Abstract: A helical scan video tape recorder includes a recording device having a head cylinder which carries magnetic heads therewith for rotating the head cylinder and applying incoming video signals to the magnetic heads to record the signals on a magnetic tape. A tape transport mechanism transports the tape while maintaining the tape in sliding contact with the head cylinder. A servo-lock sensing circuit senses a servo-locked condition in the recording device. A system controller responds to a record command entered on an operation board for controlling the tape transport mechanism to transport the tape in one direction to thereby record the video signals on the tape.

Abstract: A still-image information recording/reproducing apparatus records a plurality of still-image information on a recording medium, e.g., a floppy disk, and reproduces such still-image information which has been recorded on the floppy disk. In the normal mode, each of the still images is reproduced. In the index mode, all of the still images recorded on the floppy disk are reproduced as a single still image. In particular, the still-image information recording/reproducing apparatus reproduces each of the still images read from the floppy disk during the index mode, and synthesizes all of the reduced still images with each other, so that a single still image can be produced and output therefrom.