Methods and apparatus for recording reproducing, transmitting and/or receiving compressed data and recording medium therefor

A technique for recording, reproducing, transmitting and/or receiving compressed data utilizes frequency dividing filters (101, 102) for dividing the frequency range of digital signals into plural frequency bands, orthogonal transform circuits (103-105) for producing signal components in plural two-dimensional blocks along time and frequency, an adaptive bit allocation and encoding circuit (108) for quantizing and compressing the information for each two-dimensional block, and a bit allocation and calculating circuit (107). When recording the information together with information compressing parameters for each two-dimensional block, the information compressing parameters for at least two two-dimensional blocks are recorded collectively to avoid complexity in the structure of the sampling frequency signal generating circuits or the like that would otherwise be caused in the case of providing plural sampling frequencies, as well as to prevent an increase in hardware scale.