A recording and reproducing method, wherein, on recording and reproduction of a recordable DVD medium, which has a recording layer containing an organic dye on a substrate having a guide groove with wobble, wherein linear velocity conditions for CLV recording is recorded on the substrate, recording starts at a linear velocity less than a highest linear velocity at the innermost circumference; when the linear velocity is switched over to the highest linear velocity on the way, a comparison is made between an optimum recording power of Po at the highest recording velocity that is temporarily optimized by test-writing in a power measurement area at the outermost circumference and an optimum recording power of Pi at the highest linear velocity that is recorded in the substrate; in the case of Po>Pi, a value given by the formula of "(Po+Pi)/2+(Po-Pi).sup.2Pi" is employed as a recording power with which recording starts at the highest linear velocity; and in the case of Po.ltoreq.Pi, Pi is employed.