In a system for cancelling time axis variations introduced into a frequency converted chrominance signal converted into a lower frequency range in the recording and reproduction of a color television signal with a small-size video tape recorder, in which system the cancellation of the time axis variations is effected by using a continuous reference signal obtained through an APC heterodyne system, the center frequency of oscillation of an APC oscillator is made n/m times the subcarrier frequency f.sub.s of the lower frequency converted chrominance signal (m and n being integers and n>m), and the reproduced frequency converted chrominance signal is heterodyned with a signal obtained by heterodyning a continuous signal obtained by dividing the frequency of the output signal of the oscillator by n/m in the presence of a steady reference signal at the same frequency as the standard color sub-carrier frequency to thereby obtain the cancellation of the time axis variations.