METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLAYING SERIALLY STORED SEGMENTS IN AN ARBITRARY SEQUENCE

A method for playing a plurality of segments, selected from a plurality of reference segments recorded on each of a plurality of video tape recorders in a known recorded sequence, provides for a continuous replay without the need for creating a master tape. The playback sequence, defined for example by an edit decision list, defines an order different than the order in which the reference segments have been recorded and typically represents all or part of a program. The method provides for playing successive segments with different tape recorders so that the various tape recorders have sufficient time to reach their next assigned segment. The method further provides for continuous replay of the program until interrupted by an external command.