Abstract: A recording and reproducing device (1) has a recording apparatus (4) which includes at least two magnetic heads (A, B), mounted on a rotatably supported head disc (14) and having Z different azimuth angles, for the recording of recording data (AD) in helical recording tracks (S) on a magnetic tape (12), a part of the recording data (AD) being recordable as information data (ID) in an information data recording area (SC) of each helical recording track (S), this recording area being always the same as regards its position in a helical recording track (S), and has a reproducing apparatus (5) for reproducing, at a maximum N-fold reproducing speed, information data (ID) recorded on a magnetic tape (12), each of the at least two magnetic heads (A, B) being capable of scanning a helical reproducing track (W) which traverses N helical recording tracks (S).

Abstract: A data bus device (5) for cooperation with at least one apparatus (1) and for communicating with further data bus devices (10, 12, 14) via a data bus (7, 8, 9), each further data bus device (10, 12, 14) cooperating with at least one further apparatus (2, 3, 4), includes a data-bus set-up device (27) for generating a reference table containing data-bus device information (DI) for identifying the further apparatuses (2, 3, 4), a first memory (29) for storing the reference table, an additional-information request device (28) for requesting additional information (ZI) from further data bus devices (10, 12, 14) identified by stored data-bus device information (DI), and a second memory (31) for storing manufacturer's apparatus information (HI) identifying the apparatus (1, 2, 3) cooperating with the data bus device (5, 10, 12).