When signals are read out by a magnetic head from a magnetic recording medium on which magnetic bits corresponding to information are recorded along the tracks thereof by a magnetic transfer method, if a space which is longer than or equal to a length corresponding to three bits is present between consecutive magnetic bits, readout of signals from a sub-pulse generation area in the space is cancelled in readout of the magnetic bits by the magnetic head along the tracks. The signals are not read out at all, or even if the signals are read out, they are not processed as valid signals.