Sony Corporation

Noriaki Naito

Kenkichi Umeda

Isao Matsumoto

Hiroyuki Yamauchi

Shoichi Nakamura

Heitaro Nakajima

Katsuo Takada

Yoshihito Yamamoto

Youichi Kodera

Ken Shiga

Shouichi Nakamura

A method of recording and reproducing audio signals and corresponding visual signals in parallel tracks extending in the longitudinal direction on a magnetic tape, includes the steps of recording the audio signals in first and second primary tracks on opposite sides of the tape in the widthwise direction thereof; and alternately recording a first visual information signal corresponding to the audio signal in the first primary tracks and a second visual information signal corresponding to the audio signal in the second primary tracks in a single secondary track positioned in the center of the tape in the widthwise direction thereof, the first visual information signal being recorded in first information blocks in the secondary track and the second visual information signal being recorded in second information blocks in the secondary track in an alternating relation with the first information blocks such that only the first visual information signal is reproduced when reproducing the audio signal from the first primary tracks and only the second visual information signal is reproduced when reproducing the audio signal from the second primary tracks. The preset invention is also directed to apparatus for performing the above method.

Recording in a single track visual signals associated with audio signals

An azimuth angle other than zero can occur if magnetic tape vibrates or moves in the tape width direction during recording or playback mode and this can result in azimuth loss which is a function of the track width angle of misalignment and the wave length of the signals. The wider the tape width the greater the azimuth loss and the lower the tape transport speed the greater the azimuth loss. Thus, the present invention varies the track width and speed so as to obtain optimum reproduction fidelity by combining two or more heads to obtain the desired results.

Tape speed switching multiple track tape recorder

A tape recorder comprises a noise reducing circuit provided at its output side with a first switch for changing over the circuit from its operative condition to its inoperative condition and vice versa and a second switch operatively connected to the first switch and for changing over the signal level. The use of the noise reducing circuit causes a decrease of the standard point of the recording level and an increase of the standard point of the reproduction level so as to increase the dynamic range of the tape recorder.

Tape recorder

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Noriaki Naito