A method and apparatus for simultaneously recording and displaying video
signals from two different video sources. The apparatus comprises a main
channel processing circuit/logic, a second channel processing
circuit/logic, and common circuitry/logic. The common circuitry comprises
a digital video encoder pipe that decodes both a first and second encoded
video signals. The main channel processing circuit processes a first
decoded video signal utilizing a first clock to form a main picture for
display. The second channel processing circuit processes a second decoded
video signal to form a PIP picture for combination with the main picture
for display. The PIP picture is produced using a second clock signal that
is independent from the first clock signal. In a record mode, the second
channel clock is coupled to the second channel processing circuit to
produce a recordable signal using a digital encoder. The recordable
signal also forms the PIP picture that is coupled to the main channel
processing circuit to produce a PIP picture that is used to monitor the
recording process.