PURPOSE: To record/reproduce data signals such as audio signals, etc., to a magnetic tape for a long time and to read data signals of the whole area through switching of areas thereby to feed the magnetic tape by the amount of time corresponding to one area when a starting end of a program is searched.

CONSTITUTION: An audio area (recording area) to a recording/reproducing head 13 is switched by an audio area switching circuit 12, so that audio areas are formed in parallel in the widthwise direction of a magnetic tape T. Each audio area is independently reproduced. The running direction of the magnetic tape T is switched by a capstan motor 15, a reel motor 16 and a servo circuit 17. Therefore, the audio areas of the magnetic tape T are alternately used for the forward direction and rearward direction in parallel to each other.