PURPOSE: To output continuously the sound corresponding to plural still pictures by writing next prescribed information while prescribed information is read from a memory means in expanding its time axis.

CONSTITUTION: A two-dimensional picture obtained from a video format signal is divided into plural blocks. Prescribed information subject to time axis compression to divide into plural sub-blocks is inserted to a prescribed block by a time axis compression memory 82, picture information and control information are inserted to remaining blocks and the result is recorded on a recording medium. The prescribed information of the sub-block is written in a buffer memory at reproduction. Then the prescribed information is subject to time axis expansion from the memory and the next prescribed information is written in the memory. Thus, the reproducing sound by the sound data corresponding respectively to plural still pictures is outputted.