ear collection / memo track / answers
how to keep music playing while recording on iphone
your music stopped when you pressed record. this is the page for that.
the short answer
On iPhone, a recording app can interrupt audio that is already playing or mix with it. Memo Track is designed to mix with compatible background audio and keep a recording you started alive while another app is on screen.
If the music app cannot keep playing in the background, save the audio file to Files and import it directly into Memo Track instead.
choose your workflow
why does music stop when i open voice memos or press record?
Recording apps use the iPhone audio system differently. When an app takes control of the audio session instead of mixing with existing playback, iOS pauses the other audio. The exact result can vary with the recording app, music source, iPhone model, and iOS version.
Memo Track is a separate recording app. It does not change the behavior of Apple's Voice Memos app.
can i record vocals over a backing track on iphone?
Yes. Memo Track gives you two simple routes:
- Import a WAV, MP3, M4A, AAC, or another iPhone-supported audio file from Files, then press Record.
- Start music in another app that supports background playback, open Memo Track, and press Record without importing the track.
It is meant for capturing the idea quickly. It is not a multitrack studio or an automatic mixing service.
can music from google drive or another app keep playing?
Sometimes. The source app must support its own background playback and allow its audio to coexist with a microphone session. Memo Track is designed not to stop compatible background audio, but it cannot force another app to keep playing.
If playback stops, use the source app's Save to Files or export option, then choose that file inside Memo Track. Do not assume every streaming, cloud-storage, or music app will behave the same way.
can i read lyrics or notes while the recording continues?
Yes. Start the recording in Memo Track, switch to your lyrics or notes app, and return when you are ready to stop. The recording and an imported backing track continue in the background until you stop the take or iOS interrupts the audio session.
Opening Notes alone is not unique to Memo Track. Apple also allows Voice Memos to record while a non-audio app is open. Memo Track's workflow adds imported or compatible backing playback alongside the microphone take. Apple's recording guide explains its behavior.
does apple voice memos already record a vocal layer?
Apple says Voice Memos can add a second vocal layer to an instrumental recording on supported iPhone models. Memo Track serves a different workflow: bring in a file or keep compatible audio playing from another app, start a quick take, and leave Memo Track open in the background while you read your lyrics.
source: Apple iPhone User Guide
does the saved file contain a digital mix of the backing track?
No. The saved M4A is the microphone take, not a digitally mixed master. If the backing track plays through the iPhone speaker, the microphone may capture it naturally. That is intentional. Memo Track is a sketchpad for ideas, not a stem exporter.
do i need headphones or special hardware?
No special hardware is required. Audio routes can affect which microphone and speaker the iPhone uses, so test your headphones or Bluetooth setup before recording something important.
what can interrupt a background recording?
Calls, alarms, another app taking the microphone, force-quitting Memo Track, shutting down the phone, or an iOS audio interruption can stop a session. The phone remains a phone despite our objections.
where are recordings stored?
Takes stay in Memo Track's private storage on the iPhone until you share or delete them. Ear Collection does not receive the audio. Export important takes before deleting the app because deleting the app can remove its local recordings.
what does memo track cost?
Free on the App Store. no account. no subscription. no ads. no in-app analytics.
If it helped you catch an idea you would've lost, you can optionally throw Ear Collection $0.99 inside the app. Nothing unlocks. Nothing changes. It's just support.
was it tested on real iphones?
Yes. The release build was tested on physical iPhones through TestFlight before version 1.0 was released on September 2, 2026.
last reviewed september 5, 2026.