The UI of the TP-7 has been harder to internalize than other TE products, probably because there are fewer hardware buttons and more menu diving, which means more abstractness to hold in your head.

Decided on a different approach (these might also work as stickers, which I may make if there's enough interest) to get a clearer mental model.

⭕️ marks questions I don't have definitive answers to yet, which I'll edit as I get those answers.

Teenage Engineering TP-7 cheatsheet

File types and elements

  • Memo
    • for voice recordings
    • can't be multitrack but can loop/cue
    • optionally in their own folder
  • Recording
    • for multitrack recordings with (⭕️ one loop per recording?) and cues
    • tracks can be recorded one by one or simultaneously from multiple inputs
    • tracks can be bounced (combined) into one track
  • Library
    • external high resolution audio files to listen to
    • other non-audio file types possible
    • Uneditable, but ⭕️ might allow loops and cues
    • ⭕️ Not sure if multitrack
  • Loop
    • a section of a recording, divisible by bar, can be nudged back and forth along the recording
    • accessible and loadable from within the loop menu
    • ⭕️ can one save/browse multiple loops? Or only one loop per recording?
  • Cues
    • fixed positions in a recording which let you quickly start playback from any of these points
  • ⚙️ SETTINGS: hold 🎚️MODE
    • 🎙️RECORD settings is a submenu with a shortcut: [ hold ◼️ then 🔴 ]
      • Metronome volume
      • BPM
      • Count in on/off
      • Auto start record when sound crosses threshold/also stop record when sound stops (press (+)(-) to choose)
  • ⬇️ INPUT source press 🔴 🔴
    • auto: automatically select source and number of tracks depending on what is connected
    • digital: 1-3 digital stereo tracks from a USB host
    • manual: set up analog and digital inputs in any combination
      ( ⭕️ where can I set this up?)
  • ✏️ EDIT MODE: hold 🔴 then ◼️
    • this is its own world, where buttons behave differently from
      non-edit mode (hold 🔴 then ◼️ again to exit)
    • use the reel to choose things
  • MIX or LOOP settings: tap 🎚️MODE when using them

Let's try multitrack recording

  • Check your 🎙️RECORD settings by using the shortcut [hold ◼️, press 🔴 repeatedly)
  • Arm the recording by pressing 🔴 (or start recording from a selected cue with 🔴 (<))
    • check GAIN with (<) (>)
    • check ⬇️ INPUT source by pressing 🔴 again
    • you may also need to go into ⚙️Settings by holding 🎚️MODE to change your:
      • jacks configuration (line in, headset mic, outputs)
      • source configuration
      • thru configuration (if you can't hear anything)
  • 🎙️ Record by pressing ▶️ , stop with ◼️
One track with sound on it.
  • Enter ✏️ EDIT MODE by holding 🔴 then ◼️
    • Add a new track by holding 🔴 and pressing (+)
    • Choose the track you want to record to next with (+) and (-)
Result: two tracks. The second one is empty but ready for recording.
  • Jump to the start of the recording with ◼️ then ▶️
  • Choose overDUB or overWrite with 🔴 and (>)
  • 🎙️ Record into the new track by pressing ▶️ , stop with ◼️.
    ... repeat for all tracks.
Two tracks: If the second track is longer, the first one adapts. Note: You cannot cut/trim tracks.
  • Done? You can name your recording via FILE in ⚙️Settings.

Loops

Loops are sections of a recording defined by IN and OUT points.

Track vs loop

The space between your IN and OUT points defines your bar length (⭕️ I think?), and you can:

  • Define which section to loop by holding 🔴 and letting go to stop.
  • Retrigger loop from the start with ▶️
  • Access LOOP SETTINGS by pressing 🎚️mode, and use (+) (-) to nudge/choose:
    • divider: divides or extends the loop into a shorter or longer time in fixed intervals relative to its own length. (A 2 sec loop x2 will be a 4 sec loop.)
    • loop move: (move one loop length forward or back. For finer control, use a smaller divider)
    • IN point
    • OUT point: (⭕️ Maybe it's really subtle but I can't hear the in/out points changing when I do this. Wish there was a clearer visual indicator of where the start point has moved to.)

Cues

Cues are bookmarks in your sound that you want to be able to recall quickly.

  • Add your first cue by holding 🔴 and then pressing (+). REMOVE with (-).
    • The cue will be added to wherever the track is currently stopped, so if you want it at the very start, move the track to the starting point first with ◼️ ▶️ .
    • You can also add cues while the track is playing.
  • Remove all cues by holding 🔴 and (-). A confirmation screen will appear.
  • Select an existing cue mark with (+)(-).
  • Set the position of this chosen cue by moving the audio to where you want it, and then pressing 🔴.
  • Start playing from the start of the selected cue by pressing ▶️
  • If you're "off" a cue, press ◼️ when stopped to jump to the start of that cue section.
  • Arm recording from the selected cue with 🔴 (<)
  • If MIDI cue is enabled, hold 🔴 and then play 🎹 MIDI notes to set different cues.
    • play these notes back to trigger the associated cues (A on your keyboard triggers cue 2, F# triggers cue 3, and so on)

Weird things to note:

  • If you hold ◼️ and press 🔴 , you open 🎙️Record settings, but to go from one setting to another you press 🔴 again (while holding ◼️) instead of rotating the wheel as you do in, say, the ⚙️Settings menu.
    • (Note: this is a shortcut alternative to navigating to 🎙️Record settings in the ⚙️Settings menu.)
  • I don't know what the U in the middle of the (< >) gain buttons stands for.
  • You can't trim recordings/samples the way you can in the EP-133 and OP-1. Track length can expand with the longest track but it cannot shrink. Think of recordings more like the tape in the OP-1 instead of individual sample recordings.
  • You can't go to the start of the loop in LOOP mode by tapping ◼️ and ▶️ the way you can in record mode. That key combo saves or loads loops (which can sometimes be confusing)

Questions:

  • ⭕️ How do you set bar length? (You can jump through a recording by bar by holding ◼️ and pressing (<)(>) Is it determined by LOOP?
  • ⭕️ Can each recording have only one loop?
  • ⭕️ Is there a way to browse loops, loop to loop?
  • ⭕️ Is there a difference between recording in edit mode vs out of it?

Thoughts:

  • Would love to be able "trim all sound before/after cue x"
  • Might want to save a loop as a new recording, thereby having another way to trim audio
  • Would love a more precise way to define in/out loop points, cues, etc. Currently it's hard to identify where I am by the rotation amount of the last number.
These two are at different track positions. The last number is 11. Each last number is a different shape, so there is no consistent feedback as to where you are.
    • Maybe "in" could keep looping a really short part of the start of the loop over and over so you can hear better where you are as you move it, as is the case on the EP-133 (TBH I'm not sure if it moves as I press (-) (+) while it's playing, or only when it's stopped)
    • Since the reel moves the sound forward in fixed tiny increments, maybe there could be a row of dots under the number but above the file name that appear/disappear as the last number moves, (or a vertical row of dots all the way on the right with halfway point larger dots) which would reset to zero at each full decimal place.

      Alternatively, show the track position another way (maybe a ruler with section numbers, something like the bottom of the Varispeed screen.
Showing the last number's position as dots
vertical version
Varispeed

Feel like you understand your TP-7 better now and want to say thanks?

I'll leave you a tip!
or say thanks by checking out my app:
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I made a calendar app for ADHD which shows each day as a 24h dial.
Word of mouth is the lifeblood of an indie developer, so you can also do this:

I'll check out your app!