Multi-channel longitudinal video tape recording

Apparatus for recording and reproducing with superimposition of video signals, comprising:

• a multiple channel, longitudinal tape recorder/reproducer capable of video frequency recording and reproduction, including a principal video channel and a plurality of synchronization channels, said synchronization channels including a horizontal drive channel and a vertical drive channel, the vertical drive channel having modulation means for accurately recording and reproducing low frequency vertical synchronization signals;
• a video input to which is supplied a composite video signal, the apparatus having an initial record mode in which said video input is coupled to said principal video channel to record the picture signal, and means coupled to said video input during the initial record mode to extract the synchronization signals from said composite video signal and to record them on said synchronization channels, including means to separate the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals and to separately record them respectively to the horizontal and vertical drive channels;
• so that the picture and synchronization signals are in proper spatial registry on the same tape;
• said apparatus further comprising a video mixer and additional video source means, and having an edit mode in which said principal channel and said synchronization channels are coupled for playback to input means of the video mixer, the synchronization channels being also coupled as inputs to the additional video source means, and the additional video source means has output means coupled to other input means of the video mixer, monitor means coupled to an output of the video mixer for visually displaying the combined video signal;
• and further record means coupled to special channel means of said recorder/reproducer during said edit mode to simultaneously record a video signal including at least picture information from said additional video source, so that the signals on the special channel means are also in proper spatial registry on the same tape with said signals recorded on the principal and synchronization channels.