Abstract: An apparatus and method of reducing the size of a servo burst and thus increasing the disc surface available for data storage is accomplished by uniquely encoding track information in the gray code of a servo burst on a disc. Each track has a unique sequential track identification number assigned to it. A plurality of sets of servo sectors on each track are encoded with a modulo operation of the track identification number for the track each using a unique modulus. Preferably the sectors are grouped into two sets, i.e., even numbered sectors on each track are modulo encoded with a first modulo operation of the track identification number for the track using a first modulus and odd numbered servo sectors on each track are modulo encoded with a second modulo operation of the track identification number for the track using a second modulus. Decoding the absolute track address is accomplished by decoding the modulo numbers and comparing the even sector modulo numbers to the odd numbered sector modulo numbers.