Abstract: A tracking control system is proposed for realizing a tracking control in a trick play reproduction mode in a helical scan reproduction apparatus. The tracking is based on the derivation of a tracking error control signal from the track numbers and the sync block numbers of the sync blocks read from the tracks in the trick play reproduction mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording an information signal forming slant tracks (Ti) on a magnetic record carrier (16), and for recording a control (CTL) signal forming a longitudinal CTL track (50). At least one write head (10) located on a rotatable head drum (14) writes the information signal on the record carrier to produce the slant tracks, while a CTL write head (34) writes the CTL signal at a specific frequency on the record carrier. In a first recording mode, a portion of the information signal is recorded by the write head (10) to produce a track during each revolution of the head drum on the record carrier, the frequency of the CTL signal being such that an edge in the CTL signal is written in the CTL track for each of the tracks, and the record carrier (16) being transported with a predetermined first speed, and the head drum (14) being rotated with a predetermined rotational velocity.

Abstract: When recording a preamble signal and nT precoded data, a switch is provided for obtaining a serial datastream of the preamble signal and the precoded data for recording in a track on a record carrier. Various solutions are described for improving syncword detection upon reproduction of the recorded data. In one such solution, an nT precoder is provided. The nT precoder includes a signal combination unit and a delay unit for realizing a signal delay of nT. Further, a switching unit is provided having a first and a second input, an output and a control signal input. The second input of the switching unit is coupled to an output of the signal combination unit, and the output of the switching unit is coupled to an input of the nT delay unit.

Abstract: A magnetic-tape recording/reproducing arrangement of the "helical scan" type adapted to record and/or reproduce a digitally coded video signal, includes a coding device (3). In the recording mode, the coding device (3) performs channel-encoding upon a digital recording signal (C) so as to form a channel signal (D) for recording on the magnetic tape (7.1). In the reproduction mode, the coding device (3) performs channel-decoding upon the channel signal (H) read from the magnetic tape (7.1), so that a digital reproduction signal is formed which is a replica of the original recording signal (C). For this purpose, the coding device (3) includes a data sequence generator (3.3) adapted to generate a data sequence (E) defined by the polynomial P(X)=X.sup.15 +X.sup.A +1, where A=7 or 8. Furthermore, the coding device (3) may include an XOR circuit (3.2) in which the signal (C, H) to be processed is combined with the generated data sequence (E), and a selection circuit (3.