A video signal recording apparatus includes a memory for storing a one-picture portion of an input video signal. An overlapping device gradually switches a first video signal, read from the memory, to a second video signal during a first predetermined time period, and provides an output video signal. A recording device records the video signal output from the overlapping device. A first manual operation member sets the video signal recording apparatus to an overlap mode, in which the overlapping device is operated in response to a start of recording by the recording device. A second manual operation member sets the video signal recording apparatus to an interval recording mode, in which the recording device is periodically operated to record during every second predetermined time period. A determination device determines the first and second predetermined time periods such that the second predetermined time period is longer than the first predetermined time period when the video signal recording apparatus is in the overlap mode and in the interval recording mode.