as described above to allow sufficient time for the vcr to brake during a replay of the tape and begin to play at the desired spot in each case the skip forward commands and play commands are written over the phase modulated pulse data on the command track skips and plays normally occur in pairs their order determining whether a particular section is played or skipped inasmuch as the normal starting mode for playback of a vcr is the play mode the first control code encountered on a tape is normally a skip forward however either of the paired skip forward and play codes can be placed on the command track before the other is placed for example the sequence of programming can involve placing a play code at the end of a section to be skipped and then placing a skip forward command at the beginning of the section to be skipped alternatively after writing a skip forward command the tape can be shuttled automatically to a location in advance of that point whereupon the user enters a play mode command to over write the command track similarly the command track codes can define a skip rearward or rewind command causing the tape to wind rearwardly until a play command is encountered this permits the user to loop or replay a defined segment of the tape as well as selectively to play certain segments and skip others via user programmable and changeable command codes placed on.