In a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, wherein a moving picture signal and an audio signal following the moving picture are recorded and reproduced on a first area in a recording track inclined to a traveling direction of a magnetic tape and digital data indicating a one-cut (a frame or a field) still picture signal is recorded and reproduced on a second area in the recording track, there are provided a circuit (157) for detecting that digital data indicating the still picture is reproduced by an amount of data corresponding to the one-cut still picture, a switch (1) which is operated by a person who monitors pictures and used to instruct restart of the magnetic tape, and a logic circuit (3).
The logic circuit (3) generates an instruction for switching the reproduced signal output from the moving picture to the still picture on the basis of the output of the detection circuit (157), an instruction for rewinding the magnetic tape to near the recording start position of the digital data indicating the still picture and stopping the magnetic tape there, an instruction for switching the reproducing signal output from the still picture to the moving picture when the switch (1) is operated, and an instruction for traveling the magnetic tape once again at the general traveling speed for reproducing the moving picture signal.