Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing information signals recorded with a plurality of pilot signals having different frequencies on a tape-like recording medium, in which a tracking error signal is formed by using the pilot signals reproduced by the head for reproducing the information signals, and pulse signals generated in correspondence to the moving action of the recording medium during a period of variation in level of the tracking error signals are counted to discriminate whether the recording speed of the information signals and the moving speed of the recording medium are coincident or not.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording and/or reproducing apparatus which comprises heads of at least two different kinds, carrying apparatus operative for receiving a recording medium, discriminating apparatus for discriminating the kind of the recording medium being carried by the carrying apparatus, selecting apparatus for selecting one kind of heads out of the different kinds in response to the discriminating apparatus and control apparatus which is provided for at least one kind of head selected out of the heads of different kinds to control contact of the head with the recording medium in response to the selecting apparatus.

Abstract: The present muting control apparatus comprises a first circuit for indicating selection of the error signal relative to N-m (N and m are natural numbers satisfying N>m) data blocks of N data blocks reproduced by a first rotary head when all of the first m data blocks thereof have errors. The first circuit also indicates selection of the error signal relative to N-m data blocks of N data blocks reproduced by a second rotary head when at least one of the first m data blocks reproduced by the first rotary head has no error. The muting control circuit also comprises a second circuit for generating a muting control signal indicating whether to mute the reproduced audio signal, by using error signal which is indicated by the first circuit.

Abstract: In a PCM (pulse code modulated) audio signal recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a scanning track formed by one scanning of a tape by a rotary head is divided into a plurality of track areas in its longitudinal direction to thereby form multi-channel segment track areas, and the PCM audio signal is recorded on and/or reproduced from the segment track area of each track corresponding to a particular channel on the tape. When a plurality of programs or events are sequentially recorded in a timer scheduled recording mode, it is possible to select either a series recording mode in which successive events are recorded only in the segment track areas of one channel or a parallel recording mode, in which the successive events are recorded in segment track areas of different channels, respectively.

Abstract: A rotary head type reproducing apparatus for reproducing information signals recorded in a plurality of recording tracks by tracing, with rotary type magnetic heads, the recording tracks which are formed on a tape-shaped magnetic record bearing medium in a direction of crossing the longitudinal direction of the medium comprises: pairs of magnetic heads which are positioned in the vicinity of each other with each pair of heads arranged to have different azimuth angles from each other; a rotary member arranged to have the pairs of magnetic heads mounted on the circumference thereof; rotation period detecting means arranged to detect the rotation period of the rotary member and to produce a rotation period information signal corresponding to the rotation period detected; and output selection means for selectively producing, according to the rotation period information signal, the information signals reproduced from the recordng tracks by the pairs of magnetic heads through their tracing action on the tape-shaped

Abstract: A control pulse recording circuit for a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus having standard and expanded play modes, comprising an oscillator for generating a predetermined signal having a predetermined frequency which is higher than that of the vertical synchronizing signal of a video signal; a counter for counting the predetermined signal to produce a 30 Hz signal when a counted value in the counter reaches a threshold value with a timing which has been delayed by a predetermined time from every other vertical synchronizing signal in a recording mode; a circuit supplied with the 30 Hz signal for producing 30 Hz pulses; and control head circuitry for recording the 30 Hz pulses on a magnetic tape in the recording mode. The 30 Hz pulses are recorded on the magnetic tape with a timing delayed by a delay time from a timing of every other vertical synchronizing signal in both the standard and expanded play modes.

Abstract: A helical scan type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus comprises first and second rotary heads which are mounted on a rotary drum at positions separated by an angle of approximately 180.degree. on a rotational plane of the rotary drum and have mutually different height positions along an axial direction of the rotary drum so that a track position on the magnetic tape scanned by the first rotary head is scanned by the second rotary head a predetermined time after the track position is scanned by the first rotary head, where the predetermined time corresponds to a rotary angle 540.degree.+360.degree..times.m of the rotary drum and m=0, 1 or 2.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus which reproduces speech sounds at a speed faster than a normal reproduction speed. The outputting operation may be performed, making it easier to hear speech sounds when the video searching operation is performed through hearing of the speech sounds in the VTR or the like. The reproduction is adapted to be performed by the other head which is different in azimuth angle during the normal reproduction operation from the double azimuth heads during a given frame reproduction in the 1.5 times speed reproduction with one head of the rotary heads of the normal two heads being provided as a double azimuth head. The noise caused through the reproduction of the adjacent track may be removed.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording video and digital audio signals in separate sections of slant tracks on a magnetic tape in the 8 mm format includes two main rotary magnetic heads for recording and reproducing both the video and digital audio signals during normal recording and reproduction modes and two auxiliary rotary magnetic heads for reproducing the digital audio signals during an audio edit mode. The auxiliary rotary heads are disposed for reproducing the digital audio signal recorded in respective tracks which are positioned upstream, considered in respect to the transporting direction of the tape, relative to the tracks to be next scanned by the main rotary heads so that the digital audio signals reproduced by the auxiliary rotary heads may be mixed with new audio signals and rerecorded by the main rotary heads in the same tracks from which they were produced.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing method and device using a rotary head with two reproducing heads and two corresponding recording heads whereby slanted tracks are formed on the tape, each consisting of several sequential recording tracks. The reproducing heads are arranged to precede the corresponding recording heads by at least three fields (slanted track) so that a new audio signal can be input at the same time as the output of the audio signal from a given recording track and then recorded in that given track.

Abstract: An information signal reproducing apparatus for reproducing information signals from a record bearing medium having many recording tracks which are formed with the information signals on the medium and are spaced at a track pitch selected from a plurality of track pitches is arranged to reproduce the information signals by head means which traces the medium; to perform tracking control by using the signals reproduced by the head means; and to detect the track pitch by comparing with a reference level each of the levels of signals reproduced by the head means from recording tracks neighboring a recording track presently controlled by a tracking control action on both sides of the controlled track. After discriminating the track pitch, the apparatus selects the rotary heads with the proper width and sets the tape speed so that the speed reproduction is at the same speed at which the tape was recorded.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for helically scanning a magnetic tape having slant tracks wherein the slant tracks are divided into a plurality of segments. A helical scan drum has at least first and second rotary head pairs. The first head pair scans at least one of the segments of a first track while the second head pair simultaneously scans at least one of the segments of the second slant track of the magnetic tape. This system is particularly useful for utilizing a tape for portable audio use wherein the same tape is also useful for video applications.

Abstract: A helical scan type magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprises a rotary erase head mounted on a rotary drum at such a position that in a normal recording mode the rotary erase head does not erase a portion of a track formed on a magnetic tape by a rotary recording and/or reproducing head which leads the rotary erase head and in a long-time recording mode the rotary erase head erases an overlapping portion of two mutually adjacent tracks formed by a pair of rotary recording and/or reproducing heads respectively leading and lagging the rotary erase head.

Abstract: Video reproduction apparatus records a field of a high resolution time-division-multiplex (TDM) video signal on first and second adjacent tracks on a magnetic tape. A head switch signal is included within the TDM video signal recorded on the tape in order to minimize skew errors which may occur in mid-field when switching between video signals sequentially played back from the first and second tracks. Each track has recorded thereon a plurality of horizontal lines of color video signals in a time-divisional-multiplex format including a compressed horizontal sync signal and compressed video component signals arranged in time sequential order. The compressed horizontal sync signal is deleted in a designated horizontal line signal at the end of the upper half of the field recorded on the first track such that the deleted horizontal sync signal constitutes a head switch signal.

Abstract: A video tape recorder for recording a plurality of skewed recording tracks on a video tape includes a recording head, an auxiliary head and an erasing head mounted on a rotary body of a tape guide drum about which the tape is helically wrapped, a rotary transformer for transmitting signals to the recording head, auxiliary head and erasing head rotating with the rotary body, an erase signal generator for generating an earsing signal to be supplied to the erasing head by way of the rotary transformer, and a short circuit arrangement coupled to a signal path connected with the auxiliary head for short circuiting the latter upon applying the erasing signal form the erase signal generator to the erasing head by way of the rotary transformer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus in which at least two recording and reproducing magnetic heads are mounted on a rotatable cylinder with an angular distnce of 180.degree. therebetween, wherein audio signals having undergone a pulse code modulation are recorded on record tracks slanted relative to the longitudinal direction of a magnetic tape wrapped around the rotatable cylinder. The record track is divided trackwise into a plurality of channels. The audio signals are recorded on the channel basis. The magnetic tape is transported in a forward or backward direction while recording or reproduction is conducted. The rotatable cylinder has mounted thereon a first erasing head rendered operative when the magnetic tape is transported in the forward direction and a second erasing head operative when the magnetic tape is transported in the backward direction for erasing only the audio signal of a given channel on the record track.

Abstract: A rotary coupler is disclosed, in which a rotor and a non-rotor are provided on their facing surfaces with microstrip lines which are disposed along circles concentric with the axis of the rotor and facing one another. High frequency signals are transferred between the microstrip line on the side of the rotor and the microstrip line on the side of the non-rotor.

Abstract: Rotary scanner apparatus includes a headwheel having at least one magnetic head arranged for making successive operative sweeps across a magnetic tape. To achieve high data rate transfer, a unitary microwave transmission link includes a fixed cylindrical waveguide on a stationary side of the head scanner and a cooperating cylindrical waveguide rotatably mounted on the rotating side of the scanner. The waveguides are coaxially arranged along the rotational axis of the headwheel for directing a microwave signal, corresponding to a high data rate signal, to and from the headwheel during recording and playback operations. When the headwheel carries multiple magnetic heads, the unitary transmission link serves advantageously for the simultaneously coupling of a recording signal and a playback signal to and from the head scanner, for testing and certifying a recording system in real time.

Abstract: In a tape recording apparatus having a rotary guide drum on which a tape is helically wrapped, a second erase head is secured on a rotary body included in the tape guide drum for erasing recorded tracks on the tape when the tape is driven in the reverse direction in addition to a first head secured on the rotary body for erasing recorded tracks on the tape when the tape is driven in the forward direction, whereby the erasing and recording operations can be made in both cases when the tape is moved in the forward direction and when it is moved in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A head swtiching signal producing circuit produces a head switching signal by electrically compensating for a phase error on a rotational plane of a rotary drum between a mounting position of a rotary head on the rotary drum and a mounting position of a rotational phase detector which is used to detect a rotational phase of the rotary drum, so as to produce an accurate head switching signal without controlling the mounting position of the rotational phase detector within a small tolerance.

Abstract: A noise reduction circuit is provided with a slew rate detection circuit for detecting a slew rate of a reproduced audio signal, and variably controls a pulse width of a hold signal depending on the detected slew rate. The noise reduction circuit successively produces the reproduced audio signal with a predicted level other than a level of pulse noise included in the reproduced audio signal during a time period corresponding to the pulse width of the hold signal, so as to obtain a reproduced audio signal in which the pulse noise has been eliminated.

Abstract: A frequency modulated signal reproducing device comprises a reproducing device for reproducing a frequency modulated signal from a recording medium; a pilot signal generating device for generating a pilot signal relative to a discontinued part of the signal reproduced by the reproducing means; a phase lock device which generates a phase locked signal which is phase locked relative to the reproduced signal; a demodulating device for frequency demodulating the phase locked signal; and control means for controlling the response speed of the phase lock means on the basis of the pilot signal.

Abstract: A video processing system which allows sequences of video pictures to be transferred to disc stores in real time. These sequences can be read out of the disc store and processed before being returned to the disc store to be read out in real time. This effect is achieved by employing disc stores with five parallel heads so that five bits of information can be written in or read from respective tracks on the disc in parallel.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing digital signals recorded on a magnetic or other recording tape includes a servo mechanism which is effective, when the tape is transported at a high speed in either a fast-forward or rewind mode, to maintain a relative speed between the tape and a rotary head that is substantially the same as that in the normal playback mode. Moreover, in the rewind mode, the rotary head is rotated in the direction opposite to that in the normal playback mode, while the absolute value of the relative speed remains the same as that in the normal playback mode. Further, the digital signals reproduced by the rotary head in the rewind mode have their sequential order reversed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording-reproducing device for recording a signal on a magnetic tape and/or reading out a signal from the magnetic tape to reproduce the same while running the magnetic tape in contact with a rotary drum having at least two heads, which is characterized in that it comprises a frequency generator for generating a pulse train having a frequency proportional to the rotating speed of the rotary drum, a pulse generating unit for generating a pulse indicating the direction/position of rotation of each head each time the rotary drum rotates a certain angle of rotation, a delay circuit for delaying the phase of the pulse supplied from the pulse generating unit, and a gate circuit for computing the logical product of the pulse supplied from the delay circuit and the pulse supplied from the frequency generator, wherein the pulse supplied from the gate circuit is treated as a pulse indicating a true head position, whereby the true head position pulse can be generated electrically, easily and accurately when

Abstract: An information signal reproducing apparatus for tracing a recording medium on which a large number of recording tracks having four kinds of pilot signals with different frequencies from one another recorded successively on each one of the tracks together with information signals are formed with such track pitch as selectively determined from a plurality of track pitches and for respectively detecting the above-mentioned four kinds of pilot signals included in the signals reproduced by the head for reproducing the above-mentioned information signals, thus making a discrimination of the track pitches by outputs of such detections.

Abstract: An information signal reproducing apparatus, which is arranged to reproduce an information signal from recording tracks formed on a record bearing medium one after another in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the medium with different pilot signals repeatedly superimposed on the information signal, is provided with: Moving apparatus for moving the medium in the direction intersecting the recording tracks; apparatus for generating a first signal in association with the medium moving action of the moving apparatus; reproducing apparatus for reproducing from the medium the information signal and the different pilot signals; apparatus for generating a second signal corresponding to the repeating period of these pilot signals; and apparatus for detecting the pitch of the recording tracks through the first and second signals.

Abstract: A delay time adjusting system comprises a comparing circuit for comparing levels of reproduced frequency modulated signals from a pair of rotary heads which simultaneously scan over a magnetic tape, where the rotary heads have gaps of mutually different azimuth angles, a head selecting circuit responsive to an output signal of the comparing circuit, for selectively producing the reproduced signal from the rotary head having the greater level, a signal processing circuit for obtaining a reproduced video signal from the reproduced signal which is selectively produced from the head selecting circuit, a variable delay circuit for delaying the reproduced video signal from the signal processing circuit by a delay time, and a delay control signal generating circuit for variably controlling the delay time of the variable delay circuit so that the variable delay circuit produces a reproduced video signal in which reproduced horizontal synchronizing signals have a constant period.

Abstract: A magnetic recorder/reproducer includes a rotary drum supporting first and second playback heads and first and second recording heads for reading information from and writing information in a tape running obliquely to a plane in which the heads rotate, the first playback head, the first recording head, the second playback head, and the second recording head being arranged in the order named in a direction in which the heads rotate, the recording heads being positioned on the rotary drum at a height different from the height at which the playback heads are positioned on the rotary drum, the arrangement being such that while information recorded in a given track on the tape is being reproduced by the ith (i=1, 2) playback head, information is recorded on the same track by the ith recording head. The recording and playback heads are switched over each time the rotary drum makes a half rotation at switching timings that are .pi./2 out of phase.

Abstract: A noise-eliminating apparatus for a video tape recorder wherein the high frequency signals of the first and second channels, reproduced by a helical scan type video tape recorder, an alternately selected by the corresponding first and second switches. The selected high frequency signal is supplied to the main demodulator and auxiliary demodulator. The changeover operations of the first and second switches are carried out at a prescribed internal by the first and second control signals. An output signal from the main demodulator in shut off by a third switch during the period in which the high frequency signals of the first and second channels partly overlap each other. The shut off period is supplemented by an output demodulated signal from the auxiliary demodulator.

Abstract: Excessive cross talk between adjacent tracks can occur in a video recorder in which the line-synchronization pulses of adjacent tracks are not adjacent, in long-play or 8-mm video for example. The BAS signal is in accordance with the invention pole-reversed from track to track during recording when the video carrier is frequency-modulated in such a way that the level of the synchronization pulse corresponds alternately to the low and to the high frequency of the video carrier.

Abstract: A helical scanning type video tape recorder includes a rotary cylinder which is slidable on a video tape; and a pair of vertical magnetization recording heads mounted on the peripheral wall of the rotary cylinder at prescribed positions. The plane of the vertical magnetization recording heads which faces the magnetic plane of the video tape is provided with a main magnetic pole and auxiliary magnetic pole, thereby causing at least one portion of the recording magnetic flux passing from the auxiliary magnetic pole to the main magnetic pole to penetrate the recording magnetic layer of the video tape at substantially right angles.

Abstract: A rotary transformer is employed in a 4-head type recording and/or reproducing apparatus which has a rotary body which is wrapped with a magnetic tape, and four heads mounted 90.degree. apart from each other on the rotary body for recording and/or reproducing a video signal onto and/or from the tape. The rotary transformer device comprises a rotary core which has five circular grooves formed in one surface thereof and is rotated unitarily with the rotary body, a first short-circuiting ring embedded in a center groove among the five grooves of the rotary body, first through fourth ring-shaped coils embedded in the remaining four grooves of the rotary body, a stationary core which is stationary at a location separated from and opposing the rotary core and has five circular grooves, a second short-circuiting ring embedded in a center groove among the five grooves of the stationary core, and fifth through eighth ring-shaped coils embedded in the remaining four grooves of the stationary core.

Abstract: When recording a PCM signal, particularly an audio signal, on the oblique tracks of a magnetic tape, e.g. for example of a videorecorder, errors occur in the digital signal during the change of heads. These errors are removed in that, in the region where the scanning of the heads overlaps, phase matching of the bit clock pulses is effected, the bit patterns are matched and the number of bit clock pulses is increased or reduced before the next change of heads.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing digital color video signals from successive, parallel tracks on a magnetic tape includes a rotary guide drum about which the magnetic tape is wrapped for an angle greater than a nominal angle of 180.degree.

Abstract: A reproduced signal switching circuit for a reproducing apparatus, comprises a switching circuit for switching output signals of rotary heads for special reproduction so as to obtain a continuous reproduced signal, a switching signal producing circuit for producing a switching signal responsive to an output pickup pulse of a rotation detecting circuit which detects the rotation of a rotary body which is mounted with the rotary heads, and for applying the switching signal to the switching circuit so as to switch the switching circuit, and a voltage supplying circuit for supplying a voltage which is in accordance with a tape moving speed to the switching signal producing circuit during the special reproduction. The switching signal producing circuit comprises time constant circuits for starting charging operations responsive to the pickup pulse, and a circuit for producing a switching signal having a polarity which changes when charged voltages in the time constant circuits reach a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: The rotating-head PCM record/reproduce apparatus has record and reproduce heads of which the reproduce heads are disposed to scan the recorded track formed by the record heads with a delay of a rotation angle of 90.degree. thereby reading immediately after recording, and circuits for converting analog signal to digital signal, and for compressing the timebase of the digital signal, the compressed digital signal being supplied to the record heads so that no signal is supplied to the record head while the reproduce heads are reading the recorded signal.

Abstract: To prevent, cross-talk and other signals from being applied from the magnetic transducer head (6, 7) to an output circuit (12, 13; 28, 29) in a video tape reproduction system, in which one of the heads, only, is in contact with the tape, and the other head runs free, a synchronizing signal recognition stage, responding to the first appearance of a synchronizing signal at one of the heads, is connected to control a switch, typically an electronic switch, to transmit the signals from the specific head to the output circuit and disable signal transfer of any signals from the other one of the heads since those signals, usually, would be noise or disturbance signals.

Abstract: A magnetic reproducing apparatus which has a pair of main rotatable heads having different azimuth angles and a pair of auxiliary rotatable heads having different azimuth angles. When a magnetic tape is played back while it runs at a speed different from that at which it runs during a recording mode, playback output signals from the main and auxiliary rotatable heads are switched over to replace a reduction in the outputs from the main rotatable heads with the outputs from the auxiliary rotatable heads to produce a combined playback output signal. The combined playback output signal is passed through a variable delay line having a delay time varied by an output from a detector circuit which detects variations in horizontal synchronous signal intervals of the combined playback output signal.

Abstract: A recording/reproduced signal switching system for a 4-head type recording and reproducing apparatus, comprises a circuit for rotating a rotary body which has four heads mounted equally spaced apart so that adjacent heads are separated by 90.degree., where a magnetic tape is wrapped around a peripheral surface of the rotary body over an angular range which is equal to or greater than 270.degree. but less than 360.degree., a circuit for driving the tape to travel, four rotary transformers for performing transmission and reception of signals with respect to the four heads, four preamplifiers supplied with reproduced signals from the four heads, a first switch circuit for selectively and successively supplying a recording video signal to one of the four heads with a period which is approximately equal to a period in which the rotary body undergoes a 270.degree.-rotation, a second switch circuit for subjecting input terminals of three of the four preamplifiers to A.C.

Abstract: In an apparatus having a record mode for recording video or other information signals in successive parallel information tracks on a record tape by means of a plurality of rotary heads repeatedly scanning across said tape and having respective gaps with different azimuth angles, and in which the apparatus is changeable to a playback mode for causing each of said heads to provide a respective output when it is scanning an information track in which information signals have been previously recorded by a head with a gap having the same azimuth angle; clogging of one or more of the head gaps which would prevent further recording is detected, in the playback mode, by switching from one to another of the outputs of the heads during each period required for the scanning of the tape by each of the heads, detecting the levels of the head outputs during such switching therebetween, and operating a clog indicator when the detected levels of the head outputs are insufficient during the scanning of the tape by each of the

Abstract: A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus has a rotor drum with a group of rotary magnetic heads mounted thereon, a reproducing amplifier, a recording/reproducing mode switching circuit, a head selection circuit, a control circuit and a DC voltage source. The control signal circuit and the DC voltage source receive a control signal transmitted from a stator drum through a rotary transformer and produce signals for controlling the mode switching circuit and the head selecting circuit and a DC voltage for energizing all the circuits on the rotor drum, respectively.

Abstract: In a video tape recorder of the helical scan type, two auxiliary magnetic heads having different azimuth angles are provided in the vicinity of two main magnetic heads. The main and auxiliary magnetic heads have their tracks aligned so as to compensate for the reduced period of the reproduction signal of the main magnetic heads during high speed reproduction by using the reproduction signals of the auxiliary magnetic heads. Thus, blur free high speed reproduction pictures may be realized, and, at the same time, a dancing picture correction during still reproduction may be facilitated.

Abstract: In a helical scanning type video tape recorder provided with two rotary video heads for recording and reproducing a video signal supplied to the heads in the oblique direction of a magnetic tape by alternately switching the two rotary video heads, there is generated a switching signal for the heads which is stable in standard and high speed reproducing modes and thereby stable reproduction always can be obtained. For this purpose, there are provided a circuit for detecting the rotary phase of any one of the two rotary heads, a clock signal generator circuit for generating a clock signal, a counter apparatus for counting the clock signal on the basis of the output of the rotary phase detecting circuit, and a circuit for generating a switching signal for alternately switching the two heads on the basis of the counted value of the counter apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for coupling digital signals across a rotary mechanical gap as, for example, in a helical scan optical or magnetic tape recording/playback system where it is required to couple digital signals having a wide range of pulse widths between the stationary portion of the system and the rotating headwheel. The apparatus includes a rotary transformer comprising inductively-coupled first and second coils located, respectively, in the stationary and rotating portions. A capacitor positioned between the signal source and the primary winding of the rotary transformer converts the pulsed digital signals from the source into signals of changing current so that pulses of variable widths are efficiently coupled through the transformer. In this way, digital pulses having width ratios of approximately five-to-one can be transmitted across the gap.

Abstract: In a video tape recorder of the helical scan type, a pair of rotary magnetic heads for the audio signal are provided in addition to the rotary video heads so that the audio signal is recorded on the same slant track as of the video signal on a multiplex basis. The audio head pair is provided with an azimuth angle with opposite polarities from each other and different in value from that of the video head pair. The system has a first operation mode of the standard tape speed and a second operation mode in which the tape is fed at a speed, for example, 1/3 the standard tape speed. The audio and video head pairs are disposed on lines intersecting at right angles with an offset of T.sub.1 /2+T.sub.1 provided in the axial direction of rotation between the two magnetic head pairs, where T.sub.1 is the track pitch of the recording track formed on the tape in the second operation mode. The system produces overlapping tracks for the audio and video signals on the magnetic tape.

Abstract: For providing high-quality reproduction of audio in a video tape recorder (VTR), the video and audio signals are recorded as first and second mixed signals in successive alternately arranged adjacent first and second parallel record tracks, respectively, extending obliquely on a magnetic record tape, with the first and second mixed signals being comprised of respective carriers of different frequencies which are modulated by an audio signal to constitute respective FM audio signals mixed with a video signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal comprised of a video signal and an audio signal in a plurality of successive tracks on a magnetic tape, includes a recording section comprised of a PCM processor which converts the audio signal to a PCM audio signal and compresses the same, a dummy signal generator for compensating for tape jitter by generating a dummy signal and supplying the same to the PCM processor where the dummy signal is added both before and after each portion of the compressed PCM audio signal to be recorded in an overscan section of each track, and a magnetic head assembly which records the video signal in a main section of each track and each portion of the compressed PCM audio signal and dummy signal added thereto in the overscan section of each track; and a reproducing section comprised of a magnetic head assembly which scans the tracks to reproduce the information signal recorded therein, a switch assembly which separates the video signal reproduced from the main sect

Abstract: Apparatus for recording and reproducing an information signal comprising at least an analog audio signal in a plurality of successive tracks on a magnetic tape includes a PCM processing circuit for converting an analog audio signal into a PCM audio signal; a video signal processing circuit for processing a video signal to produce an output video signal; a rotary magnetic head assembly for recording the output video signal and the PCM audio signal in the plurality of successive tracks on the tape; a switch assembly for supplying the output video signal and the PCM audio signal to the rotary magnetic head assembly; and a control circuit for controlling the switch assembly to supply the output video signal and the PCM audio signal to the rotary magnetic head assembly during a video use mode so that the latter records the output video signal in a main section of each track and to supply only the PCM audio signal to the rotary magnetic head assembly during an audio use mode so that the latter records the PCM audio

Abstract: A reproducing section of a helical scan VTR for reproducing a color television signal recorded in a plurality of successive parallel tracks on a magnetic tape and comprised of a video signal and at least one of a frequency-modulated audio signal and the combination of a PCM audio signal and run-in signal, with the video signal and frequency-modulated audio signal being recorded only in a main section of each track and the PCM audio signal being recorded only in an overscan section of each track, the VTR including a pair of magnetic heads which scan the tracks to reproduce the information signal recorded therein; a pair of switch circuits connected to the heads and which separate the information signal reproduced during scanning of the main section of each track and a signal reproduced during scanning of the overscan section of each track; a detector which detects the presence or absence of a run-in signal from the separated signal reproduced during scanning of the overscan section of each track and produces a