Comparison
Reel vs TP-7
Teenage Engineering's motorized field recorder with a scrub-able reel.
Visit the TP-7 site ↗
The short answer
Reel and the TP-7 chase the same tape feel from opposite ends. The TP-7 is Teenage Engineering's $1,499 field recorder and it is a beautiful thing: a machined body, a real motorized wheel you spin to scrub, 24-bit/96kHz capture. It takes up to six inputs across its three stereo jacks, so it can record several sources at once and it sits at the center of the Field system with the TX-6 and OP-1 Field. Reel puts that same tape feel on a screen instead. The disc got a full rebuild this year: it scrubs with reel-to-reel wind and speed tone, it coasts into play speed on a flick, and a DJ Mode narrows it from full varispeed to a plus or minus 10 percent turntable range for riding a track by hand. You get that plus 4-track overdubbing and 32-bit float recording, for the price of an app. If you are looking for a TP-7 alternative, usually because $1,499 is a lot to spend on an idea sketchpad, Reel is the closest thing on the iPhone: the same scrub-and-record feel without the machined price tag. The TP-7 is the object you want on your desk. Reel is how you get the workflow on the iPhone already in your pocket.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Reel | TP-7 |
|---|---|---|
| Simultaneous tracks | 4 (stereo, 8 ch) | 6 in (3 stereo) |
| Bit depth | 32-bit float | 24-bit |
| Max sample rate | 96kHz | 96kHz |
| Overdub | ||
| Punch-in recording | ||
| Looped playback | ||
| Variable-speed playback | ||
| Tactile transport (jog wheel or scrub) | ||
| Built-in microphones | iPhone mic | |
| XLR inputs with phantom power | ||
| Records from a USB audio interface | ||
| Works as a USB audio interface | ||
| Runs standalone, no phone or computer | ||
| Price | $14.99 one-time | $1,499 |
| Platform | iOS 18+ | Standalone device |
Every value is researched per product against manufacturer sources and may change over time. Verify current details with each maker.
Where Reel wins
- +32-bit float recording, versus the TP-7's 24-bit
- +4-track tape-style overdubbing, layering a song part by part
- +A rebuilt scrub engine with reel-to-reel wind and speed tone, flick coasting that lands at play speed, and a DJ Mode that narrows the disc to a turntable range
- +Runs on the iPhone you already own, for a fraction of $1,499
- +Master Record captures the whole performance, stops, scrubs, pitch moves and scratching, as a stereo file
Where TP-7 wins
- +A machined body with a real motorized tape wheel, the tactile original Reel emulates
- +Up to six inputs across three stereo jacks for capturing several live sources at once
- +Anchors the Teenage Engineering Field system with the TX-6, OP-1 Field and CM-15
- +Standalone device with 128GB storage, quality preamps and Bluetooth plus USB audio
Frequently asked questions
What is the best TP-7 alternative for iPhone?
If you want the TP-7's tape feel without the $1,499 hardware, Reel is the closest option on iPhone. It recreates the jog-wheel scrub and tape-style transport in software, records four tracks in 32-bit float, and costs the price of an app. You give up the machined body and the motorized wheel, but you keep the scrub-and-record workflow.
Does the TP-7 do multitrack recording?
Yes. The TP-7 has three stereo input jacks, so it can record up to six inputs at once and it pairs with the TX-6 mixer to record more. Reel takes a different approach with 4-track tape-style overdubbing, where you layer new parts over what you already recorded.
Is Reel a TP-7 alternative?
Reel brings the TP-7's jog-wheel scrubbing and tape-style transport to the iPhone and records in 32-bit float. It is not a replacement for the TP-7's premium hardware and motorized wheel, but it delivers a similar tape-inspired workflow for the price of an app.
Try Reel on your iPhone
A portable 4-track recorder with 32-bit float audio and a hardware-inspired workflow.
Download on the App Store