Abstract: An electro-optic modulator is driven between discrete operating points such that a reversal of applied field polarity reduces harmful charge screening effects and the voltage swing between the operating points is reduced from previously used voltage swings.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reducing cross talk in tape recording and playback systems is disclosed. A single magnetic track containing D data bytes of the prior art is divided into W substracks, each containing D/W data bytes. The tape recorder is capable of recording at a preselected full speed and integral fractions thereof. When recording is done at less than full speed, the W subtracks which comprise a track are offset longitudinally, such that the area covered by the W subtracks approximates the area of a single track of the prior art recorded at full speed. To further suppress cross talk, wide write heads and narrow read heads, or opposite azimuth angle heads may be used.