Abstract: A stand-by mode setting/releasing device is provided for a video cassette recorder (VCR). When the attachment of the video cassette to a video cassette recorder (VCR) is terminated, a microcomputer drives a cylinder motor immediately to execute tape loading. In the stop state, with the tape loading completed, cylinder rotation is continued for 5 minutes without tensioning the tape and cylinder rotation is terminated after a lapse of the 5 minutes. In this manner, other modes in the stop mode can be set quickly, while power consumption is also avoided. When there is no necessity of maintaining channel selection at the VCR tuner, tape loading and power turn-off may be executed after a lapse of the five-minute period to further reduce the power consumption.