Are you a retro soul with a field recorder-shaped hole in your heart? Perhaps you have always wanted to be a detective from the mid-1900s. Well, you may not be part of these niche categories but that is no reason to not feast your eyes on Teenage Engineering’s TP–7, a field recorder that's like a blast from the past with a modern twist. It's essentially the lovechild of a MiniDisc player and an old-school tape reel, with a touch of retro-futuristic charm. But don't be fooled by its vintage looks; this bad boy is packed with cutting-edge features.
One of the TP-7's standout features is its transcription mode. Yep, you heard that right! When connected to an iOS app, it can convert your voice recordings into text. So, say goodbye to the days of manually transcribing hours of interviews or voice notes. Now you can let your fingers take a break while the TP-7 does the heavy lifting. This may just be every student’s dream finally manifesting into reality.
But it's not just about functionality; Teenage Engineering knows how to make a statement with style and functionality. The TP-7 fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, complete with a rocker switch where your fingers naturally rest. This switch lets you fast-forward or reverse audio playback with a satisfying click. Notice the cool spinning disc in the centre? While it's all digital and there is no actual tape involved, it does add a cool, retro feel to the device. You can, however, use it to scrub through the audio or grab it to pause recording. It's like a little nod to the days of analogue tapes, except with none of the fuss.
As awesome as the TP-7 is, it may not be the go-to choice for professional audio enthusiasts. It lacks an XLR input, the gold standard for connecting microphones and other audio gear. But don’t worry, it has an internal mic and three 3.5mm inputs for aux cords. Plus, with seven hours of battery life and 128 GB of internal storage, you can capture all the audio goodness your heart desires.
As with all things modern but retro, there is one catch. Yes, let's address the elephant in the room—the price. The TP-7 is priced at a whopping $1,500 (₹1.2 lakhs). So, if you're a student on a tight budget, you might want to explore more affordable options. But hey, if you want to make a statement and have some extra cash to spare, the TP-7 could be your audio recording dream come true.