Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information units recorded on a recording medium in a hierarchical structure having a plurality of levels. In the hierarchical structure, the information units are divided into a plurality of groups, and the groups are respectively assigned to the levels. The apparatus includes: an input device that receives an input instruction to designate one of the information units; a number determination device that determines the number of the information units included in each group; a level determination device that determines, on the basis of a determination of the number determination device, one of the levels to be searched in order to identify the designated information unit; and a reproduction device that identifies the designated information unit by searching the level determined by the level designation device, and reproduces the identified information unit.

Abstract: A first reproduction circuit reproduces a digital stereo audio signal from a signal which is read by means of a pickup from a disc loaded at a playback position, and a second reproduction circuit reproduces an analog audio signal from the signal read by the pickup. When the disc loaded at the playback position is identified as being a Laser vision Disc with Digital sound (LDD) disc, the stereo audio signal outputted from the first reproduction circuit is mixed with the analog audio signal outputted from the second reproduction circuit, such that a vocal portion of a reproduction can be reproduced together with an accompaniment portion of the reproduction, in a stereo mode.

Abstract: A disc player capable of playing discs of different types such as: discs where only a digital audio signal is contained in a first frequency band; discs where only an analog audio signal is contained in a frequency band other than the first frequency band; and, discs where digital and audio signals are contained in the first frequency band and the other frequency band. Processing arrangements are further included to determine (according to disc size and/or presence of a table of contents) whether a currently loaded disc is recorded in the same format as a previous disc which was loaded immediately prior thereto, and if the same, playing the currently loaded disc according to the same reproduction settings as those for the previous disc.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus mixes the voice information from a microphone and the information reproduced from a recording medium in which a vocal signal plus an instrumental signal is contained as a first signal in a first channel and only an instrumental signal is contained as a second signal in a second channel. A first mixing circuit mixes the first signal and the second signal. The output of the first mixing circuit is mixed by a second mixing circuit with the voice information from the microphone. A control circuit or audio detecting circuit provides a control signal in accordance with the level of the voice information from the microphone. The control signal controls a selection control circuit to gradually and smoothly vary the mixing ratio of the first signal and the second signal when mixing these two signals.