Stereoscopic compression processing with added phase reference

A stereoscopic image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a stereoscopic image signal from a recording medium on which the stereoscopic image signal for a stereoscopic image which is composed of left and fight images is recorded, comprising:

• a) reproducing means for reproducing and outputting the stereoscopic image signal recorded on the recording medium;
• b) time base expanding means arranged to separate from the signal outputted from said reproducing means, image signals which correspond respectively to the left and fight images and have been time-base-compressed for every horizontal scanning period, to time-base-expand the image signals corresponding respectively to the left and right images and to output the time-base-expanded images;
• and
• c) control means for extracting both a horizontal synchronizing signal which is added to time-base compressed and combined image signals outputted by said reproducing means, during a horizontal blanking period provided at the front of a portion of said time-based-compressed and combined image signals, said portion corresponding to the left image, and a phase reference signal, said signal being different from said horizontal synchronizing signal and serving as a reference at the time of reproduction, which is added to the time-base compressed and combined image signals, during a blanking period provided at between portions of the time-base-compressed and combined image signals, said portions corresponding respectively to the left and right images, and thereby controlling a time base expanding process of said time base expanding means by means of the horizontal synchronizing signal and phase reference signal thus extracted.