Copies recordings, missing the start (4)
I believe the answer is:
apes
'copies' is the definition.
('ape' can be a synonym of 'copy')
'recordings missing the start' is the wordplay.
'recordings' becomes 'tapes' (tape is a kind of recording).
'missing the start' means to remove the first letter.
'tapes' with its first letter taken off is 'APES'.
(Other definitions for apes that I've seen before include "Large primates" , "Species of primate" , "Imitates like primates" , "Copies the primates?" , "Peas (anag)" .)