Record and play-back system in still video apparatus

We claim:

1. A record and play-back system for a still video device, in which a pair of tracks of a recording medium are used to record a picture signal and an audio signal that is associated with said picture signal, said tracks being adjacent to each other, said system comprising:

means for recording a first code signal with said picture signal on a first track of said pair of tracks;

means for recording a second code signal with said audio signal on a second track of said pair of tracks;

means for determining whether said first code signal or said second code signal is recorded on said pair of tracks; and

means for enabling post-recording of said audio signal on the second track of said pair of tracks when said first code signal is determined by said determining means as being recorded on the first track of said pair of tracks and means for enabling post-recording of said picture signal on the first track of said pair of tracks when said second code signal is determined by said determining means as being recorded on the second track of said pair of tracks.

2. The record and play-back system of claim 1, further comprising means for post-recording said audio signal on said second track of said pair of tracks when said determining means determines that said first code signal is recorded on said first track of said pair of tracks.

3. The record and play-back system of claim 1, further comprising means for post-recording said picture signal on said first track of said pair of tracks when said determining means determines that said second code signal is recorded on said second track of said pair of tracks.

4. The record and play-back system of claim 1, wherein said pair of tracks comprise an outer track and an inner track, said picture signal being recorded on said outer track, and said audio signal being recorded on said inner track.

5. The record and play-back system of claim 1, wherein post-recording of one of said audio signal and said picture signal is enabled by said post-recording enabling means when said determining means determines no signal is recorded on said second track of said pair of tracks.

6. The record and play-back system of claim 1, wherein said first track is played-back when said determining means determines that said second code signal is recorded on said second track, after playing back said second track.

7. The record and play-back system of claim 6, wherein post-recording of said picture signal on said first track is enabled by said post-recording enabling means when said determining means determines that no signal is recorded on said first track.

8. The record and play-back system of claim 1, wherein said recording medium comprises a magnetic disc.

9. The record and play-back system of claim 1, wherein said first code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said audio signal and said second code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said picture signal.

10. The record and play-back system of claim 1, further comprising means for playing back the recording medium, means for detecting whether said first code signal and said picture signal or said second code signal and said audio signal are recorded on said tracks when said recording medium is played by said playing back means, and means for enabling post-recording of said audio signal and said picture signal when no signal is detected by said detecting means as being recorded on one of said first and second tracks.

11. The record and play-back system of claim 10, further comprising means for indicating whether said audio signal or said picture signal is post-recordable, said indicating means including an LCD panel.

12. The record and play-back system of claim 10, wherein said first code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said audio signal and said second code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said picture signal.

13. A record and play-back system a still video device, in which a pair of tracks of a recording medium are used to record a picture signal and an audio signal associated with said picture signal, said tracks being adjacent to each other, comprising:

means for recording a first code signal with said picture signal on a first track of said pair of tracks with a record and play-back head;

means for recording a second code signal with said audio signal on a second track of said pair of tracks with said record and play-back head; and

means for detecting whether said first code signal or said second code signal is recorded on said tracks;

wherein, when said first code signal is detected by said detecting means, upon a play-back of said first track of said pair of tracks, said record and play-back head is moved to said second track of said pair of tracks to play back said second track, so as to detect a recording state of said second track with said detecting means, and thereafter

when no signal is detected by said detecting means as being recorded on said second track, said record and play-back head is moved to said first track.

14. A record and play-back system of claim 13, wherein said recording medium comprises a magnetic disc.

15. The record and play-back system of claim 13, wherein said first code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said audio signal and said second code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said picture signal.

16. A record and play-back system, comprising:

means for recording a first code signal with a picture signal on a first track of a recording medium using a record and play-back head;

means for recording a second code signal with an audio signal on a second track of said recording medium using said record and play-back head; and

means for detecting whether said first code signal or second code signal is recorded on said tracks;

wherein when said second code signal is detected by said detecting means, upon a playing back of said second track, said record and play-back head is moved to said first track to play back said first track, and wherein

when no signal is detected by said detecting means as being recorded on said first track, said record and play-back head is moved to said second track.

17. The record and play-back system of claim 16, wherein said recording medium comprises a magnetic disc.

18. The record and play-back system of claim 16, wherein said first code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said audio signal and said second code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said picture signal.

19. The record and play-back system of claim 16, wherein,

when said first code signal is detected by said detecting means, upon a play-back of said first track of said pair of tracks, said record and play-back head is moved to said second track of said pair of tracks to play back said second track, so as to detect a recording state of said second track with said detecting means, and thereafter

when no signal is detected by said detecting means as being recorded on said second track, said record and play-back head is moved to said first track.

20. A record and play-back system, comprising:

means for recording a first code signal with a picture signal on a first track of a recording medium using a record and play-back head;

means for recording a second code signal with an audio signal on a second track of said recording medium using said record and play-back head; and

means for detecting whether said first code signal or second code signal is recorded on said tracks;

wherein when said second code signal is detected by said detecting means, upon a play-back of said second track, said record and play-back head is moved to said first track to play back said first track, and

when no signal is detected by said detecting means as being recorded on said first track, said record and play-back head is maintained at said first track.

21. The record and play-back system of claim 20, wherein said recording medium comprises a magnetic disc.

22. The record and play-back system of claim 20, wherein said first code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said audio signal and said second code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said picture signal.

23. The record and play-back system of claim 20, wherein,

when said first code signal is detected by said detecting means, upon a play-back of said first track of said pair of tracks, said record and play-back head is moved to said second track of said pair of tracks to play back said second track, so as to detect a recording state of said second track with said detecting means, and thereafter

when no signal is detected by said detecting means as being recorded on said second track, said record and play-back head is moved to said first track.

24. A record and play-back system for a video device, in which a pair of tracks of a recording medium are used to record a picture signal and an audio signal associated with said picture signal, said tracks being adjacent to each other, said system comprising:

a manually operated switch;

means for moving a head to one of said pair of tracks in response to an operation of said manually operated switch;

means for changing said record and play-back system between a play-back mode and a record mode in response to said operation of said manually operated switch;

means for determining whether said picture signal or said audio signal is recorded on said tracks, so that when said picture signal or said audio signal recorded on a second track of said pair of tracks is played back, said head is moved to a first track of said pair of tracks by said moving means and said record and play-back system is changed from said play-back mode to said record mode by said changing means when said manually operated switch is actuated and said determining means determines that neither said picture signal nor said audio signal is recorded on said first track of said pair of tracks; and

means for determining whether a first code signal is recorded with said picture signal on said tracks or whether a second code signal is recorded with said audio signal on said tracks, wherein said first code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said audio signal and said second code signal is a signal for indicating the post-recordability of said picture signal.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a record and play-back system which can be advantageously applied to a record and play-back apparatus, such as an electronic still video camera.

2. Description of Related Art

In recent electronic still cameras, a video signal for one frame (one field) is recorded on one or two tracks of a magnetic disc. Accordingly, the magnetic disc is controlled to rotate for one turn at a cycle of one field (1/60 second for an NTSC system).

Since the magnetic disc, which is used as a recording medium is rotated at high speed, as mentioned above, a picture of one frame or pictures of several frames (2 or 5 frames) can be successively taken for a desired time within one second.

In addition to the video signals, it is possible to record audio signals with a compressed time axis.

The video signals and the audio signals can be independently recorded or recorded together.

However, conventional electronic still cameras have no so-called "post-recording" function or have only an unsatisfactory post-recording function. Namely, it is necessary to first record the video signals and then record the audio signals in order to effect the post-recording. Consequently, it is impossible to later add the corresponding pictures to the recorded sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a record and play-back apparatus in which both the audio signals and the video signals can be post-recorded.

To achieve the object mentioned above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a record and play-back system in a still video device, in which a pair of tracks of a recording medium are used to record a picture signal and an audio signal associated therewith, the tracks being adjacent to each other, wherein, a first code signal is recorded together with said picture signal on one track, a second code signal is recorded together with audio signal on the other track and in the case that the first code signal or the second code signal is recorded on one of the pair of tracks, the audio signal or the video signal can possibly be post-recorded on the the other track.

With this arrangement, in case of post-recording of audio signal, the video signal is recorded on one track together with a first code signal. Conversely, in case the post-recording of video signal, the audio signal is recorded on the other track together with a second code signal.

Upon play-back of either track, a post-record mode can be set, for example when the first or second code signal is detected.

There are two post-recording modes, i.e. post-recording of audio signals and post-recording of video signals. When the number of tracks on which the video signals or the audio signals are to be post-recorded, it is difficult to judge the video signal or the audio signal which is to be post-recorded on each track.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a play-back apparatus in which both the audio and video signals can be certainly post-recorded.

To achieve the object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a record and play-back system in which a picture signal or an audio signal associated therewith recorded on a pair of tracks of a recording medium, together with a first code signal or a second code signal is played-back, wherein, one track is played-back when the first code signal or the second code signal is recorded on the played-back track to judge whether no signal is recorded on the associated track, so that when no signal is recorded on the associated track, it is discriminated and indicated that the associated audio signal or the video signal can be post-recorded.

In this construction, in case of the post-recording of the audio signal, the video signal is recorded on one track together with a first code signal. Conversely, in case of the post-recording of the video signal, the audio signal is recorded on the other track together with a second code signal.

Upon play-back of one track, when the first code signal is detected, for example, letters "AUDIO" are flickered or flashed. Conversely, when the second code signal is detected upon play-back of the other track, for example, letters "VIDEO" are flickered. Consequently, an operator (user) can learn which of the video signal or the audio signal should be post-recorded on the associated track, thus resulting in no maloperation. Consequently, both the audio and video signals can be post-recorded without confusion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a still video device in which a picture signal and an audio signal associated therewith are recorded on one pair of tracks, wherein the improvement comprises a record and play-back system, in which a post-recording mode in which, after one of the picture and audio signals is recorded, the other is post-recorded signal to be associated therewith can be set, and when the picture signal is post-recorded at the post-recording mode, the picture signal is recorded on one track. When the audio signal is post-recorded at the post-recording mode, the audio signal is recorded on the other track.

With this construction, when the release switch is actuated at the post-recording mode, the recording mode is set, so that the video signal is recorded on one of the pair of tracks.

In the case of the audio signal, when the release switch is actuated, the recording head is moved to the other track, so that the audio signal is recorded on the other track.

Consequently, both the video signal and the audio signal can be post-recorded.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a still video device in which a picture signal and an audio signal associated therewith are recorded on two tracks of a recording medium by a recording head, wherein the improvement comprises a record and play-back system, in which a record mode in which the picture signal or the audio signal to be recorded is set when a post-recording mode in which, after one of the picture and audio signals is recorded, the other signal is post-recorded to be associated therewith is set. When the picture signal is post-recorded, the recording head is moved to one track. When the audio signal is post-recorded, the recording head is moved to the other track. Upon releasing, the picture signal is recorded on one track and the audio signal is recorded on the other track.

With this construction, upon transfer to the post-recording mode, the recording mode is set, and if the audio signal is post-recorded, the recording head is moved to the other track.

Thereafter, when the release switch is actuated, the associated signals are recorded.

Thus, the audio signal and the video signal can be rapidly post-recorded.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a still video device in which a picture signal and an audio signal associated therewith are recorded on two tracks of a recording medium by a record and play-back head, wherein the improvement comprises a record and play-back system comprising a mode changing means which, when a post-recording mode is set at a play-back mode in which one track on which the signal has been recorded is played-back by the record and play-back head, the play-back mode is changed to a record mode, so that the record and play-back head is moved to the other track.

In this arrangement, for example when the record and play-back head plays-back the video signal from one track, the actuation of the switch changes the play-back mode to the record mode, so that the recording head is moved to the other track (blank track).

Thus, for example when the release switch is actuated, the audio signal is post-recorded on the second track.

On the other hand, in this state, when the switch is actuated again, the mode is returned from the record mode to the play-back mode, and the record and play-back head is returned to one track to play-back the video signal.

Consequently, not only can both the picture signal and the video signal be post-recorded, but also the post-record mode can be easily released.

In the case where the audio signals are post-recorded to correspond to the video signals, it is impossible to record the audio signals while viewing the image of the corresponding video signals, since the magnetic head is placed above the track on which the audio signals are recorded.

To make it possible to record one of the corresponding signals while viewing the other signal, according to the present invention, there is provided a record and play-back system, in which a picture signal and an audio signal associated therewith are recorded on one track or another track of a recording medium by a record and play-back head, wherein a first code signal or a second code signal is recorded together with an audio signal or a picture signal, and when the first code signal is detected, upon play-back of one of the first or second tracks, the record and play-back head is moved to the other track to play-back back the signal on that track to thereby to detect the recording state of the other track. Finally, the record and play-back head is moved to the initial track.

Consequently, while looking at a still picture of one track which is played-back, the head is moved to the other track to record the audio signal when a predetermined operation is effected, such as an actuation of a release switch, etc., at a predetermined timing.

As a result, the signals which have been recorded on the associated track can be confirmed immediately before the commencement of the recording operation.

According to still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a record and play-back system, in which a picture signal and an audio signal associated therewith are recorded on a first track and a second track of a recording medium by a record and play-back head, together with a first code signal and a second code signal for discriminating that the respective picture signal and audio signal are recorded together with the corresponding audio signal or the picture signal. When the first code signal is detected, upon play-back of the first track, the record and play-back head is moved to the second track to play it back. When a signal other than the associated picture signal is recorded on the second track, the record and play-back head is moved to the first track.

With this arrangement, when the second code signal is detected upon the play-back of the second track, the magnetic head (recording head) is moved to the first track. When the audio signal or the video signal, which is not associated with the audio signal, is recorded on the first track, the magnetic head is returned to the second track, since no post-recording can be effected. Consequently, a quick release of the post-record mode can be effected.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a record and play-back system, in which a picture signal and an audio signal associated therewith are recorded on a first track and a second track of a recording medium by a record and play-back head, together with a first code signal and a second code signal for discriminating that the respective picture signal and audio signal are recorded together with the corresponding audio signal or the picture signal. When the second code signal is detected, upon play-back of the second track, the record and play it back head is moved to the first track to play-back it. When the associated picture signal, or no signal, is recorded on the first track, the record and play-back head is maintained at the first track.

With this arrangement, when the second code signal is detected upon play-back of the second track, the magnetic head is moved to the first track. When the video signal corresponding to the first track has already been recorded, and when the first track is a blank track, in which no signal is recorded, the magnetic head is moved to the first track.

Consequently, in the former case, the video signal can be immediately recorded. In the latter case, the corresponding video signal can be immediately post-recorded.

In a conventional electronic still video camera, the magnetic head can be selectively placed above not only the tracks on which the audio signal and the video signal are independently recorded, but also the tracks on which the audio signal and the video signal are correspondingly recorded.

As a result, in the case where the magnetic head is successively moved to adjacent tracks, one track at a time by a manual operation of an up-switch or a down-switch, etc., while monitoring the still picture, the still picture is unavoidably interrupted by the track on which the audio signal is independently recorded (although the number of such tracks is very few). The interruption of the still picture also occurs due to the movement of the magnetic head by one track when the audio signal is correspondingly recorded on the adjacent track.

In this case, to release the interruption, the magnetic head must be further moved by one track.

To solve the problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a record and play-back system, in which when a recording means having a first mode in which a picture signal and an audio signal are independently recorded on different tracks, adjacent to each other, of the recording medium and a second mode in which the picture signal and the audio signal are recorded on two adjacent tracks to correspond to each other, the magnetic head being moved one track in the first mode and of two tracks in the second mode for a quick feed of the picture signal which is played-back.

With this arrangement, for example when the head displacement switch is actuated, the magnetic head can be moved by a displacement corresponding to two tracks at one time to skip audio signal track.

Accordingly, it is possible to successively play-back only the tracks on which the audio signals are recorded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an internal circuit of a record and play-back system which is applied to an electronic still video camera;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an electronic still video camera to which a record and play-back system according to the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front elevational view of an LCD panel of a camera body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram showing a successive change of modes which is carried out by a mode switch and a selector switch when no monitor is connected, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram showing a successive change of indicated photographing modes when the selector switch shown in FIG. 4 is actuated;

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram showing successive changes of indicated modes by the actuation of the selector switch shown in FIG. 4 when no monitor is connected;

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram showing a successive change of indication of a white balance mode when the selector switch shown in FIG. 4 is actuated;

FIG. 8 illustrates a diagram showing a successive change of indication of year-month-date mode when the selector switch shown in FIG. 4 is actuated;

FIG. 9 illustrates a diagram showing a successive change of indication of hour-minute-second mode when the selector switch shown in FIG. 4 is actuated;

FIG. 10 illustrates a diagram showing a successive change of modes which is caused by the actuation of the selector switch when a monitor is connected, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 illustrates a diagram showing a successive change of indication of the modes by the actuation of the release switch when a monitor is connected, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 illustrates a diagram showing an indication of an audio post recording mode of LCD panels of a camera body and a sound adaptor, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 illustrates a diagram showing an indication of a video post recording mode of LCD panels of a camera body and a sound adaptor, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 illustrates a diagram showing an indication of an audio post recording mode of LCD panels of a camera body and a sound adaptor when the video signal is reproduced, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 illustrates a diagram showing an indication of a video post recording mode of LCD panels of a camera body and a sound adaptor when the audio signal is reproduced, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow chart of operations by a selector switch according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 illustrates a flow chart of operations for detecting a video post recording mode, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 illustrates a flow chart of operations for detecting an audio post recording mode, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 illustrates a flow chart of operations by a release switch, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrates a flow chart for the play-back operations, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 21A through 21K are diagrams showing movement of a magnetic head in accordance with the tracks, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a flow chart of manual operations for moving a magnetic head, according to an embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 23 is another flow chart of operations by a post recording mode transfer switch; and,

FIG. 24 is a flow chart of operations when a release switch is actuated.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic still camera to which the concept of the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 2, a camera body 1 of an electronic still video camera has a button 2 which is actuated to open a cover 3, so that a magnetic disc 48 (see FIG. 1) can be inserted into and taken out from the camera body 1.

A power switch 4 is adapted to turn the power source ON and OFF. Numerals 5 and 6 designate a finder through which an object (not shown) can be viewed and an optical axis of a photographing system, respectively.

Numerals 8 and 9 designate an up-switch and a down-switch, respectively. These switches are actuated to increase and decrease the numerical information indicated on an LCD panel 7 (FIG. 1), respectively. A mode switch 10 is actuated to select modes. A selector switch 11 is actuated to more finely select the modes indicated on the LCD panel 7.

A strobe switch 12 and an EF switch 13, which are actuated to select a strobe mode in which the strobe is used and an exposure factor setting mode, in which the exposure factor is set, respectively. A wide-switch and a tele-switch set the zooming in the wide direction and the tele direction, respectively. A video release switch 16 is actuated to take a picture.

Numeral 17 designates an output terminal to which a monitor device (not shown) is connected, so that audio and video signals are output thereto. The AV mode and the dubbing mode are selected by a mode change switch 18.

A sound adaptor 21 is provided on the camera body 1 in accordance with need. The sound adaptor 21 has a microphone 22 provided on a front face of the sound adaptor 21, a sound collecting switch 23 which is adapted to collect audio signals from the microphone 22, audio release switch (an audio recording switch) 24 which is actuated to record the collected audio signals onto the magnetic disc, an LCD panel 25, a sound collection cancel switch 26, which is actuated to erase the collected audio signals, and a mode selection switch 27 for switching a time compression mode.

FIG. 1 shows an internal control circuit of the camera body 1 and the sound adaptor 21. In FIG. 1, numeral 31 designates a zoom lens (lens group) which is drawn as a single lens for clarification and which is driven by a zoom drive circuit 32 to effect zooming. Light which is condensed by the zoom lens 31 falls incident upon an image sensor 33, such as CCD. An image pick-up circuit 34 reads the video signal from the image sensor 33 to output a same to the picture signal processing circuit 35. The output of the picture signal pick-up circuit 35 is fed to the output terminal 17. A strobe control circuit 36 drives a strobe flashing portion 37.

Switch 41 is adapted to select an audio signal or a video signal to be inputted to an FM modulation circuit 42. The output of a FM modulation circuit 42 is fed to the magnetic head 45, after passing through a recording amplifier 43 and a switch 44.

A spindle motor drive circuit 46 drives a spindle motor 47. The audio and video signals are recorded on the magnetic disc 48. A PG coil 49 generates PG pulses corresponding to the rotational phase of the magnetic disc 48. The magnetic head 45 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the tracks on the magnetic disk 48 by a head driving circuit 50. A play-back amplifier 51 and an FM demodulation circuit 52 amplify and demodulate the play-back signals which are outputted through the switch 44, respectively.

A detector 61 detects whether a monitor is connected to output terminal 17. A system controller 62 controls the operation of the camera body 1. Detectors 63 and 64 detect whether the sound adaptor 21 is connected to the camera body 1 and whether there is a pawl on a case or container (not shown) thereof for preventing a recording on the magnetic disc 48 from being erroneously erased.

Switches 16A and 16B are turned ON when the video release switch 16 is pushed down by a half step and a full step, respectively.

In the sound adaptor 21, the signals inputted from the microphone is amplified and processed by an amplifier 71 and a sound signal processing circuit 72, respectively.

A record/play-back selection switch 73 selects the signals to be input to an A/D converter 74. Collected audio signals are stored in an RAM The operations of the A/D converter 74, the RAM 75, the D/A converter 77 are controlled by a digital signal processing circuit 76.

The audio signal which is output from the D/A converter 77 is selectively inputted to either a compressed sound recording circuit 79 or a sound signal processing circuit 80. The output of the compressed sound recording circuit 79 is inputted to the FM modulation circuit 42 through the switch 41. The forwarded output of the sound signal processing circuit 80 is forwarded to the output terminal 17. A compressed sound play-back processing circuit 81 processes the audio signal which is outputted from the FM demodulation circuit 52 to send the same to the A/D converter 74 through the switch 73.

A system controller 82 controls the operation of the sound adaptor 21.

Switch 44 is controlled by the system controller 62, while switches 73 and 78 are controlled by the system controller 82, so that the switches are connected to terminals "REC" upon recording and terminals "PB" upon play-back, respectively. Switch 41 is controlled by the system controller 62 to be connected to terminal "VIDEO" and terminal "AUDIO" when a video signal and an audio signal, respectively are recorded.

The basic operation of the still video camera of the invention will now be discussed below in detail.

Light from the object is focused on the image sensor 33 through the lens 31 and converted to electrical signals. The image pick-up circuit 34 reads the image signals of the image sensor 33 to input it to the picture signal processing circuit 35. The picture signal processing circuit 35 processes the image signals to convert the signals, for example, to video signals of an NTSC system which are then forwarded to the monitor which is connected to output terminal 17. An object can thus be viewed on the monitor or through the finder 5.

When strobe switch 12 is used, and the video release switch 16 is completely pushed down, the system controller 62 drives the strobe flashing portion 37 through the strobe control circuit 36 to make light incident upon an object to be taken.

When the video release switch 16 is completely pushed down, the video signal outputted from the picture signal processing circuit 35 is input to the FM modulation circuit 42 through switch 41 to be FM-modulated. The modulated signal is amplified by the recording amplifier 43 and is fed to the magnetic head 45 through the switch 44. At the same time, spindle motor 47 is driven by a spindle motor driving circuit 46, so that the magnetic disc 48 is rotated at 3600 rpm. Thus, the video signal is recorded on the magnetic disc 48.

Note that the system controller 62 outputs a DPSK signal to the picture signal processing circuit 35. The picture signal processing circuit 35 superimpose the DPSK signal on the video signal. Consequently, the DPSK signal superimposed on the video signal is recorded on each track of the magnetic disc 48.

The magnetic disc 48 has, for example, 50 tracks formed thereon. The video signal of one field is recorded on one track. One frame selectively corresponds to a video signal of one or two fields.

When the track is changed, head driving circuit 50 moves the magnetic head 45 toward the inner periphery or the outer periphery of the magnetic disc 48.

In the case of a recording of the audio signals, the selection switch 27 is actuated to set a time compression mode. As a result, the time for collecting the sound is set to be, for example, 5, 10 or 20 seconds.

When the sound collecting switch 23 is actuated at a predeterminded timing, the audio signal input through the microphone 22 is amplified by the amplifier 71 to be input to the sound signal processing circuit 72. The sound signal processing circuit 72 removes unnecessary high band components of the audio signal and adjust the signal level. The audio signal output from the sound signal processing circuit 72 is inputted to the A/D converter 74 through switch 73, so that the audio signal is converted to the digital signal. The digital signals are successively memorized in the RAM 75.

Thus, the audio signals for, for example 5, 10 or 20 seconds are stored in the RAM 75 at real time.

When audio release switch 24 is completely pushed down, the audio signals stored in the RAM 75 are read out by the digital signal processing circuit 76 at a rate of about 1/60 second. The digital signal processing circuit 76 adds the control codes to the audio signals to output them to the D/A converter 77.

Audio signals with the control codes which are converted to analog signals by the D/A converter 77 are input to the compressed sound recording and processing circuit 79 through the switch 78. The audio signal is subject to the necessary process, such as preemphasis in the compressed sound recording and processing circuit 79 and is fed to the FM modulation circuit 42 through the switch 41.

Thus, the audio signal having a compressed time axis is recorded on one track together with the control code.

As will be described hereinafter, when the audio release switch 24 is completely pushed down at the audio post recording mode, the audio signal stored in the RAM 75 is read to be recorded on an inner peripheral track which is located adjacent to the track on which the corresponding video signal is recorded.

The signal reproduced by the magnetic head 45 is inputted to the play-back amplifier 51 through the switch 44 to be amplified, and is demodulated by the FM demodulation circuit

When the demodulated signal is the picture signal, it is inputted to the picture signal processing circuit 35, which outputs the picture signal to a monitor connected to the output terminal 17. The magnetic head 45 repeatedly plays back the same track, so that a still picture appears on the monitor.

The picture signal processing circuit 35 detects the DPSK signal which is output to the system controller 62.

When the demodulated signal of the FM demodulation circuit 52 is a audio signal, the latter is inputted to the compressed sound play-back processing circuit 81 to be subject to the deemphasis. The audio signal outputted from the compressed sound play-back processing circuit 81 is input to the A/D converter 74 through switch 73, so that the digital signal is written into the RAM 75.

The digital signal processing circuit 76 reads the control code whic