Multitrack recorder including superimposed real time code

A multichannel recorder for recording real time information together with other information, comprising

• (a) a plurality of circuits, each of which is adapted for receiving and amplifying one of a plurality of analog data signals, including means for shifting received data signals in certain of said circuits out of phase with each other,
• (b) means for generating a signal indicative of the real time at which said data signals are received, including
• (i) means for generating a digital signal corresponding to said real time having two different width pulses representing digital "1"s and "0"s, respectively.
• (ii) means for converting said first and second width pulses into an alternating signal containing two substantially sinusoidal frequency components, one frequency corresponding to said first width pulse and a second frequency corresponding to said second width pulses,
• (c) means associated with each circuit for mixing a component of said alternating signal with said data signal therein, while maintaining each said alternating signal components within each circuit in phase with each other, and
• (d) means for recording each of said mixed data signals and alternating signals on a separate track of a multitrack recording medium,
• wherein said time code information may be reconstructed by adding together signals recovered from tracks such that recovered data signals which are out-of-phase with each other at least partially negate each other, and recovered alternating signal components, all of which are in-phase, reinforce each other to provide a readily detectable signal having a level exceeding that attributable to said data signals.