A magnetic-tape recording apparatus for recording digital data on a magnetic tape by a rotating head includes a first obtaining unit for obtaining first-group data, including video data, audio data, or search data. A second obtaining unit obtains second-group data, including sub-code data related to the first-group data. A synthesizing unit synthesizes the first-group data and the second-group data such that they are continuous without any space disposed therebetween, on each of two sub-tracks formed with a gap sandwiched therebetween on a track in the magnetic tape. A sending unit sends data synthesized by the synthesizing unit to the rotating head in order to record the data on the magnetic tape.