PURPOSE: To insert and record a desired image on a magnetic tape during reproduction through one set of a recording and reproducing device by generating image information to be inserted newly, and switching the recording and reproducing device from a reproduction mode to a recording mode on the basis of the information.

CONSTITUTION: When a character H is inserted in reproduction mode, the position of the character is determined by an operation of a keyboard 4. When a specific switch on the keyboard 4 is depressed, the 1st character signal of, for example, a black level shown in a figure (c) which synchronizes with a playback video signal shown in a figure (a) is outputted from the output terminal Q1 of an insert picture generating circuit 21. This signal is converted by a video recording processing circuit 14 into a signal for recording, which is applied to a terminal R of a switch 8. Then, a character key "H" on the keyboard 4 is depressed, a character signal of "H" is inputted to the circuit 21, which outputs the 2nd character signal C which goes up to a high level corresponding to respective picture elements from the output terminal Q2. The signal C is applied to a controller 18 and the switch 18 is switched to the side R only for the high-level period of the signal C to record the character "H" at a specific position.