Magnetic recording apparatus are provided for recording signals on a magnetic tape. A recording head records signals in successive tracks on the tape and a tape transport transports a magnetic tape past the recording head in a recording direction. In one embodiment, absolute track addresses are recorded in at least some of the tracks, the absolute track address of each track corresponding to a distance of the track from a start position of the magnetic tape. Recording is initiated from a track having a predetermined absolute track address corresponding to a predetermined distance from the start position. In a further embodiment, the tape transport transports the tape initially by a distance necessary to establish a stable running state, and thereafter transports the tape a further distance while recording reproduction control signals so that during reproduction a stable running state may be achieved. Thereafter, information to be output is recorded.