Image signal recording and reproducing system

A high definition image signal recording and reproducing system arranged to record a high definition image signal on a recording medium and to reproduce the high definition image signal from the recording medium, comprising:

• (A) recording means having a first recording mode for recording a first low definition image signal for one picture having a first resolution on a piece of recording track of the recording medium, a second recording mode for recording a second low definition image signal for one picture having a second resolution higher than the first resolution on two pieces of recording tracks of the recording medium, and a third recording mode for recording a high definition image signal for one picture having a third resolution higher than the second resolution on mutually different m (m:
• integer not less than 3) pieces of recording tracks of the recording medium, said recording means recording the first low definition image signal, the second low definition image signal, or the high definition image signal on the recording medium on the basis of either one of said first, second and third recording modes;
• and
• (B) reproduction means for outputting reproduced image signals, arranged to reproduce only the image signal recorded on one piece Of the recording tracks for each picture irrespective whether the recording mode is the first, the second or the third recording mode under which the image signals are recorded on the recording medium by the recording means at the time of a search reproduction mode in which the image signals for plural pictures recorded on the recording medium by the recording means are successively reproduced at high speed, and arranged to reproduce all of the image signals recorded on the recording tracks of the recording medium according to the recording mode under which the image signals for respective pictures are recorded at the time of an ordinary reproduction mode in which the image signals for plural pictures recorded on the recording medium by the recording means are reproduced at a speed lower than the speed at the time of the search reproduction mode.