Abstract: A magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprises a cassette discriminating circuit for discriminating whether a loaded tape cassette accommodates a standard tape or a high performance tape in a recording mode, a mode discriminating circuit for discriminating from a signal reproduced from the tape in a reproducing mode a mode with which the tape was recorded at the time of the recording, and a switching circuit for automatically switching the operation mode to a predetermined mode responsive to the discrimination made by the cassette discriminating circuit in the recording mode and responsive to the discrimination made by the mode discriminating circuit in the reproducing mode. The high performance tape is playable either in a standard mode or a high quality mode.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus for carrying out a recording by selectively using one of two kinds of recording systems comprises first through fourth rotary magnetic heads, a first circuit for producing an FM luminance signal, second and third circuits for producing first and second frequency division multiplexed signals, and a switching circuit. The first and second heads are mounted on a rotary body at mutually opposing positions, and have the same height position. The third and fourth heads are mounted on the rotary body at mutually opposing positions respectively in vicinities of the first and second heads along a rotating direction of the rotary body, and have the same height position.

Abstract: A rotary transformer is employed in a 4-head type recording and/or reproducing apparatus which has a rotary body which is wrapped with a magnetic tape, and four heads mounted 90.degree. apart from each other on the rotary body for recording and/or reproducing a video signal onto and/or from the tape. The rotary transformer device comprises a rotary core which has five circular grooves formed in one surface thereof and is rotated unitarily with the rotary body, a first short-circuiting ring embedded in a center groove among the five grooves of the rotary body, first through fourth ring-shaped coils embedded in the remaining four grooves of the rotary body, a stationary core which is stationary at a location separated from and opposing the rotary core and has five circular grooves, a second short-circuiting ring embedded in a center groove among the five grooves of the stationary core, and fifth through eighth ring-shaped coils embedded in the remaining four grooves of the stationary core.

Abstract: A cue signal recording circuit for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprises an erase signal generator for generating an erase signal having a relatively high frequency, a symmetry varying circuit responsive to a first external signal having a relatively low frequency for varying the symmetry of the waveform of the output erase signal of the erase signal generator at the relatively low frequency, a switch having a first input terminal applied with the output erase signal of the erase signal generator and a second input terminal applied with an output signal of the symmetry varying circuit, where the switch is connected to the second input terminal so as to pass the output signal of the symmetry varying circuit for a predetermined short time period and is thereafter connected to the first input terminal so as to pass the output erase signal of the erase signal generator responsive to a second external signal, and an erase head supplied with the output signal of the switching for recording on a m

Abstract: A recording/reproduced signal switching system for a 4-head type recording and reproducing apparatus, comprises a circuit for rotating a rotary body which has four heads mounted equally spaced apart so that adjacent heads are separated by 90.degree., where a magnetic tape is wrapped around a peripheral surface of the rotary body over an angular range which is equal to or greater than 270.degree. but less than 360.degree., a circuit for driving the tape to travel, four rotary transformers for performing transmission and reception of signals with respect to the four heads, four preamplifiers supplied with reproduced signals from the four heads, a first switch circuit for selectively and successively supplying a recording video signal to one of the four heads with a period which is approximately equal to a period in which the rotary body undergoes a 270.degree.-rotation, a second switch circuit for subjecting input terminals of three of the four preamplifiers to A.C.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing system for a 4-head type recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprises a circuit for recording a head discriminating information signal of each of the four heads during the recording, a circuit for reproducing this head discriminating information signal during the reproduction, and a circuit for controlling the rotational phase of the heads so that the recorded tracks on the magnetic tape are reproduced by the same heads which recorded these tracks at the time of the recording. In addition, a magnetic tape having such a discriminating signal recorded thereon, can be played in a conventional 2-head recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A tracking control system in a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus having one or a plurality of rotary heads for reproducing a signal by successively scanning oblique tracks on a magnetic tape, comprises a head moving mechanism for moving at least one rotary head along a direction of its height, a head moving signal applying circuit for generating a head moving signal in the form of a square wave which rises and falls for every 2nT (n is an integer, and T is a period in which one rotary head scans one track) period, when the rotary head scans the track with the same scanning pattern in units of 2nT period, to apply this head moving signal to the head moving mechanism, and a tracking control circuit for comparing a level of a reproduced signal at a position separated by a predetermined distance from an end part of the reproduced signal track by scanning the track in a state where the rotary head is moved to one side by the head moving mechanism, and a level of a reproduced signal at a position separat

Abstract: A tracking error detection system in a magnetic reproducing apparatus having M rotary heads where M is an integer and M rotary heads respectively and successively scan over oblique tracks on a magnetic tape to reproduce signals, comprises a head moving mechanism for moving at least one rotary head along a height direction thereof, a head moving signal generating circuit for generating a head moving signal having a square wave shape wherein a rise and a fall are obtained for every M.multidot.