Abstract: A tape media carrier has a tape medium for storing data, a rotatable element, such as a tape reel, bearing the tape medium, and a transducer within the tape media carrier. The transducer includes a sensor element and a detector for detecting at least one attribute of the sensor element that is responsive to ambient conditions within the tape carrier. The detector may be a strain gauge, in which case the measured attribute is strain. In another aspect, the sensor element may include marks disposed in at least one dimension. An optical detector in the media carrier may measure distance between the marks to represent the measured attribute of the sensor.