Recording and reproducing apparatus and recording and reproducing method

A recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising:

• a reproducing unit having a plurality of first recording media loaded thereon and adapted for reproducing at least two of the plurality of first recording media;
• and
• a recording unit having a plurality of recordable second recording media loaded thereon, each having a recording area capable of recording information signals therein and a management information area in which management information including at least table of contents information indicating contents of the information signals recorded in the recording area is recorded, and adapted for recording information signals onto one of the plurality of loaded second recording media, the recording unit recording the information signals reproduced by the reproducing unit onto the second recording medium, the recording unit supplying to the reproducing unit a control signal indicating completion of preparation for recording the information signals onto the second recording medium;
• wherein the reproducing unit starts reproducing one of the first recording media on the basis of the control signal indicating completion of preparation for recording supplied from the recording unit, and supplies reproduced signals to the recording unit, and the reproducing unit has a first housing section for housing the plurality of first recording media loaded thereon and a first carrier mechanism for taking out one of the first recording media from the first housing section and carrying the first recording medium to the reproducing unit, and the recording unit has a second housing section for housing the plurality of second recording media loaded thereon and a second carrier mechanism for taking out one of the second recording media from the second housing section and carrying the second recording medium to the recording unit, so that after completion of reproduction of the first recording medium by the reproducing unit or completion of recording of the information signals onto the second recording medium by the recording unit, then exchanging the first recording medium of the reproducing unit and loading another first recording medium to set the reproducing unit in a reproduction standby state while resetting the recording unit in a recording stand by state after completion of recording of the one second recording medium by the recording unit, having the reproduction standby state of the reproducing unit released on the basis of the control signal indicating completion of preparation for recording of the recording unit so as to start reproduction of the another first recording medium, and recording the reproduced signals from the reproducing unit onto the one second recording medium by the recording unit, recording in the management information area table of contents information indicating contents of the information signals recorded in the recorded area.