Abstract: An optical reproducing apparatus and method, with an automatic gain control therefor. The optical reproducing apparatus may include an optical pickup reading out data from an optical disk, an automatic gain controller operating in one of a first amplification mode and a second amplification mode, and a main controller controlling an amplification mode of the automatic gain controller according to the location of the optical pickup. In the first amplification mode, the automatic gain controller amplifies a gain of a RF signal read out by the optical pickup at a fixed amplification rate for a recoding area of the optical disk, and in the second amplification mode, the automatic gain controller adjusts adaptively an amplification rate according to an input level of the RF signal for a non-recording area of the optical disk.

Abstract: A pre-pit signal detecting apparatus and a method thereof are disclosed. According to embodiments of the present invention, by adjusting an amplifying level for a push-pull signal according to a radio frequency (RF) sum signal generated on the basis on a signal detected by an optical pickup, a level difference can be reduced between a signal detected from a pre-pit adjacent to a marked area and a signal detected from the pre-pit adjacent to a space area. Therefore, the pre-pit signal formed in a land track can be effectively detected.