Abstract: A method of and devices for encoding an information stream (20) into a variable bit rate (VBR) encoded information stream (24) have been proposed. The application discloses an improved constraint variable bit rate (CVBR) encoding, which guarantees that in a particular recording mode on a record carrier, any contiguous selection from the recording on this record carrier can be copied to another record carrier having a storage capacity corresponding to said recording mode, without the necessity to employ a lower average bit rate an while still using the maximum variable bit rate freedom within the window to be archived.

Abstract: A method for recording and reproducing event signals supplied at particular times from at least one source as well as preset data selectively input by a user which data establishes an event signal to be recorded and the time of recording that event signal, wherein audio and video signals are to be recorded on or reproduced from at least one record medium dependent on at least said preset data, said method comprising the steps of: -selectively producing said preset data to select source, time and duration of event signals to be recorded; -storing said preset data; and -providing management data each related to the recording and reproducing operation of a specific record medium; is characterized by -storing at least said management data on a storage medium different from said at least one record medium.