Abstract: A tape-tension control circuit for preventing an over-voltage from being applied by a phase locked loop (PPL) to drive a reel motor for use in a video recording/reproducing apparatus upon selection of an initial search operation. First multiplexer 10 outputs selectively a frequency signal according to the rotation of a take-up reel or a supply reel thereof. Control circuit 20 synthesizes the output of the first multiplexor with a bias voltage to drive the reel motor at the least speed. Second multiplexor 50 receives at each input the synthesized output of the control circuit 20, and the phase-locked-loop output of the first multiplexor 10. The second multiplexor 50 consequently outputs control signals to control the operation of motor driver coupled to a reel motor. Comparator 40 compares the synthesized output of the control circuit 20 with a specified reference voltage, thereby controlling the multiplexing operation of the second multiplexor 50.