Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reproducing digital video signals in which every one-frame data of the digital video signals are recorded on n tracks of a recording medium by an inclined azimuth recording system are varying speed reproduced by a rotary head having n heads with a varying playback speed such that A=a(t.multidot.m.+-.1)/n, where a is a constant equal to 1 or 2 and m is a constant which is an integer other than 0. A picture corresponding to the digital video signals read out with the varying playback speed S is displayed on the screen. In this manner, non-continuous lines caused by temporal difference in neighboring macro-blocks during varying speed reproduction may be rendered less obtrusive for improving the picture quality of the varying speed reproduced picture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording digital video signals in which digital video signals in the form of DCT coefficients, obtained by e.g., discrete cosine transform, are quantized and compressed so as to be recorded on a recording medium. A first quantization step decision unit determines a quantization step in terms of a video segment made up of plural macro-blocks as a unit so that the quantity of quantized data is less than a pre-set data quantity. A second quantization step decision unit determines a quantization step in terms of the macro-blocks as a unit so that the quantity of quantized data is less than the pre-set data quantity. A quantization unit quantizes the digital video signals with the quantization steps determined by the first quantization step decision unit and the second quantization step decision unit. This enables efficient encoding and improved picture quality.