Abstract: A single channel circuit and method for the automatic edit optimization of a recording medium which is operable with a recorder such as a video tape recorder or a disc recorder utilizes the difference between signal outputs from an automatic scan tracking playback head and a record, head to provide a difference signal indicative of the rf amplitude fluctuations caused by scene or data pattern variations of the data stored on the recording medium. A correction signal corresponding to the difference signal is stored, and used as a feedback signal to normalize the gain of a variable gain amplifier. The single channel is switched at a predetermined rate between circuitry coupled to the automatic scan tracking playback head and circuitry coupled to the record head in order to obtain rf amplitude samples from both heads to develop the correction signal. Thereby, the correction signal allows a precise edit optimize so that a subsequent edit operation such as an insert edit can be precisely performed.

Abstract: A record current optimization technique includes a magnetic reference tape pre-recorded with a selected frequency at a precisely known level into the tape. A magnetic tape recorder is loaded with the reference tape, and a reference playback level is recovered from the reference tape with a playback head, and is stored or otherwise noted. A recording at the selected frequency then is made with a record head on an unrecorded portion of the reference tape. The new recording is simultaneously read out with the playback head and record current automatically or manually is adjusted until the new playback level matches the reference playback level. A value corresponding to this optimized record current is stored. The record head thus is optimized for any subsequent recording process, by selecting the stored value corresponding to this value. The optimization technique may be employed to optimize record currents in audio, video and data, analog or digital, recorders.