Systems and methods for writing servo patterns

A method for writing a servo track, comprising:

• optically monitoring a lateral position of a magnetic tape passing over a servo writing head during a servo track writing operation;
• monitoring a velocity of the magnetic tape relative to the head;
• writing servo marks to the magnetic tape, wherein the servo marks are magnetically defined bars arranged in base sets, each base set comprising at least two bars oriented at different angles with respect to a direction of tape travel;
• adjusting a timing of the writing of each mark based on the monitored position of the magnetic tape;
• and
• further adjusting the timing of the writing of each mark based on the monitored velocity of the magnetic tape.

A system for writing a servo track, comprising:

• a servo writing head for writing servo marks onto a magnetic tape;
• a device for optically monitoring a position of the magnetic tape during a servo track writing operation;
• and
• a controller for controlling a timing of the writing of the servo marks to the magnetic tape based on the monitored position of the magnetic tape.

A system for writing a servo track, comprising:

• a servo writing head for writing servo marks onto a magnetic tape;
• a device for monitoring a lateral position of the magnetic tape during a servo track writing operation;
• and
• a controller for controlling a timing of the writing of the servo marks to the magnetic tape based on the monitored position of the magnetic tape,
• wherein the timing of the writing of each mark determines a spacing between consecutively-written marks in a direction parallel to a direction of tape travel across the head.