Apparatus for recording a video signal and stereophonic audio signals

A signal recording apparatus, comprising:

• (a) video input means for inputting a video signal;
• (b) audio input means for inputting stereophonic audio signals of two channels, a sum signal of a right signal and a left signal of the stereophonic audio signals and a difference signal of said right and left signals;
• (c) video signal processing means, including compressing means for compressing an information amount of the input video signal, for receiving the input video signal and selectively outputting one of a first video signal having an information amount compressed by said compressing means and a second video signal having an information amount greater than that of the first video signal;
• (d) recording means for recording signals into first and second areas on a recording medium;
• and
• (e) mode switching means for switching a mode of said apparatus among a plurality of modes,
• wherein said plurality of modes includes
• a first mode in which the recording means records the first video signal and the sum signal into the first area and records the difference signal into the signal area, and
• a second mode in which the recording means records the second video signal and the stereophonic audio signals of two channels into the first area.

A signal recording apparatus comprising:

• (a) video input means for inputting a video signal;
• (b) audio input means for inputting a sum signal of a right signal and a left signal of a stereophonic audio signal and a difference signal of said right and left signals;
• (c) carrying means for carrying a tape-shaped recording medium in a longitudinal direction;
• (d) recording means for recording signals into first and second areas on the recording medium;
• (e) mode switching means for switching a mode of said apparatus among a plurality of modes,
• wherein said plurality of modes include
• first mode in which the carrying means carries the tape-shaped recording medium at a first speed and the recording means records the video signal and the sum signal into the first area and records the difference signal into the second area, and
• second mode in which the carrying means carries the tape-shaped recording medium at a second speed higher than the first speed and the recording means records the video signal and stereophonic audio signals of two channels into the first area.

A signal recording apparatus comprising:

• (a) video input means for inputting a video signal;
• (b) audio input means for inputting a sum signal of a right signal and a left signal of a stereophonic audio signal and a difference signal of said right and left signals;
• (c) recording means for recording a signal onto a recording medium by rotary heads which periodically trace on the recording medium;
• and
• (d) mode switching means for switching a mode of said apparatus among a plurality of modes,
• wherein said plurality of modes include
• first mode in which the recording means forms a first predetermined number of tracks per unit time and records the video signal and the sum signal into a first area on each track and records the difference signal into a second area on each track, and
• second mode in which the recording means forms a second predetermined number of tracks larger than said first predetermined number per said unit time and records the video signal and stereophonic audio signals of two channels into the first area on each track.

A signal recording apparatus comprising:

• (a) video input means for inputting a digital video signal;
• (b) audio input means for inputting an audio signal and generating a plurality of kinds of digital audio signals, said plurality of kinds of digital audio signals representing different sounds, respectively;
• (c) video signal processing means, including compression means which compresses an information amount of the digital video signals, for receiving the digital video signal and selectively outputting a first digital video signal whose information amount is compressed by said compression means and a second digital video signal having an information greater than said first digital video signal;
• (d) recording means for recording the digital video signal and the digital audio signal on a recording medium;
• and
• (e) control means for controlling said recording means, said control means including mode switching means for switching a mode of said apparatus between a plurality of modes including a first mode in which said recording means records said first digital video signal and first digital audio signals representing a first sound and a second mode in which said recording means records said second digital video signal and second digital audio signals representing a second sound different from the first sound.

A signal recording apparatus comprising:

• (a) audio signal processing means for inputting an audio signal and generating a plurality of kinds of digital audio signals, said plurality of kinds of digital audio signals representing different sounds, respectively;
• (b) video signal processing means for inputting a video signal and selectively outputting a plurality of different kinds of digital video signals having different information amounts respectively, said video signal processing means including compression means for compressing the information amount of the input video signal;
• (c) recording means for recording the digital video signal and the digital audio signal on a recording medium;
• and
• (d) control means for changing the kind of the digital audio signal to be recorded by said recording means, in accordance with the kind of video signal to be recorded by said recording means.