Update: Apple's new Voice Memos update appears to be restricted to iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models. We're not sure why, but it's likely tied to the improved microphone array and A18 Pro chip.

As part of Apple's Glowtime event, we got to see the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models, and the company revealed how it'd be leveraging Apple Intelligence on its latest and greatest devices.

While things like the Visual Intelligence feature look great, one particular feature struck a literal chord with me - the update to Voice Memos.

You see, I was a professional musician up until COVID hit. You can hear me singing the theme for a documentary, and I have been playing shows regularly for over a decade. Now that I'm a homeowner, I have a full-time job, and I freelance for the likes of iMore, and I'm a parent, I just don't have time to go through the rigamarole of finding backing tracks to sing to since I can't get to practices regularly.

Voice Memos update could inspire a whole new generation of musicians

Now, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will offer what Apple dubs "studio quality mics", with the option to edit sound within videos.

It'll also let you layer tracks onto an existing recording, potentially taking a lot of the time-intensive components of recording a quick vocal track of a pop song I enjoy.

More importantly, it could inspire new singers and musicians to mix things up a little bit and help them shape their own sound in a way expensive multitrack recorders did back when I was younger.

It feels like there's a very high ceiling for new musicians now, and Apple could really help inspire those just starting out.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 10, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Lloyd Coombes is a freelance writer with a specialism in Apple tech. From his first, hand-me-down iMac, he’s been working with Apple products for over a decade, and while he loves his iPhone and Mac, the iPad will always have his heart for reasons he still can’t quite fathom.

Since moving from blogging to writing professionally, Lloyd’s work can be found at TechRadar, Macworld, TechAdvisor and plenty more.

He’s also the Editor in Chief at GGRecon.com, and on the rare occasion he’s not writing you’ll find him spending time with his son, or working hard at the gym (while wearing an Apple Watch, naturally). You can find him on Twitter @lloydcoombes.