◉ Skip Silence This feature analyzes the recording and automatically skips silent gaps during playback.
Transfer recordings to professional applications
If you want to further enhance your recordings, you can export them to apps like Logic Pro. Thanks to iCloud support, multi-layer recordings sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, allowing you to:
◉ Drag and drop recordings into your Logic Pro project.
◉ Edit tracks separately using advanced tools.
◉ Add sound effects or improve quality to get a professional result.
Things to Know About Composite Recordings
There are some technical points to consider when using this feature:
◉ Multi-layer recording is available exclusively on iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, composite recordings can be played on any device running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, or macOS Sequoia 15.2 or later.
◉ Composite recordings are saved in QuickTime Audio (QTA) format. If you separate the layers, each layer is converted to an .m4a file, making it compatible with older devices.
◉ Only the original layer can be recorded in stereo, while additional layers are recorded in mono.
◉ Text transcription or speech-to-text feature is available for the original layer only.
Tips for improving recording quality
For the best recording experience, try these tips:
◉ Use an external microphone: For higher audio quality, try compatible microphones that carry the “Made for iPhone” logo.
◉ Choose the appropriate audio format.
◉ Uncompressed audio for the highest audio quality.
◉ Compressed audio to save storage space if you record for long periods.
◉ Take advantage of iCloud and enable Voice Memos sync via iCloud to access your recordings from any Apple device.
◉ Try recording in different locations. Recording in a closed room reduces outside noise, while recording outdoors can add a natural feel to your recordings.
The multi-layer recording feature in the Voice Memos app on iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max is like a portable audio studio in your pocket. Whether you're recording verses from the Holy Quran or a nasheed, adding commentary to a podcast, or experimenting with new audio ideas, this tool makes the process fun and simple. With the ability to mix, separate, and export to professional apps, creating composite audio recordings is easier than ever.
Source:
Layers can be added with audio playing in the speakers on the garage.
Hi Dawoud 🙋♂️, yes you can add audio layers while playing the audio through your phone's speakers while using GarageBand. It's simple and straightforward, as we mentioned in the article. Save the original recording, then tap the audio wave icon to view the waveform. Then start a new recording and you'll be able to easily add new audio layers 😊👍🎵.
Frankly, there is no reason for Apple to specialize in this feature on some devices and not others, except to try to push people to buy new devices.
This is evidenced by the fact that this feature has been present on all iPhone devices in the Crajban application for a long time.
Hi Dawoud 🙋♂️, your topic is indeed controversial! But let's look at things from another angle. Apple is constantly introducing new features, which requires more processing power, and not all devices have this power. GarageBand, for example, offers great features, but it doesn't include all the new features available in Voice Memos. The latter benefits from the new A18 Pro chips in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Additionally, these chips allow for the addition of new audio layers while playing back through the phone's speakers! 🎤🎶 That's pretty cool, isn't it? 😊
I mean for all this explanation
It would be better if you made a video
◉ Skip silence, this feature analyzes the recording and automatically skips silent gaps during playback. This feature is present even in old phones and I tried it with the new phone and it didn't work for a long time. What is the benefit of this feature and it doesn't serve the purpose that I understood, which is to skip silence if you are speaking and pause for a while, it didn't work. As for the feature you mentioned, why is it only in the 16 Pro and the regular phone? Also, the audio transcription that you said was present in the new phones after the 15 Pro, I didn't find it in the voice memos app.
Hello Ali Hussein Al-Marfadi 🙋♂️, thank you for contacting us.
Regarding the “Skip Silence” feature, this feature analyzes the recording and automatically skips silent gaps during playback. This means that it does not work during the recording itself, but rather when the recording is played back.
As for the transcription feature (converting from speech to text), this feature is only compatible with the original speech layer in the recording and does not work with additional layers.
Additionally, this multi-layer recording feature is exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, thanks to the capabilities of the A18 Pro chips in these devices.
I hope that cleared things up for you. Always at your service! 😊📱