PURPOSE: To control a magnetic recording apparatus without increasing the operating position of an operating system by a method wherein two or more braking-force control means to a reel stand on one side are installed on one arm and a braking force to the reel stand is made different by the changeover of an operating state.

CONSTITUTION: The rotation of a capstan motor 9 is transmitted to a takeup reel 10 by a pulley 9a which is installed integrally on the same axis as the capstan motor 9 and by a belt 11 stretched on the takeup reel 10 attached to a chassis 7 so as to be turned and moved freely and the rotation is transmitted further to a gear 12, and takeup gears 13L, 13R from a gear part 10a which has been formed integrally with the takeup pulley 10. Main brakes 4L, 4R are attached to hole parts on the chassis 7 so as to be turned and moved freely, one end is provided with a braking member 14, a spring body 15 is hooked to their other ends, and the braking member 14 is pressed to a supply-side reel stand 8L and a takeup-side reel stand 8R. Since a tape-tension control mechanism is controlled by an operating system which controls the movement fo the main brake members 4L, 4R, the apparatus can be controlled without increasing the operating position of the operating system.