Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a tape type optical recording medium has a transparent guide on which guide tracks are precisely formed. A scanning beam is controlled so as to scan along the guide tracks and is converged on the recording surface of the tape type recording medium. The accuracy of the recording tracks on the tape is equivalent to that of the guide tracks. In this way, recording tracks can be precisely formed on the tape witout the step required in the prior art methods of pre-forming guide tracks on the recording medium.