Patent ID: 7200324

Claim:
A magnetic-tape recording apparatus for recording digital data on a magnetic tape by a rotating head, comprising: first obtaining means for obtaining predetermined-unit video data, which includes a predetermined unit of pictures; second obtaining means for obtaining audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data; synthesizing means for recording the predetermined unit of pictures and the corresponding audio data as one group on the magnetic tape such that said predetermined unit of pictures and the corresponding audio data are continuous on a track in the magnetic tape without any space disposed therebetween, wherein said one group of the predetermined unit of pictures and said corresponding audio data is recorded on a common main sector in a track, said track including an error correction code, said common main sector including an SB header and main data, said main data including at least said predetermined unit of pictures and said corresponding audio data, and said SB header including identification information for identifying a type of said main data, wherein said one group of the predetermined unit of pictures and said corresponding audio data is recorded in a predetermined number of tracks interleaved in said error correction code, and wherein the predetermined unit of pictures includes three pictures; and sending means for sending data synthesized by the synthesizing means to the rotating head in order to record the data on the magnetic tape.