Abstract: In a calibration operation mode of a magnetic tape recorder for helical track recording, employing the R-DAT standard, a first magnitude of a pilot signal reproduced in a first magnetic head from a pilot signal recorded in a center track with respect to the first magnetic head is obtained. A second magnitude of a pilot signal reproduced in a second magnetic head from a pilot signal recorded in a center track with respect to the second magnetic head is also obtained. A ratio between the first and second magnitudes is calculated and stored prior to normal playback mode of operation. During normal playback mode of operation, the stored ratio is used for normalizing a first difference signal, between crosstalk pilot signals that are reproduced in one of the first and second magnetic heads relative to a second difference signal, between crosstalk pilot signals that are reproduced in the other one of the first and second magnetic heads.