PURPOSE: To fix the position of noise bar appearing on a screen at high speed reproduction or the like to a prescribed position by detecting the speed error of a magnetic tape and controlling the running speed of the magnetic tape based on the speed error.

CONSTITUTION: If the running speed of the magnetic tape 1 at high speed reproduction is large slightly, the 1st rotary magnetic head 11 overrides completely on a track recording the 3rd pilot signal f3 and a beat signal fH is produced. Then, the head 11 comes to a track recording a pilot signal f1, and a beat signal 3fH is generated. The beat signals fH and 3fH are rectified and compared at a comparison circuit 27, allowing to control the speed of a capstan motor. This is almost the same if the speed of the tape 1 is decreased. Thus, the running speed of the magnetic tape 1 is controlled to a prescribed value in synchronizing with the rotation of the heads 11, 12, and the noise bar appearing on the screen at high speed reproduction is fixed to a prescribed position.