An apparatus for processing an informational signal includes a first processing section for receiving the informational signal, executing a first processing on the informational signal, and outputting the processed informational signal. The apparatus also includes a second processing section, which is located at a posterior stage of the first processing section, for receiving the processed informational signal and executing a second processing on the processed informational signal. The apparatus further includes transmitting device for transmitting meta-information corresponding to each predetermined period of time in the informational signal from the first processing section to the second processing section. The processing in the second processing section is controlled based on the meta-information transmitted by the transmitting device.