PURPOSE: To simplify the circuit constitution of the titled device and to reduce the cost, by storing the previous condition through a motor current produced when the mode is shifted to special reproduction, and making the mode shifting operate smoothly, when two kinds of reproducing speeds of standard one and long time one are automatically discriminated.

CONSTITUTION: When two kinds of reproducing speed modes of standard one and long time one are automatically discriminated, the previous condition mode is memorized through a motor current produced when the mode is shifted to special reproduction, so that the mode is shifted smoothly. In a transient mode (a) between a normal reproducing mode (c) period and special reproducing mode (b) period, a tape running motor 4 tends to adapt its speed to the mode and, therefore, a larger quantity of electric current is made to flow than that at the normal time. The electric current is detected by a level detecting circuit 5 and the detected result is held as a memory signal by a memory circuit 6 for holding the previous condition. Therefore, by utilizing the electric current of the tape running motor, the number of circuits are reduced sharply in comparison with the conventional system with which memory signals must be prepared by some method in accordance with the mode shifting.