Abstract: A recording head arrangement is disclosed which may be employed in a video signal recording and/or reproducing device in which a video tape is helically wound on a drum carrying recording heads for recording and/or reproducing a video signal. The video signal is divided for representing upper and lower half images on a screen. The recording head arrangement includes first and second heads mounted on the drum adjacent each other. The first and second heads have the same azimuth angle which is inclined in a first direction with respect to a direction perpendicular to the head advancing direction. Third and fourth heads are mounted on the drum 180 degrees spaced from the first and second heads, respectively. The third and fourth heads have the same azimuth angle which is inclined in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: The video recording and reproducing system disclosed herein is adapted to perform record and/or playback in two selectable modes. In one mode of operation termed "standard mode," only one field of television video signal is recorded on or reproduced from each of the oblique tracks on a recording medium. In the other mode of operation termed "period expansion mode," n fields of the television video signal (n : multiple integer equal two, to or more than two) may be recorded on or reproduced from each of the oblique tracks. A switchover from the standard mode to the period expansion mode is achieved by a 1/n reduction of relative speed between the recording medium and rotary transducing head assembly.