In carrying out PWM-recording on optical disks, RESYNC BYTES including a
bit compensation part, RESYNC detection part, and bit synchronization
part are periodically inserted in the recorded data code stream. After
encoding and at the time of decoding, RESYNC BYTES are detected by
detection of the RESYNC detection part. The decoder is initialized by
detecting the position of the bit synchronization part, and decoding is
performed satisfactorily free from error. With this configuration, even
for synchronization bytes having a comparatively long portion of
consecutive code values, bit resynchronization is enabled free from
mis-detection caused by peak shift. Even with the recording and
reproducing characteristics with an un-symmetrical unerased area of the
mark and space parts, the RESYNC detection part is fixed to either mark
or space and RESYNC BYTES with little influence on an unerased area can
be realized.