Abstract: In a system for detecting information stored upon a flexible magnetic media that includes a magnetic transducer for producing an analog signal representing stored binary data, comparator means for detecting positive and negative peaks of the analog signal, and voltage threshold means for providing a reference threshold voltage to the comparator which is a precise percentage of the voltage peaks of the analog signal, an improved magnetic recording detection pointer comprising a pulse width discriminator used to monitor the time per peak during which the analog signal exceeds the detection threshold as an indication of marginal data which can be used in conjunction with an error correction system to extend the overall system correction capability.