Apple Music app gets two new audio features
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Apple is internally testing improved versions of its built-in Music and QuickTime apps , which in iOS 18 and macOS 15 will receive support for smooth audio transitions and a new “Passthrough” feature.
People familiar with pre-release versions of Apple's operating systems have told AppleInsider new details about improvements currently being worked on. While on-device AI remains the main focus of Apple's future software releases, the company is also working on audio-related features for its system apps.
The current version of the Apple Music app already has a fade-out feature. Preview versions of the app, undergoing internal testing, include an improved version of the feature currently known as “smart song transitions.”
With the standard crossfade option, the Music app will gradually reduce the volume of the currently playing song as it approaches the end. At the same time, the application will start playing a new song, slowly increasing the volume — thus creating a transition between the two songs.
Smart Song Transitions extends this feature by giving users the ability to adjust the duration of the crossfade effect. Song transitions can last from one to twelve seconds, depending on personal preference.
Thanks to smart song transitions, the crossfade effect can last significantly longer
The existing crossfade option will remain in the Apple Music app, as will the option to turn the feature off. Overall, this is just one of the few audio-related updates Apple has planned for its system apps.
Audio passthrough for Apple Music and QuickTime Player
The Music app will also include support for Passthrough, which will only be available on supported hardware. What kind of supported hardware this is remains unclear.
While the details of this feature are also unclear, it appears to be related to spatial audio with Dolby Atmos and may be a rebranding of that feature.
Over the years, Apple has renamed various OS features and apps, with iCal eventually becoming “Calendar” and “System Preferences” being changed to “System Preferences” in macOS Ventura.
The company also plans to rename its user accounts from Apple ID to Apple Account starting with iOS 18. Features may even get a new name during development, as was the case with Vocal Shortcuts, originally known as Adaptive voice shortcuts.
Renaming Spatial Audio from Dolby Atmos to simply “Passthrough” appears to fit this pattern while allowing for a significantly shorter name. Ultimately, however, we don't have much information yet about this feature as it currently exists.
However, unlike Spatial Audio, Passthrough will apparently be available without an Apple Music subscription, meaning it will likely be available to everyone. Passthrough will also appear in QuickTime on macOS 15, indicating that Apple intends to make it available system-wide.
New audio features for gaming and spatial computing
Apple is also working on other audio-related improvements, with a particular focus on audio accessories such as headphones and headsets. We could see improvements with a particular focus on gaming.
The company is working on more advanced versions of hands-free audio controls for games, as well as a feature known internally as “Spatial Gaming.” While there are no specific details about the exact implementation of these features, they fit Apple's general interest in spatial computing.
Over the years, Apple has introduced features such as Spatial Audio, which delivers immersive audio experiences by playing different sounds from individual speakers. Apple's AirPods combine this feature with dynamic head tracking to deliver surround sound and 3D audio through the headphones.
Recently, in late 2023, the company released spatial video that can be recorded on the iPhone 15 Pro and viewed using the Apple Vision Pro headset. Spatial video is essentially 3D video recordings that allow users to relive moments and experiences.
Both spatial audio and spatial video require special hardware, as is the case with Passthrough.
Passthrough and Smart Song Transitions will likely debut at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10 as part of the company's next generation of operating systems — iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 and more.
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