Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein includes a method comprising selecting a zone of one or more tracks on a disk drive having a plurality of magnetic sensors on a transducer head, determining a performance matrix related to the selected track zone, and selecting a first subset and a second subset of the plurality of magnetic sensors based on the determined performance matrix, wherein only the first subset of the plurality of magnetic sensors are used for data recovery in the selected track zone, and the second subset of the plurality of magnetic sensors are used for servo recovery.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein includes a method comprising selecting a zone of one or more tracks on a disk drive having a plurality of magnetic sensors on a transducer head, determining a performance matrix related to the selected track zone, and selecting a first subset and a second subset of the plurality of magnetic sensors based on the determined performance matrix, wherein only the first subset of the plurality of magnetic sensors are used for data recovery in the selected track zone, and the second subset of the plurality of magnetic sensors are used for servo recovery.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices, and systems are presented with servo and data pattern formation using multi-dot arrays. In one example, an apparatus may comprise a data storage medium including a first patterned array of dots of magnetic material, a second patterned array of dots of magnetic material, and a non-magnetic space located between the first patterned array and second patterned array. In another example, a system may comprise a processor configured to store data to a data storage medium, the data storage medium including a first dot composite including a first patterned array of dots of magnetic material, a second dot composite including a second patterned array of dots of magnetic material, and a non-magnetic space located between the first dot composite and second dot composite. An order in which a dot composite and a non-magnetic space occur may define the value of one bit.