To attain simple and sure retrieval without the need for a high-speed processor for decoding processing by detecting an edit point of information, based on the comparison result between a parameter of a prescribed unit with a parameter of other unit so as to detect the edit point without decoding all the coded data.

Main data read from a buffer memory 7 are fed to a decoder 8, and the video data are decoded by the MPEG method and the audio data are decoded by the ATRACK method, and the results are outputted respectively to a display device 9 and a loudspeaker 10. Furthermore, a parameter read from the buffer memory 7 is fed to a decoder 8 and a discrimination circuit 11, which detects a change in the parameter so as to discriminates whether or not it is an edit point. When the edit point has been detected, the decoder 8 decodes audio main information from the buffer memory 7, a parameter decoding the information and video data. Then the display operation of the audio signal and the image signal is repeated for several seconds from the detected edit point.