A highly reliable magnetic recording and playback apparatus utilizes an independent magnetic clock pattern region and a pattern set region to provide a common timing reference between a data recording region and its adjacent tracks. In the apparatus, the pattern set region provides a reference point so that the circumferential location of the magnetic pattern region can be determined. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes elements for playback of reproduced information recorded on a magnetic disk and an arrangement which provides for the generation of a data existing point clock.