In the case where rate information is not transmitted on an input bit stream, it was difficult to efficiently record the input bit stream in accordance with the rate of the input bit stream. Therefore, a data recording apparatus is realized which comprises: signal processing means of coding the input bit stream to a recording signal; a packet counter section that counts the number of packets serving as constituting units of the input bit stream, for a fixed time period; a system controller that controls a recording rate on a tape-like recording medium; and recording means of recording the recording signal on the tape-like recording medium, and which is configured so as to calculate the rate of the input bit stream from an output of the packet counter section to control the recording rate, whereby recording can be efficiently conducted in accordance with the rate of an input signal.