Recording and reproducing digital video and audio signals together with a time code signal which is within user control words of the audio data

A method for tape recording a time code signal together with digital video and audio signals comprising:

• scanning successive slant tracks extending obliquely across a tape;
• processing at least one channel of a digital audio signal into audio blocks each comprised of data words and user control words;
• recording said audio blocks in first sections of said slant tracks;
• recording a digital video signal in other sections of slant tracks which are relatively longer than said first sections of said slant tracks;
• and
• recording a time code signal representing time codes as said user control words in at least some of said audio blocks recorded in said first sections of said slant tracks.

A method for tape recording and reproducing a time code signal together with digital video and audio signals comprising:

• in a recording phase,
• processing at least one channel of a digital audio signal into audio blocks each comprised of data words and user control words,
• recording said audio blocks in intermediate sections of successively scanned slant tracks which extend obliquely across a tape, with each of said intermediate sections being spaced from the opposite ends of the respective tracks,
• recording a digital video signal in other sections of said slant tracks which are located before and after said intermediate sections considered in the direction in which said slant tracks are scanned, and
• recording digital time code signals representing time codes as said user control words in at least some of said audio blocks recorded in said intermediate sections of said slant tracks, with said time code signals recorded in said intermediate sections of a successive plurality of said slant tracks representing the same time codes;
• and,
• in a reproducing phase,
• reproducing said digital video signals and audio blocks recorded in said successive tracks,
• separating said digital time code signals and audio signals from the separated audio blocks, and
• reading time codes from said separated digital time code signals.

A tape recording apparatus comprising:

• head means scanning successive slant tracks extending obliquely across a tape;
• audio processing means for processing at least one channel of a digital audio signal into audio blocks each comprised of data words and user control words;
• video processing means providing a digital video signal;
• means for generating a time code signal representing successive time codes;
• and
• time multiplexing means for supplying said audio blocks, said video signals and said time code signal to said head means for recording said audio blocks in intermediate sections of said slant tracks which are spaced from the opposite ends of the respective tracks, for recording said digital video signal in other sections of said slant tracks which are located before and after said intermediate sections considered in the direction of said scanning, and for recording said time code signal as said user control words in at least some of said audio blocks recorded in said intermediate sections of said slant tracks with the time code signal in said audio blocks recorded in the intermediate sections of a successive plurality of said slant tracks representing the same time code.

A tape recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:

• head means for scanning successive slant tracks extending obliquely across a tape;
• audio processing means for processing at least one channel of a digital audio signal into audio blocks each comprised of data words and user control words;
• video processing means for providing a digital video signal;
• means for generating a time code signal representing successive time codes;
• time multiplexing means operative in a recording mode of the apparatus for supplying said audio blocks, said video signals and said time code signal to said head means for recording said audio blocks in intermediate sections of said slant tracks which are spaced from the opposite ends of the respective tracks, for recording said digital video signal in other sections of said slant tracks which are located before and after said intermediate sections considered in the direction of said scanning, and for recording said time code signal as said user control words in at least some of said audio blocks recorded sections of said slant tracks, with the time code signal in said audio blocks recorded in said intermediate sections of a successive plurality of said slant tracks representing the same time code;
• means operative in a reproducing mode of the apparatus for separating the reproduced digital video signals and audio blocks from the output of said head means and for separating the digital time code signal and audio signals from the separated audio blocks;
• and
• means for reading time codes from the digital time code signal separated from the reproduced audio blocks.