Read offset calibration for magnetic tape recording

A computer program product, comprising:

• one or more computer-readable storage media;
• and
• program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media to perform operations comprising:
• positioning a read transducer of a magnetic head at an initial position over a data track on a magnetic recording tape using servo information derived from servo reader signals;
• measuring a reading characteristic during reading of the data track;
• sequentially changing a position of the magnetic head relative to the data track and measuring the reading characteristic during the reading of the data track at the sequentially changed positions;
• assembling information derived from the measured reading characteristics and the sequentially changed positions of the magnetic head into a data set;
• processing the data set to create a read offset corresponding to a final position approximately geometrically centered within the data track;
• and
• storing the read offset in a memory,
• wherein the operations are performed for both forward and reverse directions of travel of the magnetic recording tape, wherein a first read offset of the read offset is determined for the forward direction, and a second read offset of the read offset is determined for the reverse direction.

A method for creating a reference tape, the method comprising:

• receiving a primary magnetic recording tape;
• performing a first subprocess using the primary magnetic recording tape, the first subprocess comprising:
• positioning a read transducer of a magnetic head at an initial position over a data track on the primary magnetic recording tape using first servo information derived from servo reader signals,
• measuring a reading characteristic during reading of the data track,
• sequentially changing a position of the magnetic head relative to the data track and measuring the reading characteristic during the reading of the data track at the changed positions,
• assembling information derived from the measured reading characteristics and the changed positions of the magnetic head into a data set, and
• processing the data set to determine a first read offset corresponding to a position approximately geometrically centered within the data track;
• ejecting the primary magnetic recording tape;
• receiving a reference magnetic recording tape;
• performing a second subprocess using the reference magnetic recording tape, the second subprocess comprising:
• applying the first read offset;
• positioning the read transducer of the magnetic head at a second initial position over a second data track on the reference magnetic recording tape using second servo information derived from servo reader signals,
• measuring a second reading characteristic during reading of the second data track of the reference magnetic recording tape with the first read offset applied,
• sequentially changing the position of the magnetic head relative to the second data track of the reference magnetic recording tape and measuring the second reading characteristic during the reading of the second data track at the changed positions,
• assembling second information derived from the measured second reading characteristics and the changed positions of the magnetic head into a second data set, and
• processing the second data set to determine a second read offset corresponding to a final position approximately geometrically centered within the second data track;
• and
• storing the second read offset in a memory of the reference magnetic recording tape.