A recording medium includes a plurality of signal recording layers. A head reproduces two information signals from respective places in the recording medium on a time sharing basis. The reproduced signals are stored in a buffer memory before being outputted therefrom at first and second transfer rates respectively. The reproduced signals are transmitted from the head to the buffer memory on a time sharing basis and at a third transfer rate higher than the first and second transfer rates. Information amounts of the respective reproduced signals continuously transmitted from the head to the buffer memory are decided on the basis of a given relation among parameters including intra-layer seek times and inter-layer seek times related to the head, and the first, second, and third transfer rates.