To obtain an information reproduction unit in which edition can be carried out quickly even during synchronous operation by stepping out the operation forcibly in response to a variable speed reproduction instruction.

An information reproduction unit 2 has a variable speed reproduction function and a function for performing reproduction at a rate synchronized with an external sync signal. An edition unit 1 delivers an instruction signal from the remote I/F terminal 3 thereof to the remote I/F detection circuit 5 of information reproduction unit 2. When the information reproduction unit 2 is carrying out reproduction at a rate synchronized with an external sync signal, the operation is stepped out forcibly by means of a gate circuit 13, a variable rate reproduction clock generation circuit 7, a switching circuit 8, etc., in response to a variable rate reproduction instruction delivered from the edition unit 1 and variable rate reproduction is carried out.