A video image and audio sound signal processor having a signal multiplexer and a single data compression system for a video image recording and playback apparatus. An audio sound signal is sampled in accordance with a timing signal in synchronism with a horizontal synchronizing signal of a video image signal, and such a sampled audio sound signal is then multiplexed onto an end of the video image signal, which is then converted into a digital signal by a single A/D (analog to digital) converter. Such a multiplexed digital signal containing video image data and audio sound data is then sent to a data converter wherein raster data are converted into a plurality of data blocks, each of such data blocks including a plurality of picture elements in both horizontal and vertical directions. And then, the data blocks are sent to a single compression device.