When recording and/or reproducing data on a disk formatted in a constant linear velocity (CLV) system while the disk is rotated and a head is movable for scanning radially successive circular tracks thereon, and a recording and/or reproducing circuit is operable in response to a data transfer clock for causing the head to record and/or reproduce data in the tracks scanned thereby: the disk is virtually divided into a plurality of virtual zones each comprised of a respective plurality of the tracks; the frequency of the data transfer clock is determined in dependence on the one of the virtual zones in which the tracks being scanned are situated at least during the initiation of a recording or reproducing operation, with the frequency determined at the initiation of a recording or reproducing operation being increased step wise for each successive zone considered in the radially outward direction and being maintained substantially constant at least so long as the tracks being scanned are in the one of the zones at which the recording or reproducing operation was initiated; and the angular velocity at which the disk is rotated during the recording or reproducing of data in the tracks within any one of the virtual zones is decreased as successive tracks, considered in the radially outward direction, are scanned during the recording or reproducing operation in which the frequency of the data transfer clock is maintained substantially constant.