Digital recording/reproducing method in which digital control codes are simultaneously recorded/reproduced with analog info to enhance analog recording/reproduction

A digital recording and reproducing system, comprising:

• a fixed head unit having a first track face on which an analog head is provided and a second track face on which a plurality of digital heads are provided;
• digital signal supplying means for supplying digital signals to be recorded by said digital heads;
• digital signal processing means for processing digital signals read by said digital heads;
• control code generating means for generating a control code;
• first change-over switch means interposed between a particular one of said digital heads and said digital signal supplying means;
• second change-over switch means interposed between the particular digital head and said digital signal processing means;
• control code decoding means for decoding a control code;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said first change-over switch means, upon analog reproduction or recording from or onto one of a pair of analog tracks of a tape by means of said analog head, to transmit a control code from said control code generating means to the particular digital head so as to be recorded onto a non-recorded gap portion of the other analog track and for controlling said second change-over switch means, upon analog reproduction by said analog head, to transmit a control code from the particular digital head to said control code decoding means.

A digital recording apparatus, comprising:

• a fixed head unit having a first track face on which an analog head is provided and a second track face on which a plurality of digital heads are provided;
• digital signal supplying means for supplying digital signals to be recorded by said digital heads;
• control code generating means for generating a control code;
• change-over switch means interposed between a particular one of said digital heads and said digital signal supplying means;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said change-over switch means, upon analog reproduction or recording from or onto one of a pair of analog tracks of a tape by means of said analog head, to transmit a control code from said control code generating means to the particular digital head so as to be recorded onto a non-recorded gap portion of the other analog track.

A digital reproducing apparatus, comprising:

• a fixed head unit having a first track face on which an analog head is provided and a second track face on which a plurality of digital heads are provided;
• digital signal processing means for processing digital signals read by said digital heads;
• change-over switch means interposed between a particular one of said digital heads and said digital signal processing means;
• control code decoding means for decoding a control code;
• and
• controlling means for controlling said change-over switch means, upon analog reproduction from one of a pair of analog tracks of a tape by means of said analog head, to transmit a control code read out by the particular digital head to said control code decoding means.