An apparatus and method of recording a video format signal having a vertical blanking interval on a recording medium. The number of frames of the video format signal to be recorded on the recording medium is counted, and a first time code is generated such that one second corresponds to L-frames of the video format signal. The first time code is then incremented N-times within a predetermined period of the video formal signal, thereby obtaining a second time code representing the incremented first time code. The second time code is then inserted into the video blanking interval of the format signal, thereby producing a video format signal having a time code which is relatively close to the actual elapsed time of the signal.