Stabilized recording

The method of magnetically recording signals in a magnetic record member and for stabilizing such recorded signals, said record member having a unitary magnetic layer, the steps of:

• recording a first signal in said magnetic layer using a first transducer by relatively moving said layer and transducer such that said gap scans a given track to record said first signal therein, said first transducer having a given extended gap length and having pole pieces exhibiting high magnetic saturation equal to or greater than the permeability of mu metal, and
• AC erasing said magnetic layer along said given track using a second transducer having a given gap length less than said extended gap length thereby partially surface erasing said first signal recorded in said given track to thereby stabilize same for later plural successive magnetic recording operations along said given track and using gap lengths in third transducers less than said extended gap length and selecting said second and third transducers to have lower pole tip magnetic saturation than said first transducer whereby the later magnetic recording operations along said given track do not partially further erase said recorded first signal.