Abstract: The method of recording and reading audio information signals in digital form includes detecting, during time compression of digital signals, a chain of code values of the digital signal corresponding to a pause in the audio signal, measuring the duration of this chain of code values of the digital signal and shaping a pause identifier code and a pause duration code for subsequent recording with the digital signal. Furthermore, in the reading mode, time decompression of the digital signal includes detecting the pause identifier code and the pause duration code and using them to restore the duration of said chain of code values of the digital signal. To perform this method, the apparatus comprises a pause decoder (17), a pause identifier code shaper (18), a pause identifier code decoder (19), a condition (20) of pause duration count control signals and a pause duration counter (21).