To adjust the volume difference between the main portion of content and the others automatically, when utilizing a content signal such as a television broadcasting program.

When the content signal is recorded on a recording medium 21, change points are detected in the content signal at a scene section processor 17, the section sandwiched between the change points is identified, and the type of each identified section is determined. The detected or identified information is recorded and held at a section information holder 53. In reproduction, a reproduction place is determined in the content signal read from a recording medium 21 by a reproduction place determination section 31. By a volume gain determination section 32, information at the section information holder 52 is referred to. Based on the type of the section to which the reproduction place belongs, the gain of a sound signal to be reproduced is determined and the gate of the sound signal to be reproduced is adjusted at a sound processor.