a method for recording and reproducing video and accompanying audio information whereby various reproduction modes are made possible , including displaying a still image with appropriate sound , without adversely affecting the quality of the played - back signals . a video format signal , containing two - dimensional image information , is divided into a plurality of blocks . audio information is inserted into predetermined ones of these blocks , and video information is inserted in the remaining blocks . the video format signal is recorded in this form on a magnetic medium . upon reproduction , the blocks into which the audio information was inserted are , for video reproduction , either masked or replaced with other video information . control information , including information correlating the audio and video information and , preferably , error correcting code information , is also recorded .