Apparatus for and method of controlling auto laser diode power

An optical recording/reproducing apparatus which controls the power of a laser diode (LD) and a method therefor. A current power level of an optical signal output by the LD is compared with a reference level and the output of the LD is controlled according to the comparison result. A photo detector (PD) monitors the current power level of the optical signal output by the LD. The current power level is compared with a reference level and power to the LD is controlled based on the comparison. Two different control loops are provided. In a first loop, comparison data is continually provided and in a second loop, sampled comparison data is provided based on a non return to zero inverted (NRZI) signal. Rapid change in an optical output is controlled using the different loops according to a kind and state of a medium such as a disc.