A time base correction apparatus is provided for use with a system for reproducing signals recorded on a recording medium. A first drive unit which rotates the recording medium is driven by a first control unit which receives a reference signal and controls the first drive unit to rotate the recording medium in phase synchronization with the reference signal. The high frequency component of the time base variation is corrected by a second drive unit which moves a transducer, which reproduces a signal from the recording medium, from one scanning position to another relative to the recording medium in a reverse direction of the signal track of the recording medium.