A recording apparatus for recording digital signals to plural tracks formed sequentially on a tape using plural heads includes a first selector for selecting the first through n track sets, continuous tracks within the plural tracks formed on the tape. A disposer disposes the first through k separated high speed reproduction data areas to the same positions in each of the m tracks comprising the first through n track sets. A first recording unit records the same high speed reproduction data to the same track position in at least the tracks having the same azimuth within the m*k high speed reproduction data areas belonging to the same track set. A second selector selects the n+1 through n+N, each track set comprising M tracks selected from among the tracks to which the high speed reproduction data areas are not disposed. A second disposer disposes a continuous very-high speed reproduction data area to the same position in each of the M tracks forming the n+1 through n+N track sets. A second recorder record the same very-high speed reproduction data to the M very-high speed reproduction data areas belonging to the same track set within the M*N very-high speed reproduction data areas belonging to the n+1 to n+N track sets.