JPS61158007A - Information signal recording or reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to confirm desired position of areas for respective information recording simply by recording index signals corresponding to respec tive record information of plural longitudinal direction on the control area of a tapelike recording medium or reproducing it. CONSTITUTION:The device has fixed heads 15a-15c and an index signal recording and reproducing circuit 16 for recording, erasing and reproducing index signals. Six tracks are formed respectively in longitudinal direction in helical tracks (information recording area) 23 formed on a magnetic tape 11, and PCM audio signals are recorded and reproduced on respective tracks. Cue tracks (area for controlling) 24 in which index signals are recorded are formed in longitudinal direction at the end of the tape 11. In a tape recorder, specified length of index signals is recorded at a position corresponding to the starting part of recording of PCM audio signals.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a recording or reproducing device, and in particular, a tape-shaped recording medium is divided into a plurality of regions in the longitudinal direction, and information is recorded in each region by a head that traces in the width direction. It relates to a device for recording or reproducing signals.

(Prior Art) In recent years, in the field of magnetic recording, high-density recording has been pursued, and even in video tape recorders (VTRs), tape running speed has been reduced to perform even higher-density magnetic recording. There is. Therefore, if audio signals were recorded using a fixed head as in the past, the relative speed could not be kept high and the reproduced sound quality would deteriorate. One solution to this problem is to make the length of the track formed by the rotary head longer than before, and to sequentially record time-base compressed audio signals on the extended portion.

For example, in a rotating two-head helical scan type VTR, the magnetic tape was conventionally wound around the rotating cylinder for 180' or more, but the magnetic tape was wound around the rotating cylinder for 6 or more times (180,000), and the extra wrapping was used to wrap the magnetic tape around the rotating cylinder. A VTR has been devised that records audio signals that have been subjected to PCM ratio and time axis compression. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a tape running system of such a VTR, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recording locus on a magnetic tape by the VTR shown in FIG. In the figure, l is a magnetic tape, 2 is a rotating cylinder, 3; 4 is a head that is attached to cylinder 2 with a phase difference of 180 degrees and has mutually different azimuth angles, and 5 is a video area portion of the trunk formed on tape l. , 6 are the audio area portions as well.

Video area 5 is 180° of rotating cylinder 2 and head 3
] 4 is the part where the tape was traced, and the audio area 6 is the part where the heads 3 and 4 traced the tape at 00 minutes of the rotary cylinder 2. In addition, f and ~f4 in Fig. 2 are the well-known 4
Indicates the frequency of the tracking pilot signal superimposed on each track using the frequency method, and the relationship between the frequencies is (f* f+) = la - f, Ki fM, number f - f,
It is 2fπ in the middle. However, fH indicates the horizontal scanning frequency of the video signal.

The sound quality when playing back the audio signal which has been converted into PCM and time axis compressed in the audio area in this way is quite high and is comparable to the sound quality of an audio dedicated device that records and plays back analog signals.

On the other hand, a proposal has been made to record another audio signal in the video area 5 of the above-mentioned VTR. That is, for example, when θ=36, if the rotary head rotates for 1000 minutes, there will be 5 other audio areas such as 6.
There will be one. By recording time-base compressed audio signals independently in each area, an audio-only tape recorder capable of recording a total of six channels of audio signals can be obtained.

Below is a brief explanation of this cheap coater. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the tape running system of the above-mentioned tape recorder, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the recording locus on the tape by this tape recorder. Note that the numbering is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In Figure 4, CHI-CH6 is traced by Head 3 or Head 4, respectively, from A to B, B to C, C to D, D to E, E to F, and F to G in Figure 3. This is the area where audio signals are recorded during the period. Audio signals can be recorded on each side of each area, and so-called azimuth overwriting is performed in each area, but the tracks in each area CHI to CH6 do not need to be on the same straight line. In addition, pilot signals for tracking control are recorded in each area, but it is assumed that they are recorded in a predetermined rotation for each area (f + - + fm → et al → f4), and there is no correlation between the areas. do not have.

Further, the area shown by C1 (1-CH3) is recorded and reproduced when the tape l is running at a predetermined speed in the direction shown by arrow 7 in FIG.
Recording and playback are performed when the vehicle is traveling in the direction shown. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the slope of each track in the area CHI to CH3 and the slope of each track in the area CH2 to CH2 are slightly different. However, at this time, the difference in relative speed is Compared to the rotation of the head 3.4, the tape 1
The damage caused by running is extremely small and should not be a problem.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of recording and reproduction of the tape recorder as described above. In the figure (IL) is a phase detection pulse (hereinafter referred to as PG) generated in synchronization with the rotation of cylinder 2.
1 high level (H)'' and ant low level (L) # in 60 seconds
It is a 30 Hz square wave that repeats. Further, (b) is a PG having a polarity opposite to that of PG (a). Here PG
(a) is H while the head 3 rotates from B to G in Figure 3.
, PG(b) are assumed to be H while the head 4 similarly rotates from B to G.

Figure 5(c) shows the nine data reading pulses obtained from PG(a), and the audio signal is sampled every other field for a period corresponding to one field (1/60 seconds) of the video signal. It is for the purpose of In FIG. 5(a), H indicates a signal processing period for adding a redundant code for error correction or changing the arrangement of the sampled audio data for one field using a RAM or the like.

FIG. 5(e) shows a data recording period t-H, which indicates the timing at which the recording data obtained by the above-mentioned signal processing is recorded on the tape l.

For example, if we follow the signal flow in time using Fig. 5, 1
．． -1. The data sampled during the period (while head 3 is moving from B to G) is %tl-tll (when head 3 is moving from G to A).
), signal processing is performed at t, ~ta (head 3 is A=
B) is recorded during the period. That is, the head 3 records in the CHI area in FIG.

On the other hand, data sampled while pG(b) is H is signal-processed at the same timing and recorded in the CHI area by the head 4.

FIG. 5(f) shows a PG obtained by shifting the phase of PC(a) by a predetermined phase (in this case, 36° corresponding to the l region).

Hereinafter, a case will be described in which an audio signal is recorded using PG(f) and a PG (not shown) having the opposite characteristics. The data sampled from t to t4 in FIG.
t, the signal is processed according to the signal shown in FIG. 5(X), and recorded according to the signal shown in FIG.
-C is recorded in the area indicated by CH2 in FIG. 4 during the period of tracing. The data sampled in the period from t4 to 1° in synchronization is recorded by the head 4 in the area indicated by CH2.

Next, the operation of reproducing the signal recorded in the area indicated by CH2 will be explained.

Reading of data from tape 1 by head 3 is shown in FIG.
It is performed from t- to tv (the same goes for tr-1) according to the signal shown in h), and from t7 to t according to the signal shown in FIG. 5(1).

Signal processing is performed in the opposite direction to that during recording. That is, during this period, error correction etc. are performed and further
) according to the signal shown in t, ~1. (1,~t@) again
'Raw audio signal is output. Of course head 4
The playback operation is performed with a phase difference of 180° from the above-described operation, and thus a continuous playback audio signal is obtained.

Also for other areas CH3 to CH6, PG(a)
Needless to say, it is sufficient to shift the phase by n.times.36 DEG and perform the above-mentioned recording and reproducing operations based on this, and this does not depend on the running direction of the tape.

By the way, when searching at high speed for an arbitrary position on a prerecorded tape in the tape recorder described above, conventionally, a tape counter, a counter memory, etc. have been used. However, if you want to perform a so-called cue using the tape counter or counter memory, it is necessary to memorize the display value of the counter or reset the counter each time recording or playback starts, and it is necessary to change the tape. In each case, the above-mentioned work had to be carried out.

In addition, in inch VTRs, etc., index signals are recorded on the control track of the tape, and cueing is performed by detecting the index signals, but unlike the multi-track tape recorders mentioned above, there are multiple recording tracks. In this case, it was not possible to locate the beginning of each recording track.

(Purpose) The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of easily confirming all desired positions of each information recording area in a recording or reproducing apparatus having a plurality of information recording areas. The purpose is to provide a recording or reproducing device that can perform the following functions.

(Explanation based on Examples) The present invention will be described below as a helical scan type 6-channel PC.
An embodiment applied to an M multi-track tape recorder will be described in detail.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the tape recorder of this embodiment. In Figure 6] 1 is a magnetic tape as a recording medium, 12i'' is a rotating drum, 13m, 13b
The heads 13a and i3b are fixed to the drum 12, respectively. 14 is a drum motor for rotating the drum 12; 15. a.

15b and 15c record and erase index signals, which will be described later, respectively.
A fixed head for reproduction, 16 is an index signal recording and reproducing circuit.

Reference numeral 17 is an operation unit for manually operating the operation of the tape recorder, ill and 18 are system controllers (
(hereinafter referred to as "system controller"), the operation mode of the tape recorder is determined by the data from the operation section 17, for example, recording,
Information corresponding to each mode such as playback, fast forwarding, rewinding, etc. is supplied to each part of the apparatus.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a cue control circuit for cueing using the reproduced index signal, and the operation of this circuit will be explained in detail later.

A capstan motor control circuit 50 20 controls the capstan 22 via the capstan motor 21 in order to cause the capstan 22 to perform a desired operation based on information generated by the system controller 18, cue control circuit 19, etc.
ti is a display for displaying the number of index signals detected by the cue control circuit 19, etc.

Next, the operation of each part of the tape recorder shown in FIG. 6 will be explained in order.

First, the index signal in the tape recorder of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. In Figure 7, 23
is a helical track (information recording area) formed on the magnetic tape II, and this track has six tracks formed in the longitudinal direction, and a PCM audio signal is recorded and played back on each track. . This is a key track (control area) on which the 24Vi index signal is recorded, and is formed in the longitudinal direction at the end of the tape 11. The index signal in the tape recorder of this example is as shown in FIG.
An index signal of a predetermined length is recorded at a position corresponding to the recording start portion of the CM audio signal (as shown in FIG. 7 24).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the index signal recording and reproducing circuit 16 configured to realize the recording and reproducing of the index signal as described above. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 25 indicates area circuits 26a to 26f for specifying tracks on which index signals are recorded, reproduced, and erased based on data from the system controller 18.
27 is an AND gate, 27 is a monomulti circuit (hereinafter referred to as MM) that generates an index signal recording signal to be described later for a predetermined period of time in response to a recording start pulse from the system controller 18, and 28 is an OR gate.
Gates 29a to 29f and 30a to 30g are switch circuits, 31 is a reference signal generator (hereinafter referred to as O8C) that generates a reference signal for the index signal, and 32a to 32f are gates and electric terminals 2. Mass,, gunwale. , Clump , Noboru ,.

The dividers 33a to 33f, which have different frequency division ratios and divide the reference signal, are the frequency dividers 32 and 32f, respectively.
6 kinds of index signals of different frequencies created by
f8. A bandpass filter (hereinafter referred to as BPF) having a pass band capable of separating +f4mflfof- from +f4mflfof-, a 34Fi adder circuit, 35° and 36 are index signals, and a delay circuit (hereinafter referred to as
37 is an erase signal generation circuit, 38 is a switch circuit that connects the erase signal generation circuit 37 and the fixed erase head 15b, 39 is a switch circuit that is switched by the tape speed information signal from the system controller, and 40 is a switch circuit that connects the erase signal generation circuit 37 and the fixed erase head 15b. 41a to 41f are switch circuits, which step down at a step-down rate of index No. 8 t"4 when the tape runs at N times the standard playback speed during fast forwarding or rewinding, etc. when played back by the fixed playback head. , 42 is a detection circuit that detects an index signal; 43 is a comparison circuit that compares the detection signal from the detection circuit 42 with a reference voltage generator 44 (described later) and generates a comparison signal; 441-1 a comparison circuit in the comparison circuit 43; Reference voltage vth f when generating a signal: a reference voltage generator to generate; 45 a rising edge detection circuit for detecting the rising edge of the comparison signal; 46 an output pulse from the rising edge detector 45 and the system controller 18; 47 is a mono-multi circuit (hereinafter referred to as MM) that generates an index signal erasure signal for a predetermined period based on the erasure start pulse from the OR gate 46; 48 is an inversion gate; 49 is a switch circuit that disconnects the 0SC 31 and the frequency dividers 32a to 32f by the index signal erasure signal inverted by the inverter 48.

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below using FIG.

First, the operation when recording the index signal will be explained.

When recording or reproducing PCM audio signals using a 6-channel multi-track PCM audio tape recorder, first select the area (track ) and starts recording the PCM audio signal, or during recording or reproducing the PCM audio signal, the system controller 18 outputs area designation data and index signal recording pulses in response to an index signal recording command. The area designation signal is output while the PCM audio signal is being recorded or reproduced in the designated area.

When the area designation signal is input to the area designation circuit 25, the output signal corresponding to the designated area goes to a high level (
H level) and becomes 27 to 5M by the index signal recording pulse.
becomes H level for a predetermined period, that is, the period during which the index signal is recorded, and the index signal recording signal output from the OR gate 28 becomes H level, and these two signals select the index to be recorded among the AND gates 26&~26f. Only the output of the AND gate corresponding to the signal becomes H level, and other than the error, it is at a hello level (L level),! : Naru.

The outputs from AND gates 26a-26f then control switch circuits 29a-29f. At this time, only the switch circuit whose control signal is at H level is switched to the H side, and the others remain connected to the L side. A reference signal for the index signal is generated from 08C31, and this signal is the index signal fI of six different frequencies depending on the branchers 32a to 32f.

It becomes fl + fm *' number * fl * f-.

In other words, there are 6 different frequency division ratios! /,shi 17
, L/1 body, nl nl
The reference signal is converted into signals of six different frequencies by the frequency divider having nJ n4 ng.

The index signals f and -f having six different frequencies correspond to the six-channel PCM audio recording area of the six-channel multitrack PCM audio tape recorder. Note that the switch circuit 49 is M at this time.
Since the output of M and 47 is at L level, it is in ON state.
The case of the OFF state in which the frequency divider 321 to 32ft- is connected to 0sc31 will be described later.

Then, six types of index signals f, created as described above, ~
fs is input to the switch circuits 29a to 29f.

Of these index signals, only the signal whose switch circuit is connected to the H side is connected to the next BPF 33a to 33f.

An index signal already recorded on the tape 11 is reproduced and supplied to the L side of the switch circuits 29a to 29f by the reproduction fixed head 15c.

While index signals are being recorded as described above, if index signals other than the designated area have already been recorded, these signals are erased in order to record the index signals in the designated area. (Details will be described later). Therefore,.

During the recording of the index signal corresponding to the designated area, the reproduction fixed head 145c reproduces the index signal outside the designated area, and the reproduced index signal is created by frequency-dividing the reference signal. , occurrence index signal) can completely avoid erasure.

Next, the operation of this mechanism will be explained. During recording of the occurrence index signal, the switch circuit 39 switches between the S side (standard tape speed during normal PCM audio recording or playback) and the H side (speed N times the standard tape speed) according to the tape speed information signal from the system controller 18. ). In this case, since the tape is at standard speed, it is connected to the S side. The index signal regenerated by the reproducing fixed head 15e is input as is to the switch circuit 30g, and the switch circuit 30g
Since it is connected to the H side by the index signal recording signal (H level) from M, 27, the reproduction index signal is supplied to the switch circuits 29a to 29f. The recording operation of the signals output from the switch circuits 291 to 29f will be described below.

The switch circuits 29a to 29f supply the generation index signal in the designated area and the reproduction index signal outside the designated area to the BPFs 33a to 33f according to the above-described switch operation.

B P F 33 a to 33 f are each index signal f+
- Since it has a passband corresponding to fl, each PC
M audio recording area index signal! , ~f, can be extracted, and each extracted index signal fl=fa is supplied to switch circuits 30a to 30of.

Switch circuits 30a to 30f and UD, L, 3
61C is supplied with the index signal recording signal (H level). The switch circuits 30a to 30f are designed to switch to the H side only when the index signal recording signal is at the H level.
Each of the index signals f1 to f is supplied to an adder circuit 34. Also, when L and 36 supply the erase signal generated from the erase signal generating circuit to the erase fixing head 15b, the switch circuit 38 starts and stops erasing. In order to correct the time lag due to the distance from the fixed head 15b,
The switch circuit 38 (O at the index signal recording signal H level)
This is to delay the index signal recording signal which is controlled (OFF at N and L levels). In other words, D, L,
36 playback fixed head 15e and erase fixed head 15
The switch circuit 38 is in the ON state while the index recording signal corrected for the time deviation of b is at the H level, and the erasure signal generation circuit 37
The erasing signal from the recording head 15b is supplied to the erasing head 15b, and the portion of the tape 11 corresponding to the index recording signal is erased.

Each index signal f is then supplied to the adder circuit 34.

・fa is frequency multiplexed in the adder circuit 34 and enters,
35. D, L, 35 are as above, L.

36, this is to correct the time lag due to the distance between the fixed reproduction head 15c and the recording head 15a, and is designed as described above so that recording can be performed on the portion erased by the fixed erasing head 5b. The frequency-multiplexed index signal is delayed and recorded.

The index signal corresponding to the PCM audio recording area designated as above is recorded in the cue track (control recording area). Give an explanation.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, when the index signal is used to cue the index signal during reproduction, first, the PCM audio signal recording area to be cued is specified using the operation unit 17 in FIG. is performed, and it is specified whether the cueing operation is to be performed when the tape speed is at the standard speed and normal playback is performed, or when the tape speed is at high speed and the tape is fast forwarded and returned to the 9th volume. In response to the command, the system controller 18 transfers area specification data to the area specification circuit 25, switch fOo path 3c+ic.
is supplied with a tape speed information signal.

Here, since the system controller 18 does not generate a pulse for activating the MM+ 27, the signal output from the MM+ 27 is at L level.The running OR gate 28 outputs an L level signal. As a result, all switch circuits 30a to 30g are connected to the L side.

Also, according to the area designation signal output from the system controller 18, only the output corresponding to the designated nine areas among the outputs of the area designation circuit 25 becomes H level. As a result, among the switch circuits 41a to 41f, only the switch circuit to which the H level signal is supplied is turned on.

Then, in response to the tape speed information signal output from the system controller 18, the switch circuit 39 switches between the S side and the F side in the same manner as described above.

In this embodiment, the cueing operation can be performed at both standard and high tape speeds; however, for example, when the index signal is played back at a speed N times the tape speed when recording the index, Since the reproduction frequency of the index signal is also reproduced N times, it falls outside the bandpass region of the EPF for separating the index signal.

Therefore, when the index signal is reproduced at a high speed by the switch circuit 39, the tape speed information signal from the system controller 18 is connected to the F side, and as shown in the figure, the N The index signal of twice the frequency is down-converted by a down-dampler 4o with a lower down-down rate and converted to the same frequency as that reproduced at the standard speed.

The reproduction index signal output from the switch circuit 39 is connected to the L side of the switch circuit 30g.

After passing through 29a to 29f, BPF33a to 33f
In the same way as above, the index signal of each PCM audio recording area! , ~f喀 are extracted.

As described above, only the switch circuits to which the H level signal is supplied among the switch circuits 41a to 41f are in the ON state, so that the index signal supplied to the detection circuit 42 is only the index signal corresponding to the designated area. becomes.

The detection circuit 42 detects the input finger signal, and the next comparison circuit 43 compares the reference voltage vth generated by the reference voltage generator 44 with the output signal of the detection circuit 42. Output cue control signal. This cue control signal controls the cue control circuit shown in FIG. 6, which will be described later.

Next, the erasure of the index signal in this embodiment will be explained.

Now, when newly recording a PCM audio signal and an index signal in an area where a PCM audio signal and an index signal have been recorded in advance, when recording a PCM audio signal, the index signal is recorded for a predetermined period at the start of recording ( MM of FIG. 8, 2 after the index signal is recorded (see FIG. 7).
Since the output of No. 7 becomes L level, the mode becomes index signal reproduction mode.

If the erasure fixing hect 15b is not operated at this time, if a previously recorded index signal of the same frequency (old index signal) exists, it will not be possible to erase it, causing a malfunction during the cueing operation. Therefore, by the method described below, the old index signal can be deleted, and not only in the case described above, but also the index signal that is no longer needed can be deleted.

After the index signal is recorded at the start of recording the PCM audio signal, the present embodiment enters the index signal reproduction mode.

Of the switch circuits 41a to 41f, the switch circuit to which the area is specified is in the ON state, so the old index signal reproduced by the fixed reproduction head 15C is supplied to the detection circuit 42 from this switch circuit. and a detection circuit 42. The comparison circuit 43 outputs a cue control signal in the same manner as when reproducing the index signal described above.

This cue control signal is also supplied to the rising edge detector 45,
When the rising edge of the cueing control signal is detected by the rising edge detector 45, a pulse signal is output to the OR gate 46, and the output pulse of the OR gate 46 causes the MM, 47
works. This MM.

47, that is, the index signal erasure signal (H level), the present embodiment enters the index signal recording mode for a predetermined period.
The old index signal is erased in the same way as when recording the index signal, but if this continues, the index signal generated by 08031 will also be recorded at the same time, so MM, 4
If the switch circuit 49 is turned off using a signal obtained by inverting the output signal (index signal, f erase signal) of 7 by the inverter 48, and the index signal is not generated, the old index signal previously recorded on the tape can be used. can be erased. Also, if you want to delete the index signal that is no longer needed, please use the sixth
When index erasure is commanded by the operation unit 17 shown in the figure, an index erasure pulse signal is outputted from the system controller 1s15 to the OR gate 46, and the index signal in the designated area is similarly erased.

The above is a detailed explanation of the index signal recording/reproducing circuit 16 in FIG. When reproducing the index signal, a cue control signal is output from the index signal recording/reproducing circuit 16, and the cue control circuit 19 is controlled by this cue control signal and the cue command signal from the system controller 18 shown in FIG. controlled. Here, the capstan motor control circuit 20 (described later) is controlled to stop tape running when an index signal is detected during reproduction of the index signal, and perform fast forwarding, rewinding, etc. to reproduce the index signal at particularly high speed. In this case, in addition to detecting an index signal and outputting a capstan motor control signal for returning to the standard speed in order to reproduce the PCM audio signal again, it also detects the cueing control signal and counts it with a counter or the like. By displaying the information on the display 50, index signal information such as the number of recorded index signals is displayed.

Multitrack/PC as an embodiment of the present invention described above
In the M tape recorder, six types of frequency signals are assigned as index signals to each PCM audio area, and are frequency-multiplexed during recording, but the invention is not limited to this, and recording may be performed by time-division multiplexing. In this case, there is no need for a BPF for separating a plurality of multiplexed index signals when reproducing the index signals.

Further, although the present embodiment has been described using a 6-channel multi-track PCM recorder, the present invention is not limited to this, and even when the number of tracks increases, it can be easily realized by applying the present invention.

Further, in this embodiment, the cue track (control area) for recording the index signal may be formed in the longitudinal direction of the tape-shaped recording medium, and is not limited to the side edge portion of the tape-shaped recording medium.

(Effects) As described above in detail using embodiments, the present invention provides a recording or reproducing apparatus having a plurality of information recording areas, in which a plurality of longitudinal sections are arranged on a control area of a tape-shaped recording medium. By recording index signals corresponding to recorded information in each direction and reproducing them, the desired position of each information recording area can be easily confirmed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the tape running system of a conventional VTR, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the recording trajectory on the magnetic tape by the VTR shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the tape running system of a multi-channel tape recorder. 4 is a diagram showing the recording locus on the magnetic chip by the tape recorder shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a time chart of recording and reproduction of the tape recorder shown in FIG. A diagram showing a schematic configuration of a tape recorder as an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a recording pattern of the tape recorder in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the index signal recording/reproducing circuit in FIG. It is a figure showing an example of composition. 11... Magnetic tape, 12... Rotating drum, 13a
.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A device that records information signals in each of a plurality of longitudinal regions separated in the width direction of a tape-shaped recording medium using a head that traces the tape-shaped recording medium in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the medium, or reproduces such information. Information signal recording, comprising means for recording, in at least one area set in the longitudinal direction of the medium, an index signal corresponding to the recorded information of each of the plurality of longitudinal areas. Or playback equipment. (2) A device that records information signals or reproduces information in a plurality of longitudinal regions separated in the width direction of a tape-shaped recording medium by using a head that traces the tape-shaped recording medium in a direction that intersects with its longitudinal direction. and reproducing an index signal recorded in at least one region set in the longitudinal direction of the medium corresponding to the recorded information of each of the plurality of longitudinal regions, and reproducing the index signal according to the obtained index signal. An information signal recording or reproducing device characterized by comprising means for controlling a recording or reproducing operation.