Magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus for automatically setting the traveling speed of the recording medium in accordance with the transmission rate of the input digital signal

Abstract

A first rotational head of a first azimuth angle and a second rotational head of a second azimuth angle are arranged on a rotational drum rotated at a constant rotational speed. Also, input digital signals are processed in a signal recording system to form blocks of digital recording signals, a magnetic tape is moved by a tape driving unit according to an information signal generated in a control unit, and the blocks of digital recording signals and the information signal are recorded on the magnetic tape in a recording operation through the first and second heads alternately tracing the magnetic tape. In a reproducing operation, the signals are read through the first and second heads and are reproduced in a signal reproducing system. When the input digital signals are transmitted at a standard data rate, the magnetic tape is rotated at a first traveling speed in the recording and reproducing operations. When the input digital signals are transmitted at a second data rate equal to 1/N (N is a natural number) the standard data rate, the magnetic tape is rotated at a second traveling speed equal to 1/N the first traveling speed in the recording and reproducing operations. Therefore, the input digital signals can be recorded and reproduced regardless of the data rate of the signals.