Device for recording a digital information signal on a record carrier

A device for recording a digital information signal in an information track on a magnetic record carrier, and for converting, prior to recording, a n-bit information words in the presented digital information signal into (n+m)-bit channel words, where n and m are integers such that m.gtoreq.1 and n.gtoreq.m, comprising:

• an input terminal for receiving the n-bit information words,
• an encoding device having an input coupled to the input terminal and having an output, which encoding device comprises an aT precoder, a being an integer greater than or equal to two and T being the bit period, which encoding device is arranged for converting the n-bit information words into the (n+m)-bit channel words and for presenting the channel words at the output;
• and
• a recording device having an input coupled to the output of the encoding device, for recording the (n+m)-bit) channel words in the information track on the magnetic record carrier;
• characterized in that:
• the encoding device comprises signal affixing means for affixing an m-bit digital word, where m is equal to 1, to each consecutive n-bit information word to obtain an (n+1)-bit information word;
• the aT precoder is arranged for converting the (n+1)-bit information words into (n+1)-bit channel words;
• the encoding device further comprises control signal generating means for receiving the (n+1)-bit channel words from the aT precoder and deriving a control signal therefrom;
• and
• the signal affixing means is arranged for affixing a 1-bit digital word to an n-bit information word in response to said control signal, such that the running digital sum value of the output signal of the precoder has a desired pattern as a function of time.