HELICAL SCAN RECORDING AND PLAYBACK SYSTEMS

Helical scan magnetic recording and reproducing system of the type where time compressed audio signals are recorded in extensions of the video tracks. In order to avoid a time delay of the reproduced audio relative to its original relationship to the video, additional audio playback heads are located on the helical scanner so as to read the audio information sufficiently in advance of the video to allow restoration of the original audio/video synchronism. The arrangement allows full flexibility in audio editing even when the recorded audio signals are digitally encoded and interleaved. A similar arrangement can be employed to produce pre-recorded tapes having time advanced audio such that synchronous audio/video is reproduced on conventional playback reproducing systems.