Video signal recording/reproducing apparatus and reproducing apparatus

Abstract

A recording/reproducing apparatus or a reproducing apparatus has a first, a second and a third magnetic heads. The first and second magnetic heads have different gap azimuth angles and are spaced 180 degrees apart from each other on a rotary head. The third magnetic head has the same gap azimuth angle as that of the second magnetic head and a specific relative positional relationship with the first magnetic head on the rotary head. Recording of each frame signal of a video signal is controlled as follows: The frame signal is divided into N (N being a integer of two or more) slant tracks on a magnetic tape at a standard tape speed in a standard mode; the frame signal is divided into N/2 slant tracks at a tape speed ½ of the standard speed in ½ speed mode; or the frame signal is divided into N/2 slant tracks at a tape speed ⅓ of the standard speed in ⅓ speed mode. Reproduction of the frame signal is carried out at a tape speed n (n being a speed coefficient and n≠1) times the tape speed at which the frame signal has been recorded in at least either the ½ or the ⅓ speed mode. The speed coefficient n is set to a value included in a predetermined range or given by at least either an equation (1) or (2): (1) n=N(2m+1)/(2i−1)±2/(2i−1); (2) n=Nm/i±1/i where a variable i is an integer from 1 to 10, and a variable m is an integer. The variable i may be set to 1 for the speed coefficient n that is (N−2) or more, whereas 2 or more for the speed coefficient n that is less than (N−2). The speed coefficient n may be set to a value given by the equation (1) or another value included in a predetermined range given by an equation (3); or a value given by the equation (2) or another value included in a predetermined range given by an equation (4): (3) n=N(2m+1)/(2i−1)±2/(1+&agr;)/(2i−1); (4) n=10m/i±(1+&agr;)/i where −0.4≦&agr;≦0.4.