PURPOSE: To perform time-axis compensation securely during recording and reproduction of color video information, by inserting a color burst signal into prescribed sections at intervals of one horizontal line, even during a vertical retrace period, and reproducing the recorded color video information.

CONSTITUTION: A trapping circuit 23 removes a 3.58MHz color burst signal from a reproduced signal. For one-off control over the circuit 23, a vertical-synchronizing-signal generating circuit 24 which obtains a vertical synchronizing signal from the reproduced signal and a blanking detecting circuit 25 which detects a vertical retrace period by the synchronizing signal are provided. Then, the trapping circuit 23 is operated during the precence period of the blanking detection output to remove the color burst signal inserted in the vertical retrace period, thereby sending the reproduced signal to a detecting circuit of a next stage. Consequently, time-axis compensation is performed even during the vertical retrace period every time the color burst arrives, so that absence of time-axis information is prevented even during the vertical retrace period.