5 n7 A video tape recorder in which video and audio signals of a plurality of channels are simultaneously recorded onto the same tape by using the same tape running mechanism and the signals of a plurality of channels are simultaneously reproduced from the tape is disclosed. The video tape recorder of the invention comprises a recording system and a playback system. The recording system includes recording processing means (2, 8) for converting the plurality of video signals into recordable signals, respectively, first and second rotary head pairs (3, 4; 9, 10) which are oppositely arranged to a cylinder and each head has a track width narrower than a recording track pitch and which have gap azimuth angles in an opposite relation, and records the signals onto the tape and reads out the signals from the tape, and means (16, 18) for recording a control signal synchronous with a vertical sync signal included in one video signal onto a control track. The playback system includes a playback processing means (12, 49) for reconstructing reproduced signals from the rotary head pairs into video signals and servo means (19, 20) for reproducing the control signal to control the rotary head pair and the tape run.