Abstract: In apparatus for recording/reproducing a composite video signal on and from a rotary recording medium (1), the field of the composite video signal is detected and only odd or even field signal is delayed by one half (H/2) a horizontal scanning period so that the composite video signal is changed to a modified composite video signal which is recorded on the rotary recording medium (1) together with a field distinguishing signal (Sf) produced using the result of the field detection. The field distinguishing signal (Sf) is arranged to be located at a given time position with respect to a predetermined vertical sync signal of every one frame period of the recording signal on a rotary recording medium (1) driven and rotated at a rotational period equal to the vertical scanning period of the composite video signal.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head device comprises a rotary body mounted with rotary magnetic heads which rotate while scanning over a traveling magnetic tape, where the heads scan over tracks formed obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the tape to reproduce recorded signals, a bearing mechanism for bearing the rotary body in a freely rotatable state and so that the rotary body is freely displaceable along an axial direction thereof, and a displacing mechanism for displacing the rotary body along the axial direction thereof so that the heads follow and scan over the tape.