Abstract: A signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as a video tape recorder or the like, records and/or reproduces an information signal indicating a date of recording, a video signal and a PCM signal from a helical track on a record medium, such as a magnetic tape. The track has first and second portions which respectively record the PCM signal and the video signal. In certain advantageous embodiments, the information signal is recorded in a guard band area between the first and second portions of the track. The apparatus has the capability of selectively superimposing the date information on the video signal for display. A record medium in which a plurality of such helical tracks are formed may be searched to locate signals recorded on a selected date, thus providing a convenient search capability which is implemented in a simple and straightforward manner.

Abstract: In an apparatus which employs rotary heads for recording a video signal and a Pulse Code Modulated signal in first and second areas along successive slant tracks on a magnetic tape scanned by the heads and for recording a subcode signal in a third area in each slant track between the respective first and second areas; a pulse generator provides a pulse signal indicating a rotational position of each rotary head, the beginning of the subcode signal recorded in the third area of each track is dependent on the pulse signal, the end of the Pulse Code Modulated signal recorded in the respective first area is detected, and an erasing code signal is supplied to the rotary head scanning the tape for recording in an area of the respective slant track extending from the detected end of the Pulse Code Modulated signal in the first area to the position at which the recorded subcode signal begins in the third area.