A method for storing and playing back a plurality of different audio messages for a plurality of time designations in a video cassette tape recorder, comprising the steps of
- (a) inputting instructions through a key matrix;
- (b) entering a message setting mode when a slide switch of the key matrix is located at a program position;
- (c) increasing a program number by 1 in response to instructions received when step (b) has been executed;
- (d) setting a program time for the program number by setting an hour key and a minute key;
- (e) outputting an address signal in accordance with the program number by setting a memory key;
- (f) entering a message transmission mode when a transmission message key is set and a present time is equal to a programmed time;
- (g) outputting a program address;
- (h) entering a recording mode and setting a predetermined time when instructions are received;
- (i) designating a start address for a random access memory having a plurality of storage locations which are sequentially accessible;
- (j) applying an audio message signal to an analog to digital converter and generating digital data from said message signal;
- (k) applying said digital data to a signal processor in the form of three sequential data codes comprised of m-bits each, generating two difference data codes therefrom of n-bits and thereafter combining the two n-bit difference data codes into an m-bit bit output data code, where m and n are integers;
- (l) applying the m-bit output data code and a record control signal to said random access memory;
- (m) writing said m-bit output data code to a designated address;
- (n) increasing an address of the random access memory by 1 until a predetermined time period has elapsed;
- (o) generating a count completion signal when the predetermined time period has elapsed;
- (p) executing program-recording by sequentially repeating said steps (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), and (o) such that a plurality of audio messages are stored in sequential storage locations of said random access memory without regard to the amount of message information included in said code data for a plurality of specified time designations;
- (q) thereafter entering a transmission mode and setting a predetermined time;
- (r) designating a start address for the random access memory;
- (s) applying the driving control signal to the random access memory;
- (t) reading out the m-bit output data code stored at said designated address to said signal processor at said predetermined time designation, dividing the m-bit output data code into two n-bit data codes, and generating the original m-bit data code therefrom;
- (u) applying the original m-bit data code to a digital to analog converter to generate an audio message signal;
- (v) applying the audio message signal from said random access memory to an audio record circuit and then recording the audio message signal on an audio track of a video tape;
- (w) increasing the address of the random access memory by 1 until the predetermined time has elapsed;
- (x) generating a count completion signal;
- and
- (y) repeating steps (r), (s), (t), (u), (v), (w) and (x), so that a predetermined audio message stored on said video tape is read out and played back with a video recording in conformity with the programmed recording time of the video cassette tape recorder.