Magnetic tape recording of reproducing apparatus with recorded channel

Abstract

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus selectively performs video recording and audio recording on a common magnetic tape. In an audio recording mode, the video recording area used to record video signals in a video recording mode is divided into a plurality of segments serving as audio recording channels. The recording and/or reproducing apparatus is provided with a recorded channel detector and an indicator including a plurality of indicator segments, each of which corresponds to one audio recording channel. The detector produces a detector signal representing that the current channel is pre-recorded. The indicator segments are responsive to the detector signals from the recorded channel detector to turn ON to indicate that the corresponding audio recording channel is occupied. This arrangement facilitates channel selection for the audio recorder by simply monitoring the indicator. In order to detect pre-recorded channels, it is most convenient to scan a pilot signal superimposed on the audio signal and recorded on the corresponding channel. Therefore, the recorded channel detector can scan the tape and produce detector signals by referring to the pilot signal.