Abstract: A timebase error compensation apparatus is provided in a video tape recorder having a plurality of rotary reproducing heads from which signals are sequentially switched over to obtain a continuous reproduced video signal. The apparatus comprises a compensation circuit for compensating a timebase error included in the reproduced video signal; a detection circuit for detecting a horizontal scan line period during which the signal from one rotary reproducing head is switched over to the signal from another rotary reproducing head to generate a mask control signal; and a replacement circuit responsive to the mask control signal for replacing the reproduced video signal of the horizontal scan line period with the reproduced video signal of a horizontal scan line period adjoining to the horizontal scan line period.