a video magnetic tape control time code reading method and apparatus employs a control time code comprising binary coded times and frame numbers which together form addresses of individual frames of a video signal recorded on a video magnetic tape which can be read , independently of the direction and speed of transport of the video tape , to ascertain whether the control time code corresponds to a recorded video signal having a frame frequency of 30 or 25 frames per second . use is made of the fact that certain frame numbers occur in a 30 frame per second control time code which do not occur in a 25 frame per second control time code .