The S-VHS ET mode records an S-VHS signal format on a VHS cassette. In this mode, several video signal system recording parameters are switched so that the signal characteristics recorded on the VHS tape are equivalent to S-VHS recording on S-VHS tape. Cassettes recorded in the S-VHS ET mode can be played with an S-VHS based playback system and an VHS equivalent that includes the SQPB function.