Compensation of peak-shift with write timing

Measurements of the peak shift encountered in a digital recording system using the GCR format (9042 fr/in.) are analyzed to show the contributions from the high-frequency losses in the write head (adds 10-15%) and in the read head (adds up to 6%), the read gap length (adds up to 7%) and from the non-linear recording process (up to 18%). Correction of the latter contribution was achieved by altering the timing of the writing signal based on the value of one data bit preceding and one bit following the bit to be recorded. This simple, 3-bit correction was able to reduce the non-linear contribution ascribable to the recording process to less than 7%.