PURPOSE: To obtain a compact and light weight tape recorder with a simple constitution where no fault is produced even with a simultaneous operation of plural operation buttons, by giving the priority to the reproduction in case both reproduction and rapid traverse buttons are operated simultaneously.

CONSTITUTION: In case an FF button 31 or an REW button 32 and a play button 23 are pushed simultaneously, a head substrate 21 moves forward. Then projected parts 21a and 21b of the substrate 21 have a horizontal touch to each other, and therefore a rapid traverse idle plate 24 is kept at a neutral position. A rapid traverse gear 16 has no engagement with a relay gear 11 together with a left reel driving disk 10. While a play idler plate engages the gear 11 or the disk 10 regardless of the buttons 31 and 32 to secure a play mode. In other words, the priority is given to the button 23 in case the button 31 or 32 and the button 23 are pushed simultaneously.