Data transfer method of magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus

A method of transferring data from a magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus, the magnetic tape apparatus including a buffer memory for storing data and a read/write head mounted on a rotating drum for writing data from the buffer memory onto the magnetic tape, the read/write head being rotated by the rotating drum at a head rotating speed, the magnetic tape being driven over the rotating drum at a tape driving speed, the apparatus further including a plurality of frequency dividers connected in series to an oscillator, each of the frequency dividers receiving an input frequency from one of the oscillator or a previous frequency divider, and generating an output frequency which is one-half of the input frequency, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining an amount of data stored in the buffer memory;
• determining a rate at which the amount of data stored in the buffer is increasing or decreasing;
• and
• changing a rate at which the data is reproduced from the magnetic tape by selecting between a plurality of predetermined head rotating speeds and tape driving speeds in response to the determined amount of data and the determined rate of storage;
• wherein the step of changing the rate at which data is reproduced from the magnetic tape comprises selecting the output frequency generated by one of the frequency dividers.