PURPOSE: To monitor the state of a tape in a position distant from a tape recorder body, by providing display functions which confirms the loading state, the kind of tape etc. of the tape.

CONSTITUTION: An operation panel 12 is connected to the body of a tape recorder 11 by a transmission cable 13, and the tape recorder 11 is remote-controlled. The operation panel 12 is provided with operation buttons 14 consisting of plural push-buttons for command of tape running and a display part 15 where the set state and the kind of cassette tape loaded to the body are displayed. A tape selector 19 on the side of the tape recorder 11 is switched to three stages in accordance with the kind (Nor, Cr, and Metal) of the used tape and is connected to three display elements (Nor, Cr, and Metal) provided in the display part 15 on the side of the operation panel 12. When the cassette tape is set to the tape recorder 11, a tape switch 18 provided in an operating mechanism 17 is closed, and a display element (TAPE) provided in the display part 15 is lit.