Abstract: A device for recording and playing back a selected episode from an input analog audio-visual signal. A "deferred recording" feature allows the user to briefly delay his/her decision to record a live signal episode until after the signal episode has at least partially transpired. Thus, the user can first evaluate the episode prior to deciding whether to record it. The recorded signal episode contains both preamble and postamble segments, i.e. the signal segments preceding and following activation of a record switch. The analog playback signal is directed to an A/V output device so it can be heard/viewed by the user. Some embodiments provide for recording multiple signal episodes, multi-signal channel episodes, variable length episodes, simultaneous record and playback, episode deletion, variation of sampling rate, skip forward, reverse, and squelch.