An information recording apparatus operable in a plurality of different recording modes, comprising: temporary storage means configured to store temporarily data in a data recordable information recording medium on the occasion of recording and/or reproduction; control means configured to divide a storage area of said temporary storage means into a plurality of areas in a particular way according to the respective mode of recording the data in said information recording medium, the recording mode being selectable and the division of the temporary storage means being dependent upon that selection; recording means for recording data in the recording area of said information recording medium and reproducing means for reproducing data recorded in the recording area of the information recording medium; wherein said control means is configured to divide the storage area of said temporary storage means into at least a recording data storage area storing data to record in the information recording medium and a reproduced data storage area storing data reproduced from the information recording medium; to store the data to record in the information recording medium in said recording data storage area; and, when a reproduction request is received during recording by said recording means, to cause said reproducing means to store data reproduced from the information recording medium in said reproduced data storage area; wherein said recording means is configured to keep a waiting state of waiting before starting data recording until a data occupation amount in said recording data storage area reaches a predetermined threshold, to entrer a recording state starting the data recording when the data occupation amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, and to record data in the recording area of the information recording medium; and means for immediately causing the reproducing means to reproduce data when a reproduction request is received during the waiting state. temporary storage means configured to store temporarily data in a data recordable information recording medium on the occasion of recording and/or reproduction; control means configured to divide a storage area of said temporary storage means into a plurality of areas in a particular way according to the respective mode of recording the data in said information recording medium, the recording mode being selectable and the division of the temporary storage means being dependent upon that selection; recording means for recording data in the recording area of said information recording medium and reproducing means for reproducing data recorded in the recording area of the information recording medium; wherein said control means is configured to divide the storage area of said temporary storage means into at least a recording data storage area storing data to record in the information recording medium and a reproduced data storage area storing data reproduced from the information recording medium; to store the data to record in the information recording medium in said recording data storage area; and, when a reproduction request is received during recording by said recording means, to cause said reproducing means to store data reproduced from the information recording medium in said reproduced data storage area; wherein said recording means is configured to keep a waiting state of waiting before starting data recording until a data occupation amount in said recording data storage area reaches a predetermined threshold, to entrer a recording state starting the data recording when the data occupation amount exceeds the predetermined threshold, and to record data in the recording area of the information recording medium; and means for immediately causing the reproducing means to reproduce data when a reproduction request is received during the waiting state.