PURPOSE: To mute audio information before a break of a MUSE signal.

CONSTITUTION: When a mute information multiplexing circuit 12 multiplexes a DC component with a reproduced MUSE signal on the MUSE player side in response to a special reproducing command or a stop command in the normal reproducing state, the DC component is detected by a mute code separating circuit 10 on the MUSE decoder side, and an audio mute circuit mutes sounds. After this muting, a MUSE reproducing means 11 falls into the corresponding special reproducing or stop state from the normal reproducing state to continue the audio mute state.