Abstract: A recording system such as a magnetic tape data recording and reproducing system is arranged to record data management information to three different storage devices. The recording system records management information on a record medium such as a tape, a cassette memory built in a tape cassette and a recorder memory of the recording system. A control section of the recording system first reads the management information from the cassette memory, further reads the management information from the recorder memory if the management information of the cassette memory is insufficient, and finally reads the management information from the record medium if the management information of the recorder memory is still insufficient.