Abstract: A helical scan magnetic tape recorder includes a rotary scanner having magnetic heads which record and reproduce data on slant tracks of magnetic tape helically transported about the rotary scanner. Low frequency tones representing a time code or other digital information are recorded by the data heads of the rotary head scanner in the same lateral location such as preamble segments of the data tracks. The recorded time code is recovered by means of a stationary magnetic head. The recovered low frequency tones are converted into digital information such as a digital time code which provides tape location information for editing or searching purposes as well as other auxiliary information such as recorder serial number, data rate codes, etc.