Track thinning at an IN point of consecutive recording is prevented by doing
a head-track one-edge coincidence tracking by using a head of a larger width than
the track width. ATF control unit (15) makes a control during reproduction
of pre-roll of consecutive recording according to a pilot signal out of the reproduction
output from heads (1a, 1c) so that centers of the heads
(1a, 1c) may scan the center line of the track. A positioning
signal (6g) during the control and a phase of HSW are detected by
a detecting circuit (16), and a desired phase having a predetermined advanced
amount is set by a desired phase setting unit (18) and stored in a storage
unit (19). After this, a tracking method switching control unit (23)
switches the tracking method into another by which a control unit (20) controls
the difference in phase between the positioning signal (6g) and the
HSW to a desired value stored in the storage unit (19).