A brake device for magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, such as a slide loading type camera recorder. The supply reel brake unit includes a supply reel brake having an operating pin, and a mode switch gear having an operating protrusion pushing the operating pin in a tape running mode, thereby releasing the tape supply reel table. In addition, the supply reel brake unit may comprise a drive cam gear, a supply reel brake cooperating with the drive cam gear to selectively brake the tape supply reel table. The take-up reel brake unit includes a clutch gear engaging with the reel gear of the tape take-up reel table, a take-up reel brake having a rotation limit lever limiting the rotation of the brake in cooperation with the guide pin of the stationary base plate, a latch of the brake selectively engaging with the reel gear of the tape take-up reel table to brake the take-up reel table, and a stop pin of the take-up reel brake received by the slit of the slide base to separate the latch of the brake from the reel gear of the tape take-up reel table in a tape loading operation, thereby releasing the tape take-up reel table.