Abstract: A magnetic tape cassette recording and playback apparatus, particularly for digital audio tapes, capable of performing a variety of controlled playback and recording operations in accordance with a user-inputted program. The cassettes are stored on shelves in a magazine and selectively extracted and transported to a drive unit for playing and recording. In one mode, the apparatus can carry out continuous recording from one cassette to another, and cassettes can be designated for recording, for instance, of only particular types of music. The cassettes are rewound at the completion of a playing program so as to be ready for the start of search operations for a subsequent program.

Abstract: In a stereo sound digital recording system in which a plurality of tunes or programs are sequentially and digitally recorded on a magnetic tape, the left and right analog input signals are combined and converted to a digital signal. The analog input signals are also applied to a detector which detects the head of the program or tune and which causes to be generated a start identification sub-code signal which is automatically added to the digital signal, before the modulation thereof, and which is recorded on the tape for about nine seconds in the non-sound portion preceding the tune or program. A second sub-code signal, in the form of a program number signal, may also be added to the digital signal, simultaneously with the program start identification sub-code signal, to provide recorded numbers respectively identifying programs which are sequentially recorded on the tape.

Abstract: A tape recorder may be provided with a memory which stores data regarding the unrecorded portion remaining on each of a plurality of recording tapes. The data may represent an amount of the unrecorded portion and/or the location thereof, e.g., in the form of a counter value. The data stored in the memory is displayed in response to an input from an operating panel, thus making it possible to readily identify a tape having a remaining time equal to or greater than the quantity of information to be recorded, and to quickly advance the tape to the beginning of its unrecorded portion.

Abstract: In a signal reproducing device such as an R-DAT video tape recorder, a digital signal recorded on the recording medium is reproduced by the magnetic head, stored in a memory, processed by a processing circuit, and converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter, and a detector detects whether or not the reproduction signal outputted by the head is present so that, according to the output of the detector, a muting circuit mutes the digital-to-analog converted signal and a driver suspends the operation of a level meter adapted to display the level of the digital signal, whereby the production of noise signals and the abnormal display of signal levels are prevented.

Abstract: A signal recording/reproducing apparatus having both bar-type and numeric signal-level displaying units which can be easily read. The apparatus includes a sample-and-hold circuit for sampling and holding an input signal at a first predetermined rate, a first display unit for displaying in bar form the sample values sampled by the sample-and-hold circuit, a data holding circuit for sampling and holding the sample values periodically at a second predetermined rate, and a second display unit for numerically displaying the sample values selected by the data holding circuit. The bar code display can change at a rapid rate to dynamically follow the input signal, while the numeric display changes at a slower rate so as to allow the user sufficient time to comprehend the numerically displayed value.