PURPOSE: To set a recording level easily, rapidly and automatically by controlling a gain control circuit by holding the peak value of an input signal in a fixed period of time via an one-touch switch.

CONSTITUTION: The peak level of an input signal from terminal 1 is detected by peak detector 9 and digitally converted by A/D converter 11 before being applied to digital counter 8 by way of AND gate 12 which is close in a pulse period when monostable multivibrator 32 outputs pulses corresponding to the one-touch operation of automatic setting switch 7. According to the cout value of this counter 8, comparator 15 makes a comparison among peak values latched in sequency by latch circuit 14 to latch the highest peak value of input levels in the fixed period of the output pulse width of matcher 32 in circuit 14; and the attenuating divider circuit formed of resistances 17, 21, 25, 29, etc., is selected via an analog switch closed corresponding to the highest peak value, thereby controlling the gain automatically. Therefore, the recording level can be set easily, rapidly and automatically through one-touch operation.