Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided enabling sound editing for videotape to be carried out using procedures substantially identical to those conventionally used when the picture carrying medium is photographic film. Editing is carried out using a mechanical synchronizer, the tape drive of a videotape playback apparatus being slaved to the synchronizer shaft using control signals generated by comparing codes, updated in accordance with cumulative movements of the shaft, with codes recorded on the videotape to identify successive frames of picture information thereon.