Color video signal recording and reproducing apparatus providing preferential dropout compensation and time base error correction

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the processing of a color video signal before recording is kept to a minimum, and the video signal is so processed that preferential dropout compensation is provided inherently, without the use of any special dropout compensation circuitry.
The video signal is down-converted in frequency so that the video signal occupies a recordable frequency range and, further, the video signal is so down-converted that the luminance information is at relatively low frequencies and the chrominance and sound information is at relatively higher frequencies, respectively.
Dropouts therefore affect the sound information first, the color information second, and the picture information last, as is preferred.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, not only are the effects of dropouts reduced, but, in addition, time base errors, resulting, say, from tape speed variations, are accurately corrected without the use of a special correction system such as a pilot system or burst system: The luminance and chrominance signals are separated and each signal is down-converted to a recordable frequency range enabling the chrominance signal spectrum to be recorded at frequencies comparable to, or even lower than, the luminance signal spectrum.
(Thus, the recorded chrominance signal is less sensitive to dropouts.
) By down-converting the luminance and chrominance signals so that their respective carriers have the same frequency, playback time base variations, if any, will effect both carriers equally; therefore, upon up-conversion and recombination to form the original video signal, the frequency spacing between the luminance carrier and the chrominance carrier will necessarily be the same as in the case of the original video signal.