To continuously reproduce and record data on both sides of a recording medium without interruption by making the recording direction of a spiral track recorded in individual recording areas reverse as seen in the direction of recording data.

Heads consist of one pair of upper and lower heads 3a and 3b, and a spindle 4 is rotated in the same direction. The head 3a opposite to a read starting position 2a in the outermost diametral position of the recording area 2A on one side is moved in the internal diametral direction in synchronization with clockwise rotation of the recording medium 1, and recording and reproducing are performed along the track. The recording and reproducing by the head 3a are ended in a read ending position 2b in the innermost diametral position. The head 3b is set in a read starting position 2a' in the recording area 2B on the other side, where the read head is changed over to the side of the head 3b to start reading, and is moved in the external diametral direction in synchronization with the rotation of the medium to perform recording and reproducing along the track.