Magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing digital data at minimum error rate

摘要

A magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus is provided which is designed to record and reproduce digital information signals on and from a magnetic tape at a reduced error rate in a long play mode. When the long play mode is entered, the travel speed of the magnetic tape is changed to 1/(2n) (n=a natural number) times that in a normal play mode, and the rotational speed of a rotary drum is changed to (2n+1)/(2n) times that in the normal play mode. Tracks are written on the magnetic tape with alternate helical scans of a pair of rotary heads, one every (2n+1)/2 rotations of the rotary drum to record the digital information signals on the tracks. In an alternative form of the invention, digital information signals are recorded on the magnetic tape in the long play mode using a third rotary head and one of the pair of the rotary heads. The third rotary head is mounted on the rotary drum at a given angular interval away from the one of the pair of the rotary heads in a height relation which allows tracks to be written on the magnetic tape in the long play mode at the same track pitch as that in the normal play mode.