A recording and reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded on a recording medium concurrently while recording the information, includes a compression section, a temporary storage section, a reproducing process section, and a storage section. The compression section reads the information recorded on the recording medium and compresses read information. The temporary storage section stores compressed information provided by the compression process. The reproducing process section decompresses the compressed information output thereto from the temporary storage section and reproduces decompressed information. The storage section stores the compressed information output thereto from the temporary storage section.