Method of controlling recording of optical records

A control method of controlling recording and reproducing of optical records in an optical magnetic disk apparatus using a mark length recording method, comprising the steps of:

• recording a predetermined test pattern on a recording medium;
• reproducing said predetermined test pattern;
• controlling at least one shift amount selected from a defocus amount of a laser beam on a recording medium, a position shift amount of a recording position on a track at which recording is performed on said recording medium and a power shift amount of laser power irradiated during recording, to reduce a distortion of the reproduced said predetermined test pattern to less than a first predetermined value;
• obtaining control information under various environments in which optical recording and reproducing are performed, by repeating said steps of recording, reproducing said predetermined test patterns and controlling;
• recording general data on said recording medium by setting an optimum pulse width or an optimum laser power for recording on a basis of said control information;
• and
• reproducing said general data by subjecting a reproduced said general data to wave-equalizing processing, to reduce a distortion of said general data reproduced to less than a second predetermined value which is less than said first predetermined value.