A simple optical recorder which permits alignment of scanning positions of a plurality of laser beams with high accuracy and effects optical recording using the laser beams. The optical recorder is provided with a photosensitive drum which is scanned by a plurality of laser beams formed in rows at an inclined angle with respect to the direction of scan, a single photosensor for sensing each of the sweep positions of the laser beams, and a controller for controlling the scanning positions of the laser beams on the basis of a sensing result of the sensor. The controller is made up of an optical sensing signal separation circuit, synchronous clock generation circuits, FIFO memory circuit elements, and OR circuits.