Method and apparatus for recording signals with different recording current levels to determine optimum recording characteristics

A method of determining optimum recording current level for recording signals on a record medium, comprising the steps of:

• providing a reference signal to a recording amplifier for recording in different locations on said record medium with a controllable recording current level;
• selectively changing the recording current level of the reference signal when said reference signal is recorded in different locations;
• generating location signals representing the different locations on said record medium at which said reference signal is recorded;
• recording said location signals on said record medium;
• reproducing the reference signal and said location signals from said different locations:
• storing the reference signal reproduced from said different locations;
• detecting the stored reference signal whose signal level is the largest;
• identifying the location signal representing a particular record medium location at which the reference signal whose signal level is the largest is recorded;
• and
• determining the recording current level that had been recorded at said particular location.

Apparatus for determining an optimum recording parameter for recording signals on a record medium, comprising:

• controllable recording amplifier means for recording signals on said record medium with controllable gain;
• input means operable to supply a reference signal to said recording amplifier means;
• recording means for recording the reference signal amplified by said recording amplifier means in different locations on said record medium;
• gain control means for controlling the gain of said recording amplifier means to record the reference signal with different gain in respective, different locations;
• location signal means for recording on said record medium location signals representing the different locations in which the reference signal is recorded with different gain;
• reproducing means for reproducing from said record medium the reference signal recorded in different locations with different gain and the location signals;
• storage means for storing the reproduced reference and location signals;
• and
• control means for detecting the stored reference signal having the largest signal level, for identifying the location signal which represents the location on the record medium at which the reference signal having the largest signal level is recorded, and for determining the gain of said recording amplifier means which resulted in said reference signal having the largest signal level.

Apparatus for recording signals with different recording current levels on a record medium, comprising:

• input means operable to supply a reference signal for recording;
• recording means for recording the reference signal in different locations on said record medium with different recording current levels;
• current control means for controlling the recording current level of the reference signal recorded in respective, different locations on said, record medium;
• and
• location signal means for recording on record medium location signals representing the different locations in which the reference signal is recorded with different recording current levels.