To provide a video recording and reproducing apparatus for not causing missing of a video signal even when the video signal employs a different line specification.

When a video signal reaches a space adjustment section, a video image reception start line is shifted upper by one line more than conventionally. The video image received in this way is subjected to MPEG 2 video compression through a field picture generating section and a frame picture generating section (top-field-first-flat = 1) and picture data are produced. Further, an automatic space detection section compares the sizes of the video signal arriving in the space adjustment section for each horizontal line to automatically discriminate the line in use and the discrimination result is delivered to the space adjustment section, which performs processing according to the discrimination result.