Patent ID: 6104862
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
A recording apparatus for selecting either an analog video signal or a digital video signal, and for recording said selected signal on a magnetic tape, comprising:a first magnetic head mounted at a first position on a rotary drum, and having a first azimuth angle;a second magnetic head mounted at a second position on said rotary drum substantially opposite to said first position, and having a second azimuth angle of a polarity opposite to said first azimuth angle,said first and second magnetic heads recording an analog audio signal in a deep layer of said magnetic tape along first recording tracks prior to recording of said analog video signal, said first and second magnetic heads also being usable for recording a compressed digital video and audio signal alone on said magnetic tape along second recording tracks;a third magnetic head mounted at a third position on said rotary drum, and having a third azimuth angle;a fourth magnetic head mounted at a fourth position on said rotary drum substantially opposite to said third position, and having a fourth azimuth angle of a polarity opposite to said third azimuth angle,said third and fourth magnetic heads recording said analog video signal in a surface layer of said magnetic tape along said first recording tracks and in superposition on said previously recorded analog audio signal; anda servo circuit for rotating said rotary drum at a first rotation speed equal to a frame frequency of said analog video signal and for running said magnetic tape at a first transportation speed while recording said analog video signal and said analog audio signal, andfor rotating said rotary drum at a second rotation speed approximately equal to said first rotation speed regardless of a frame frequency of said compressed digital video and audio signal and for running said magnetic tape at a second transportation speed approximately equal to one-half (1/2) of said first transportation speed while recording said compressed digital video and audio signal,wherein a track pitch of said second recording tracks is approximately equal to one-half of a track pitch of said first recording tracks.