Abstract: A video signal recording and reproduction apparatus, provided with at least one encoding apparatus for encoding an input video signal, at least one data storage apparatus for recording and reproducing a video signal encoded by the encoding apparatus, a line switching apparatus for selectively connecting the encoding apparatus and data storage apparatus or selectively connecting the data storage apparatus and an output line of the video signal; and a control apparatus for controlling the line switching apparatus and the data storage apparatus in accordance with a recording command or reproduction command.

Abstract: An editing control apparatus for use with first and second video tape recording and/or reproducing apparatuses, each employing a video tape having time code signals and control signals recorded thereon and which is advanced at a predetermined forward speed for recording and reproducing a video signal thereon, comprises first and second time code readers for reading the time code signals on the video tapes, first and second control signal readers for reading the control signals on the video tapes, and a control unit for controlling the video tape recording and/or reproducing apparatuses in response to the time code signals and the control signals to position the video tapes at respective preroll points by rewinding each of the video tapes at a first speed substantially greater than the predetermined forward speed to first predetermined points, and thereafter rewinding the respective video tapes at a second speed substantially less than the forward speed to the respective preroll points.

Abstract: In a two-head helical scan video tape recorder, a pair of rotary erase heads are provided, and in order to avoid undesirable erasure by fringe flux, each rotary erase head integrally formed with one of two video recording heads and is positioned on a rotary member so that the scanning position thereof is always displaced from the scanning position of the associated video recording head by at least one video track interval in the scanning direction of the heads, in case of guardbandless azimuth recording.

Abstract: A direction indicator for use in apparatus which includes a rotary member whose direction of rotation is determined by a command signal, the direction indicator providing an indication of the commanded direction just as, or momentarily prior to, the rotary member commences rotation in the commanded direction. A frequency generator generates a signal whose frequency is representative of the actual speed of the rotary member. A speed detector coupled to the frequency generator produces a pulse signal when the speed of the rotary member is less than a predetermined speed. A circuit is responsive to the direction command signal and is actuated by the pulse signal to provide an indicating signal corresponding to the direction of rotation determined by the command signal. The resultant indicating signal corresponds substantially to the actual direction of rotation of the rotary member.

Abstract: A video recording and/or reproducing apparatus of the type having a tape guide drum with at least one rotary magnetic head associated therewith, a cassette holding device spaced from the drum and including a holder movable between an elevated position for receiving and discharging a tape cassette and a lowered position for operatively positioning the cassette therein, a tape loading and unloading device effective, in a loading operation, to withdraw tape from the operatively positioned cassette and to wrap the withdrawn tape about the guide drum for the recording or reproducing of video signals thereon by the rotary head and, in an unloading operation, to unwrap the tape from the guide drum and return the tape to the operatively positioned cassette, and a motor energized for operating the apparatus, for example, driving the rotary head and the capstan by which the tape is advanced during recording and reproducing operations; is further provided with a cassette ejecting device which includes a holder displacin