Abstract: A reference signal is recorded in different locations on a record medium with a controllable recording current level that is changed when the reference signal is recorded in such different locations. Location signals representing those different locations at which the reference signal is recorded also are generated and they too are recorded. Thereafter, the reference and location signals are reproduced from the different locations and stored. The stored reference signal whose signal level is the largest is detected and the location signal representing the particular record medium location at which that reference signal was recorded is identified. The recording current level which was used to record the reference signal at that particular location is determined. This determined recording current level may be used subsequently to record a signal, such as a video signal, with optimum characteristics.