Abstract: A method of manufacturing a patterned data/information storage and retrieval medium in the form of an annular disk having an outer diameter, a central opening defining an inner diameter, and opposed first and second major surfaces, the method including inserting a smaller diameter cylindrical shaft of a stamping/imprinting tool in the central opening and biasing the inner diameter of the disk into contact with the cylindrical shaft at a pre-selected location along the inner diameter of the disk during stamping/imprinting of a pre-selected pattern such as a servo pattern in at least one of the first and second major surfaces of the disk, the biasing creating a space between the inner diameter of the disk and the surface of the cylindrical shaft which has a maximum width at a location diametrically opposite the pre-selected location.

Abstract: Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

Abstract: Security of contents data can be enhanced by providing ID information in each of the recording tracks. The ID information can be made tamper proof by burying the ID information that is difficult to be rewritten in a substrate itself of a magnetic recording medium. This protect contents data from copyright piracy, such as unauthorized copying and tampering of the contents by relating contents data to be recorded to the buried ID information. The track ID information can be buried in each of the recording tracks with a pattern of pits formed in a non-magnetic substrate. When reading the contents data recorded in the recording track, the track ID information of the recording track is read out together with the contents data.

Abstract: An optical recording medium copying apparatus and method provides applying power to two compact disc rewritable (CDRW) drives and copying data recorded on a first optical recording medium in one of the CDRW drives to a second optical recording medium in the other CDRW drive, without a PC system or a recording application program. A transmitting optical recording medium drive transmits data recorded on the first optical recording medium when both a predetermined power and a copying signal are applied to the transmitting drive. A receiving optical recording medium drive receives the data from the transmitting drive when both a predetermined power and a copying signal are applied to the receiving drive, and records the received data on the first optical recording medium. Communication lines between the transmitting and receiving drives are used to transmit data recorded on the first optical recording medium to the second optical recording medium.

Abstract: A positioning mark of a soft magnetic film is provided at the center of a master disk, and a beam from a light source irradiates the position of the mark. When a optical reception sensor using a CCD recognizes the mark, the recognizability of the positioning mark can be improved by using a wavelength selective filter or a laser as the light source. Additionally, the recognizability of the positioning mark can be improved by forming the positioning mark using a material other than a soft magnetic material.

Abstract: A method for copying disks, tapes and similar information supports, and corresponding public automatic machine for copying or duplicating information supports.

Abstract: A musical tune playback control apparatus adapted to a music playback apparatus performs prescribed musical tune playback controls on a digital audio medium (or a digital storage medium, e.g., a CD and a MD) in association with a storage device such as a hard disk drive. Musical tune data recorded on digital audio media satisfying prescribed conditions are automatically selected and are transferred to the storage device, thus allowing the user to easily create a musical tune collection or an album collection suiting the user's preferences. Prescribed conditions are described in such a way that musical tune data are reproduced over a prescribed time or more, or musical tune data are repeatedly reproduced a prescribed number of times or more, for example. Thus, it is possible to reduce a user's burden to perform troublesome operations in selecting musical tune data suiting the user's preferences.

Abstract: A magnetic transfer method for magnetically transferring information signals such as servo signals from a master medium to a slave medium, capable of reducing a range of signal missing due to insufficient contact of the two mediums originating from an adhering substance, thus enhancing signal quality. When the master medium bearing an information signal and the slave medium are brought into close contact with each other, a transferring magnetic field is applied thereto, thus magnetically transferring the information signal from the master medium to the slave medium. An elastic member made of a material having an elastic property so as to deform in accordance with a surface shape of the slave medium during contact pressure application and to restore to an original surface shape thereof during release of the slave medium from the master medium can be interposed between a back of the slave medium and a pressing surface of a pressing support member.

Abstract: Upon receiving from a content size comparison section that the total data size of contents specified by a user is larger the free storage space of a recording medium, a specified size recording section instructs a transfer control section to record the specified contents onto a plurality of recording mediums in units of contents on the basis of content management information stored in a management information storage section and the free storage space of the recording medium detected by a free storage space detection section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method detecting whether a signal read from an optical disc has a defect. The apparatus generates a defect signal of an optical disc and includes an average maximum value detecting unit, an average minimum value detecting unit, an instantaneous maximum value detecting unit, an instantaneous minimum value detecting unit, and a defect signal generating unit. The average maximum value detecting unit receives a predetermined RF signal for a predetermined period of time and calculates an average maximum value of maximum values of the RF signal. The average minimum value detecting unit receives the predetermined RF signal for a predetermined period of time and calculates an average minimum value of minimum values of the RF signal. The instantaneous maximum value detecting unit receives the RF signal and calculates an instantaneous maximum value that is a maximum value of the RF signal at an instant of time when the RF signal is input.

Abstract: Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for magnetic transfer, said method comprising the steps of arranging permanent magnets each having magnetic field symmetrical to the axis of the magnetic pole at least on one of upper or lower surfaces of the slave medium with the axis of the magnetic pole disposed in parallel to the surface of the slave medium, rotating the slave medium or the permanent magnet in track direction, performing initial DC magnetization on the slave medium in advance in track direction, bringing the master carrier for magnetic transfer closely together with the slave medium processed by said initial DC magnetization, and performing magnetic transfer by applying magnetic field for transfer in track direction reverse to the direction of the initial DC magnetization on the surface of the slave medium.

Abstract: A method allows point-in-time viewing of session data for multiple sessions being stored on a disk. Session bits are set for the session data in memory which points to the data at any particular point in time, and this can be done for multiple sessions. In order to make the session data persistent, separate session bits are stored in a portion of a disk reserved for such session bits. Thus, in the event of failure where session bits which are stored in volatile memory such as RAM, are lost, the duplicate copy set in the non-volatile memory can be used to recreate the session once the failure is corrected.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic transfer method in which a magnetic transfer master carrier having a magnetic layer at a surface portion of a substrate having an information signal is brought in contact with a magnetic recording medium that is an associated slave medium and a transfer magnetic field is applied to the slave medium. The coercive force Hcs of the slave magnetic recording medium and the transfer magnetic field satisfies the relation: 0.6×Hcs≦transfer magnetic field≦1.

Abstract: A holder for magnetic transfer is formed by a chamber base and a chamber body which are moved toward and away from each other and form therebetween an inner space in which a master information carrier and a slave medium are accommodated and held in close contact with each other. The holder is provided at different parts with a first sealing portion for sealing the inner space between the chamber base and the chamber body and a second sealing portion allowing the pressing faces of the chamber base and the chamber body to move toward each other to press the master information carrier and the slave medium against each other with the inner space kept sealed.

Abstract: A recording disc has a lead-in area and a data area. A scrambled version of a SID code word is read out from the lead-in area of the disc. The SID code word represents a producer of the disc. The readout scrambled version is de-scrambled to recover the SID code word. The recovered SID code word is collated with reference SID code words to decide whether or not the disc is legitimate. Main information is read out from the data area of the disc when it is decided that the disc is legitimate. Readout of the main information from the data area of the disc is inhibited when it is decided that the disc is not legitimate.

Abstract: A dubbing apparatus to dub data managed per program like audio data such as a piece of music is provided. In the dubbing apparatus, for passing output data read from a CD through a CD drive for compression of the data and transferring the compressed data for recording to an HD drive, an HD TOC being breakpoint information is generated based on specified information indicative of a track break of output data read from the HD drive. The HD drive generates a FAT based on the HD TOC. In the HD drive, the dubbed data can be managed per track accurately and properly without having to monitor any information indicative of each track break such as sub Q data synchronously with a stream of dubbing data.

Abstract: A time counting device, a cache memory and a copy control circuit are added to a conventional disk drive so that recorded information is copied periodically and automatically. Alternatively, a cache memory, a copy control circuit, a reference control circuit, a first time counting device and a second time counting device are added to the conventional disk drive so that information which remains recorded for a predetermined period of time after its last recording date is automatically copied. According to another embodiment, a reference signal is recorded in advance and a reproduced output is periodically measured. If the reproduced output is lower than a reference value, recorded information is automatically copied. According to yet another embodiment, the temperature in the disk drive is measured by a thermometer 18, and if the temperature is higher than a reference value, information is automatically copied at shorter intervals than when the temperature is less than the reference value.

Abstract: A master information carrier comprises a substrate whose surface has an embossed pattern corresponding to an information signal. At least a surface of the protruding portion of the embossed pattern is made of a ferromagnetic material. A method for writing an information signal into a sheet or disk magnetic record medium with a ferromagnetic thin film or coating is performed by putting the surface of the magnetic record medium into contact with the master information carrier so as to write a magnetized pattern corresponding to the embossed pattern of the master information carrier into the magnetic record medium.

Abstract: A master information carrier comprises a substrate whose surface has an embossed pattern corresponding to an information signal. At least a surface of the protruding portion of the embossed pattern is made of a ferromagnetic material. A method for writing an information signal into a sheet or disk magnetic record medium with a ferromagnetic thin film or coating is performed by putting the surface of the magnetic record medium into contact with the master information carrier so as to write a magnetized pattern corresponding to the embossed pattern of the master information carrier into the magnetic record medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for magnetic transfer, the method including the steps of arranging a pair of permanent magnets each having magnetic field symmetrical to the axis of the magnetic pole and with the same polarities facing to each other with the axis of the magnetic pole running perpendicularly to the surface of the slave medium, and arranging two pairs of said permanent magnets at adjacent positions so that the adjacent magnets have the poles with opposite polarities adjacent to each other, rotating the slave medium or the two pairs of permanent magnets in track direction, and applying magnetic field in track direction on the surface of the slave medium, performing initial DC magnetization on the slave medium in advance in track direction, bringing the master carrier for magnetic transfer and the slave medium processed by said initial DC magnetization closely together, and performing magnetic transfer by applying magnetic field for transfer in a direction reverse to the direction of the i

Abstract: A disk-cloning method and system is provided for cloning computer data from a source disk to a target disk. This disk-cloning method and system can be utilized, for example, in the computer assembly line to clone a preselected set of software programs to the main hard disk of each computer unit, or as a backup to a hard disk. This disk-cloning method and system is characterized in that the source data are read from the source disk and written onto the target disk in a sector-by-sector manner rather than in a file-by-file manner as the prior art. This feature allows the cloning procedure to be more efficiently carried out than the prior art. Moreover, it allows the disk-cloning procedure to be performed without having to make modifications to the existing FDT (File Directory Table) and FAT (File Allocation Table) on the target disk, thus ensuring the system security of the target disk. This disk-cloning method and system is therefore more reliable and efficient to use than the prior art.

Abstract: A magnetic transfer method for magnetically transferring information signals such as servo signals from a master medium to a slave medium, capable of reducing a range of signal missing due to insufficient contact of the two mediums originating from an adhering substance, thus enhancing signal quality. When the master medium bearing an information signal and the slave medium are brought into close contact with each other, a transferring magnetic field is applied thereto, thus magnetically transferring the information signal from the master medium to the slave medium. An elastic member made of a material having an elastic property so as to deform in accordance with a surface shape of the slave medium during contact pressure application and to restore to an original surface shape thereof during release of the slave medium from the master medium can be interposed between a back of the slave medium and a pressing surface of a pressing support member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for magnetic transfer and an apparatus for magnetic transfer, by which it is possible to transfer a transfer pattern with high quality from a master carrier for magnetic transfer to a slave medium by magnetic transfer regardless of position of the magnetic pattern. The method and the apparatus for magnetic transfer according to the present invention are used to apply magnetic field for transfer by bringing the master carrier for magnetic transfer into contact with the slave medium, the master carrier having a magnetic layer formed on a portion corresponding to an information signal on surface of a substrate, and the slave medium being a magnetic recording medium for receiving magnetic transfer after performing initial DC magnetization by a magnetic field by more than 1.

Abstract: A controller rotates, using a spindle motor, a first disk medium and at least one second disk medium in a state in which the first and second disk mediums are stacked. In this state, the controller controls a VCM on the basis of first head positioning information read by a first head from the first disk medium. As a result, a carriage that supports the first and second heads is driven to position the first and second heads in respective target radial positions on the first and second disk mediums. The controller causes the second head to write second head positioning information to the second disk medium, while changing the target radial position in increments of a predetermined pitch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for magnetic transfer, which including the steps of: arranging permanent magnets each magnetized symmetrically to the axis of the magnetic pole with the same polarities facing to each other and with the slave medium interposed between, and disposing the slave medium perpendicularly to the axis of the magnetic pole, rotating the slave medium or the permanent magnets in track direction; and applying magnetic field in track direction on the surface of the slave medium, whereby: after initial DC magnetization has been formed on the slave medium in advance in track direction, the master carrier for magnetic transfer and the slave medium processed by the initial DC magnetization are brought closely together, and a magnetic field for transfer in reverse direction to the direction of the initial DC magnetization on the surface of the slave medium is applied in track direction, and magnetic transfer is performed.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method and apparatus for writing servo information on disks to be used in a hard disk drive assembly. In one embodiment, servo information is pre-written onto a disk using an offline servo track writer which employs a fluid dynamic bearing spindle to rotate the disk(s) during read/write operations. In another embodiment, servo information is written onto a disk by a method of track following on a reference disk using an offline servo track writer.

Abstract: In a playback control apparatus 11, 115a, 112a for controlling a playback apparatus 100a that plays back a content C and transmits the content to a recording apparatus 200a for external transfer, a data manager 111 sequentially transmits a plurality of pieces of content data Dc1 through Dcn from a content source 110 to the recording apparatus 200a. A command transmitter/receiver 114 determines whether the recording apparatus 200a is capable of recording. Based on the determination result, the data transmitter 111 is controlled. Thus, it is possible to provide a playback control method and a playback control apparatus that can discontinue a playback process carried out by the playback apparatus even when the recording apparatus falls into a state of incapable of recording the content while the content is being transferred from the playback apparatus to the recording apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and to reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium. The present recording medium has script files including additional information about moving picture data, e.g., scene descriptive text and introduction of characters, etc. In addition, information linking each script file with a section of moving picture data to be presented with contents of the script file is included in a link data file or is contained in a filename of the script file. In reproduction of the recording medium, a script file linked with presently reproduced moving picture data section is determined and searched for based on the link data file or every filename of the script files, and contents of the found script file are presented together with the presently reproduced moving picture data. Furthermore, previously presented additional information is removed depending on data or filename of the found script file.

Abstract: A single disk drive uses data mirroring techniques to store data within the drive. Each piece of data received by the disk drive for storage is written to at least two different storage locations within the drive. Preferably, each of the different storage locations occurs on a different disk surface, but within the same cylinder, of the drive. In one embodiment, each disk surface in the disk drive is divided into N distinct regions that are each 360/N degrees out of phase with one another. Each region on a disk surface is aligned with a corresponding region on each other disk surface in the disk drive. Data stored in each region on a disk surface is then mirrored within a different region on a different disk surface in the drive. Using such a technique allows a significant reduction in latency to be achieved during subsequent read operations.

Abstract: A process that ensures the destruction of data files a user wishes to completely erase from a storage medium, such as a hard drive or removable disk. A system administrator can select a quantity of and pattern to be used in overwrites of the data file so that no one can recover the data from the storage medium. In embodiments, a graphical user interface (GUI) can be provided to allow user triggering of and parameter setting for the process. The GUI can be implemented at a device in which the storage medium is a component or can be implemented in a device driver GUI on a personal computer in communication with the device.

Abstract: A time counting device, a cache memory and a copy control circuit are added to a conventional disk drive so that recorded information is copied periodically and automatically. Alternatively, a cache memory, a copy control circuit, a reference control circuit, a first time counting device and a second time counting device are added to the conventional disk drive so that information which remains recorded for a predetermined period of time after its last recording date is automatically copied. According to another embodiment, a reference signal is recorded in advance and a reproduced output is periodically measured. If the reproduced output is lower than a reference value, recorded information is automatically copied. According to yet another embodiment, the temperature in the disk drive is measured by a thermometer 18, and if the temperature is higher than a reference value, information is automatically copied at shorter intervals than when the temperature is less than the reference value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating processed copies (202) of a stream of audiovisual information (201), in which the processed copies are represented by a playlist file (240). The playlist file (240) indicates which fragments of the original stream of audiovisual information (202) are comprised in the processed copy (202). The method also enables a user to add markers (321) and additional information (421) to the processed copy by incorporating extra information in a playlist file.

Abstract: A signal is recorded on and reproduced from a first tape-like storage medium. At least one indexing signal is recorded on the first storage medium. Or, at least one indexing signal already recorded on the first storage medium is detected. The location of the indexing signal is determined as an indexing position. The signal that has been recorded on the first storage medium is recorded on a randomly accessible second storage medium from the indexing position for a specific period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dubbing a recording tape in a video recording and reproducing device. A source video recording and reproducing device reproduces data of a source recording tape in response to a dubbing demand from a user and confirms an error recording portion and a data unrecorded portion. The source video recording and reproducing device performs error correction with respect to the error recording portion and generates a non-recording control pulse with respect to the data unrecorded portion. The reproduced data and the non-recording control pulse is transmitted to a target video recording and reproducing device. The target video recording and reproducing device records, in a target recording tape, the reproduced data except data transmitted during an interval of the non-recording control pulse.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a reproducing member for reproducing number-of-times-of-copy information and possible-number-of-times-of-copy information recorded on a recording medium, a renewing circuit for renewing the number-of-times-of-copy information reproduced by the reproducing member, a determining circuit for determining whether or not it is possible to perform copying by comparing the possible-number-of-times-of-copy information with the number-of-times-of-copy information, and a recording member for recording the number-of-times-of-copy information renewed by the renewing circuit on the recording medium.

Abstract: If only any of a pair of an SS anti-duplication control signal S5 and copy guard signal S6 generated correlatively each other added on the video signal played back from the disk is detected, or if the specific anti-duplication control signal is not detected, the video signal recorded in the disk is judged to be an illegally duplicated video signal, and the output control signal generation section controls the output control section so as not to output the playback video signal S4.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus comprising a reproducing member for reproducing number-of-times-of-copy information and possible-number-of-times-of-copy information recorded on a recording medium, a renewing circuit for renewing the number-of-times-of-copy information reproduced by the reproducing member, a determining circuit for determining whether or not it is possible to perform copying by comparing the possible-number-of-times-of-copy information with the number-of-times-of-copy information, and a recording member for recording the number-of-times-of-copy information renewed by the renewing circuit on the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention includes a drive control integrated circuit with an intelligent and efficient tracing capability. The drive control integrated circuit executes operating instructions grouped into modules. The drive control integrated circuit stores the module numbers for executed modules in a memory. System designers can then retrieve the module numbers from the memory to assess the operation of the drive control integrated circuit. Some typical modules are read, write, seek, error, and servo modules. The drive control integrated circuit also stores operating parameters associated with the executed modules in the memory. Some typical operating parameters are instruction codes, head numbers, cylinder numbers, and error codes. The invention allows system designers to specify a particular trace operation and wait for the drive control integrated circuit to load the module numbers and operational parameters of interest into the memory.

Abstract: If only any one of a pair of an SS anti-duplication control signal S5 and copy guard signal S6 generated correlatively each other added on the video signal played back from the disk is detected, or if the specific anti-duplication control signal is not detected, the video signal recorded in the disk is judged to be an illegally duplicated video signal, and the output control signal generation section controls the output control section so as not to output the playback video signal S4.

Abstract: An analog control signal with an index signal recorded in a first magnetic tape is reproduced in synchronization with the reproduction of an AV digital signal recorded in the first magnetic tape. The index signal corresponds to a leading position of the AV digital signal. When the index signal is detected, an index code is prepared, and the index code and the AV digital signal are packed in an isochronous packet. The index code corresponds to the leading position of the AV digital signal. The isochronous packet is transmitted to a recording VCR through a packet transmission line, and the AV digital signal extracted from the packet is recorded in a second magnetic tape. Also, when the index code of the packet is detected, a duty ratio of a specific group of pulses of a control signal generated in the recording VCR is changed to reproduce the index signal.

Abstract: Each of slave recorders includes a rotary drum, heads mounted on the rotary drum at positions spaced from a phase reference position on the rotary drum by different angular intervals respectively, and an arrangement for selecting at least one from the heads as an active head in accordance with a designated recording mode. Non-delayed stream data are delayed by a delay time interval to form delayed stream data. A distributor operates for distributing the delayed stream data to the slave recorders. Each of the slave recorders records the delayed stream data on a slave recording medium by the active head. The delay time interval corresponds to the angular interval between the phase reference position and the position of the active head.

Abstract: A spread code generation section outputs selectively one of a plurality of different spectral spread codes corresponding to an anti-duplication control signal for indicating the content of the duplication prevention control such as duplication permission, duplication inhibition, and duplication of generation restriction of a video signal in a recording medium. The plurality of spectral spread codes is different in phase or series, or generated by multiplying a specified spread code by the plurality of different orthogonal codes. An additional information signal is spectrally spread using the selected spread code, and superimposed on the video signal to output a combined information signal.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus and control method thereof capable of easily recording and reproducing all kinds of information obtained from broadcasts, communications and recording mediums of all types, and further capable of applying suitable restrictions on use of digital information. A hard disk drive and a video recorder/player can both record information reproduced by a DVD player and information received by a satellite tuner. When restrictions on recording such as billing conditions or limits on the number of recordings were placed in the control data, such restrictions are recorded as the discriminator ID. When the videotape cassette is then extracted from the video recorder/player, the discriminator ID is decoded and, all or a portion of the recorded contents of the hard disk identical to the information recorded on the videotape are deleted as needed.

Abstract: The present invention is provided with: a distributing server for multiplexing copy control information and recording information, said copy control information indicating the number of times to be indicated after recording in a recording information apparatus is completed, when outputting the recording information and the copy control information; a transmitting unit for distributing the multiplexed recording information and copy control information to a recorder at an output speed higher than the reproducing speed of the recording information from the optical disk; a set top box for obtaining the distributed recording information and copy control information; and the recorder for recording the obtained recording information and copy control information into the optical disk, without modifying the copy control information.

Abstract: A time counting device, a cache memory and a copy control circuit are added to a conventional disk drive so that recorded information is copied periodically and automatically. Alternatively, a cache memory, a copy control circuit, a reference control circuit, a first time counting device and a second time counting device are added to the conventional disk drive so that information which remains recorded for a predetermined period of time after its last recording date is automatically copied. According to another embodiment, a reference signal is recorded in advance and a reproduced output is periodically measured. If the reproduced output is lower than a reference value, recorded information is automatically copied. According to yet another embodiment, the temperature in the disk drive is measured by a thermometer 18, and if the temperature is higher than a reference value, information is automatically copied at shorter intervals than when the temperature is less than the reference value.

Abstract: Within a casing accommodating members for performing magnetic transfer of signals from one medium to another, a plurality of suction ports are fixedly disposed at various locations. Resin tubes connect the suction ports to respective particle counters for the measurement of particles at each location, whereby the source of particles is locatable.

Abstract: Surface of a transfer disk for performing magnetic transfer is repeatedly contacted or separated relative to a cleaning disk having a smaller hardness than the surface, thereby removing a foreign matter on the surface of the transfer disk.

Abstract: A disk system has contents play-back restriction mechanism. A contents storage section, which contents received from a regular server are stored in. A capacitor charged with power supplied from the server. A volatile memory backed up by the capacitor and stores data necessary for the play-back of the contents received from the server. A controller for controlling the contents storage section and the volatile memory for reading and writing data when supplied with power from a regular player or the server.

Abstract: A dubbing control apparatus which can perform dubbing between a video camera and a fixed video cassette recorder (VCR) with the video camera and the fixed VCR being detachably connected with each other. The apparatus includes connectors, installed on the video camera and the fixed VCR, respectively, for being in contact with each other, the connectors interfacing with a power supply, video and audio signals reproduced/recorded by the video camera and the fixed VCR, and other signals during dubbing, and switching elements for selecting dubbing conditions from the video camera to the fixed VCR and vice versa.