An information processing apparatus for effecting at least one of the recording and reproduction of information with probes on a recording medium having tracking grooves is disclosed. In the apparatus, a probe head having plural probes is moved relative to the recording medium, a signal based on a physical phenomenon between each probe and the recording medium is detected from each probe, a position signal indicating a position of the tracking groove is extracted from the detected signal, a reference clock signal is generated, and a start timing of reproduction or recording of the information is determined based on the phase relationship between the position signal and the reference clock signal.