Abstract: A magnetic tape transport system having a linear reel control in which the difference between tape velocity into and out of a pair of buffer columns is digitally integrated to provide a continuous signal indicative of the tape loop position in the buffer column, which signal, when combined with the tape velocity data, provides a precise reel servo control. Minimum length buffer columns with no loop position sensors are disclosed in a first embodiment and the use of minimum numbers of loop position sensors are disclosed in further embodiments.Three digital tachometers sense the tape speed at the capstan and at the reel side of each buffer column. The capstan tachometer data is separately summed with the data from each of the reel tachometer and digitally integrated to provide position feedback data indicative of the tape position in the buffer columns which, together with the velocity feedback, controls the reel servos such that loop acceleration is linear and independent of the tape pack radii of the reels.