Patent attributes
The invention relates to a magnetic tape recording apparatus which can record digital image data sufficient to allow a good image to be displayed upon variable speed reproduction in the long time mode. When image data for variable speed reproduction (for example, sixteenfold speed reproduction) is recorded discretely at positions which are traced by a rotary head upon variable speed reproduction, in the long time mode, the number of recording times of image data for same variable speed reproduction is increased and the number of sync blocks recorded in one recording operation is decreased when compared with those in recording in the standard mode. For example, in the standard mode, six sync blocks are recorded three times, but in the long time mode, four sync blocks are recorded four times. The present invention can be applied to a recording and reproduction apparatus which displays a good image upon variable speed reproduction.