PURPOSE: To eliminate a track shift and to simplify the azimuth control mechanism by using a multi-element magnetic head formed by integrating a recording magnetic head and a reproducing magnetic head having a larger number of tracks than the desired number of tracks on a magnetic tape together with an azimuth angle detecting means and a track switching means.

CONSTITUTION: A mutli-element magnetic head is constituted so as to satisfy A=P.Tanθ among an azimuth angle θ, a track pitch P and a gap surface space A between magnetic heads 1 and 2. Thus the correspondence is secured between tracks (b), (c), (d) and (e) of the recording magnetic head 1 and tracks (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the reproducing magnetic head 2 with no shift by tilting the multi- element head by the angle θ to the traveling direction of a magnetic tape 3 by means of a mechanical control means. In this case, a switch circuit 12 is switched circuit 12 is switched by a means 11 which detects a going route. Thus the recorded signal can be reproduced with high fidelity.