PURPOSE: To obtain a recording medium having a smooth surface with good vertical orientation and high output, by using fine particles of a specific single magnetic domain for a vertical recording layer and using a two-layer medium including a high-permeability layer for the lining of the said vertical recording layer along with an oriented electromagnet having small rugged parts on the surface of the magnetic pole to perform current transformation and degaussing.

CONSTITUTION: A vertical recording layer is formed with hexagonal Co globular fine particles (preferably hexagonal particles of Co-Ni alloy containing ≤30wt% Ni to enhance the weather resistance, oxidization resistance) or fine particles having the form anisotropy of Fe, etc. with 1.6W1.4 axis ratio and having a small reduction degree of vertical orientation regardless of calendering. A two-layer medium containing a layer made of the multimagnetic domain size particles having high permeability equal to or higher than that of the said vertical recording medium is used for the lining of this recording layer, and small rugged parts are formed on the magnetic pole surface at the side where an electromagnet for vertical orientation has contact and orientation. At the same time, AC degaussing is carried out by an electromagnet with the space of the magnetic pole surface increased gently at the tape flow-out side. As a result, a magnetic layer having no rugged part during vertical orientation is obtained, and at the same time the return of orientation due to a counter magnetic field is prevented to obtain an excellent magnetic recording medium.