Magnetic recording apparatus with pilot signal recorded in successive tracks with changing pilot frequency

Apparatus for recording a video signal in successive tracks on a record medium together with a pilot signal, wherein the video signal has successive frames, each formed of plural fields, and wherein the pilot signal is cyclically recorded with a different one of at least four frequencies in successive tracks for tracking control during reproduction, said apparatus comprising:

• plural transducer means rotatable for recording said video and pilot signals in successive tracks on a record medium;
• pulse generating means for generating a pulse signal indicative of a rotational phase of the transducer means;
• field detecting means supplied with said video signal for detecting sequential fields in the frames of said video signal;
• phase control means coupled to said pulse generating means and said field detecting means for controlling the rotation of said transducer means in response to said pulse signal and the detected sequence of fields;
• and
• pilot signal generating means for generating said pilot signal with an initial frequency determined by an initial field in said detected sequence of fields, said frequency changing as a function of the detected sequential fields.