Magnetic-tape recording apparatus and method, magnetic-tape reproduction apparatus and method, and recording medium

A magnetic-tape recording method for a magnetic-tape recording apparatus for recording digital data on a magnetic tape by a rotating head, comprising:

• a first obtaining step of obtaining predetermined-unit video data;
• a second obtaining step of obtaining audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data;
• a synthesizing step of synthesizing the predetermined-unit video data and the audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data such that they are continuous on a track in the magnetic tape without any space disposed therebetween;
• and
• a sending step of sending data synthesized by a process in the synthesizing step to the rotating head in order to record the data on the magnetic tape.

A recording medium for recording a computer-readable program which controls a magnetic-tape recording apparatus for recording digital data on a magnetic tape by a rotating head, the program comprising:

• a first obtaining step of obtaining predetermined-unit video data;
• a second obtaining step of obtaining audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data;
• a synthesizing step of synthesizing the predetermined-unit video data and the audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data such that they are continuous on a track in the magnetic tape without any space disposed therebetween;
• and
• a sending step of sending data synthesized by a process in the synthesizing step to the rotating head in order to record the data on the magnetic tape.

A magnetic-tape reproduction apparatus for reading by a rotating head a magnetic tape into which compressed, high-quality or standard, predetermined-unit, video data and audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data are recorded such that they are continuous on a track without any space disposed therebetween, comprising:

• first decompression means for decompressing the compressed, high-quality video data among data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• second decompression means for decompressing the compressed audio data among the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• detecting means for detecting distinguish information for distinguishing the video data from the audio data, from the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• and
• selection means for selecting the first decompression means or the second decompression means according to the result of detection performed by the detecting means to process the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head.

A magnetic-tape reproduction method for a magnetic-tape reproduction apparatus for reading by a rotating head a magnetic tape into which compressed, high-quality or standard, predetermined-unit, video data and audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data are recorded such that they are continuous on a track without any space disposed therebetween, comprising:

• a first decompression step of decompressing the compressed, high-quality video data among data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• a second decompression step of decompressing the compressed audio data among the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• a detecting step of detecting distinguish information for distinguishing the video data from the audio data, from the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• and
• a selection step of selecting a process performed in the first decompression step or in the second decompression step according to the result of detection performed in the detecting step to process the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head.

A recording medium for recording a computer-readable program which controls a magnetic-tape reproduction apparatus for reading by a rotating head a magnetic tape into which compressed, high-quality or standard, predetermined-unit, video data and audio data corresponding to the predetermined-unit video data are recorded such that they are continuous on a track without any space disposed therebetween, the program comprising:

• a first decompression step of decompressing the compressed, high-quality video data among data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• a second decompression step of decompressing the compressed audio data among the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• a detecting step of detecting distinguish information for distinguishing the video data from the audio data among the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head;
• and
• a selection step of selecting a process performed in the first decompression step or in the second decompression step according to the result of detection performed in the detecting step to process the data read from the magnetic tape by the rotating head.