The new recording mode of the Dictaphone application on iOS 18.2 has just reached an important milestone, particularly for musicians. With this update, Apple is offering a feature exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max that could well revolutionize mobile music creation. Michael Bublé, international singing star, took part in the game by recording his new Christmas song directly from his iPhone.
A new way to record your music
The iOS 18.2 update introduces “Overlapping Recordings” to the Dictaphone app. This feature allows iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max owners to record a vocal track over an existing instrumental, without the need for headphones. iPhone uses its microphones and the A18 Pro chip to intelligently isolate vocals from the instrumental playing through the speaker, creating two distinct tracks.
The technology leverages machine learning and advanced processing algorithms to ensure clear track separation. Users can then export their creations to Logic Pro for further mixing. Producers can also send compressed instrumental tracks directly from Logic Pro to the Dictaphone app.
A function validated by professionals
To demonstrate the potential of this new feature, Apple has partnered with renowned artists. Michael Bublé, Carly Pearce and producer Greg Wells used this feature to record “Maybe This Christmas”, Bublé’s new Christmas single, available in Spatial Audio on Apple Music. Michael Bublé explains:
I don’t think people realize the crucial role the iPhone’s Dictaphone app plays in the creative process for musicians. And now with Layered Recordings, if an artist has a moment of inspiration, being free from the traditional studio experience becomes an advantage, not a limitation. It’s so typical of Apple to build something we didn’t know we needed – and now won’t be able to live without.
This development marks a new stage in the democratization of music creation tools, allowing artists to capture their ideas anywhere, anytime, with near-professional quality. Michael Bublé, in the promotional video, says that the best camera for a photographer is the one he has with him and that from now on it was the same for musicians. The parallel is very fair and it is in these small functions that Apple really makes life easier for users and creatives.
The song “Maybe This Christmas” by Michael Bublé recorded with the Dictaphone app:
Apple’s promotional video:
Download the free app Dictaphone
