An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a module having a tape bearing surface, an array of magnetic transducers, and a channel in the tape bearing surface. The channel has a longitudinal axis oriented about parallel to a longitudinal axis of the array of magnetic transducers for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the array of magnetic transducers. Moreover, the channel has a shape with a middle section of similar recession therealong between straight opposite ends.

An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge along the tape bearing surface toward the second edge. A guide is positioned relative to the first edge for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape and to create a point of inflection of the moving magnetic recording tape at a location above the tape bearing surface that is about midway between a peak of the tenting and a point of closest approach of the moving magnetic recording tape to the tape bearing surface. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The location of the point of inflection of the moving magnetic recording tape is between the free layer and the second edge.

According to one embodiment, a method includes running a magnetic recording tape over an edge of a tape bearing surface of a module, where the edge is proximate to a sensor of the module, detecting magnetic fields from the magnetic recording tape at different wrap angles, and selecting one of the wrap angles of the magnetic recording tape to provide about a predefined height of tenting of the magnetic recording tape above the sensor.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a plurality of first modules each having a first write transducer. The apparatus further includes a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers. The media bearing surfaces of the modules are primarily planar, and lie along offset parallel planes. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers. The apparatus further includes a second module having a plurality of second write transducers. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge toward the second edge, and a second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the second edge toward the first edge. A first guide is positioned for inducing a first tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the first tape tenting region, and a second guide is positioned for inducing a second tenting of the moving magnetic recording tape above the second tape tenting region. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The sensor is positioned between the first tape tenting region and the second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a plurality of first modules each having a first write transducer, and a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers, and a second module having a plurality of second write transducers. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a module having a tape bearing surface, an array of magnetic transducers, and a channel in the tape bearing surface. The channel has a longitudinal axis oriented about parallel to a longitudinal axis of the array of magnetic transducers for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the array of magnetic transducers. Moreover, the channel has a shape with a middle section of similar recession therealong between straight opposite ends.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first module having a plurality of first write transducers, and a plurality of second modules each having a second write transducer. Planes of deposition of write gaps of the second write transducers are oriented at an angle of greater than 4 degrees relative to planes of deposition of write gaps of the first write transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, an array of magnetic transducers, and a channel in the tape bearing surface. The channel has a longitudinal axis oriented about parallel to a longitudinal axis of the array of magnetic transducers for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the array of magnetic transducers. A method according to one embodiment includes forming a channel in a tape bearing surface of a module. The channel is formed to have a longitudinal axis about parallel to a longitudinal axis of an array of magnetic transducers. The channel is formed proximate to the array of magnetic transducers for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the array of magnetic transducers.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having a tape bearing surface, an array of magnetic transducers, and a channel in the tape bearing surface. The channel has a longitudinal axis oriented about parallel to a longitudinal axis of the array of magnetic transducers for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the array of magnetic transducers. A method according to one embodiment includes forming a channel in a tape bearing surface of a module. The channel is formed to have a longitudinal axis about parallel to a longitudinal axis of an array of magnetic transducers. The channel is formed proximate to the array of magnetic transducers for inducing tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the array of magnetic transducers.