Abstract: A device for reproducing a picture without noises in slow and/or high speed search modes of operation and a method therefor. The device records an address indicative of tape position on a control track of a video tape, the address being comprised of a single address block; jumps over a certain number of the addresses when operating in the slow mode of operation, to perform accurate tracking and thereafter reading picture data, records the picture data in a memory, and reproduces the picture data repeatedly during jumping over the certain number of addresses; switches successively the heads substantially at 1/4 and 3/4 positions of a full control tracking time when operating in the high speed search mode of operation, thereby recording the picture data in the memory so as to form a complete picture of one frame to be reproduced.

Abstract: A digital image signal playback circuit, the amount of hardware of which is greatly reduced. The circuit converts serial data transmitted in two channels into parallel data, corrects their time base errors by controlling how the parallel data is written into and read from memories, detects a synchronizing signal in the single channel output from the memories, and determines and outputs the original image signal from the single channel signal that may contain errors from the recording and playback operation.