To automatically, variably and optimally reset a bit rate value of the data to be recorded on the memory, and to extremely facilitate a user's operation.

The recording and reproducing device is equipped with a memory 20 which records digital data, a data remaining capacity detecting part 16 which acquires the data capacity which can be recorded on the memory, a data amount acquiring part 17 which computes the amount of compressed data when compressing the data amount recorded on the memory according to the predetermined bit rate set beforehand, a comparator 18 which compares the data capacity and the amount of compressed data which can be recorded, and outputs the compared result, and a recording means 10 which determines the bit rate of the data to be recorded on the memory, and compresses and records the data based on the determined bit rate by referring to the compared result from the comparator 18.