Asynchronous asymmetry compensation for data read from a storage medium

A magnetic tape drive, comprising a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to:

• read data from a magnetic tape using a read channel;
• equalize the data using an equalizer;
• detect and track positive peak amplitudes and negative peak amplitudes of a readback waveform using a tracking threshold module positioned on an output side of the equalizer;
• and
• perform asymmetry compensation on the data using an asymmetry compensator based on input from the tracking threshold module in an asymmetry compensation loop, an output of the asymmetry compensator being provided to the equalizer,
• wherein the asymmetry compensator does not rely on an input except from the tracking threshold module in order to perform the asymmetry compensation.

A method for processing data in a read channel, the method comprising:

• reading data from a magnetic data storage medium using the read channel;
• detecting and tracking amplitudes of positive peaks and negative peaks of a readback waveform during the data reading using a tracking threshold module;
• and
• performing asymmetry compensation on the data using an asymmetry compensator based on input from the tracking threshold module in an asymmetry compensation loop, an output of the asymmetry compensator being provided to an equalizer,
• wherein the asymmetry compensator does not rely on an input except from the tracking threshold module in order to perform the asymmetry compensation.