A method for audio processing includes receiving multiple electrical signals to be transmitted in parallel via multiple respective audio channels. Multiple respective weights are assigned to the multiple electrical signals, wherein at least two of the weights differ from one another. An instantaneous gain is calculated, to be applied to the multiple electrical signals. The instantaneous gain depends on (i) instantaneous amplitudes of the multiple electrical signals, and (ii) the weights assigned to the multiple electrical signals. The instantaneous gain is applied to the multiple electrical signals, and the multiple electrical signals are transmitted via the multiple respective audio channels.

A method for audio processing includes receiving multiple electrical signals to be transmitted in parallel via multiple respective audio channels. Multiple respective weights are assigned to the multiple electrical signals, wherein at least two of the weights differ from one another. An instantaneous gain is calculated, to be applied to the multiple electrical signals. The instantaneous gain depends on (i) instantaneous amplitudes of the multiple electrical signals, and (ii) the weights assigned to the multiple electrical signals. The instantaneous gain is applied to the multiple electrical signals, and the multiple electrical signals are transmitted via the multiple respective audio channels.

A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to perform a method that includes reading data from a magnetic data storage medium. The processing circuit uses a tracking threshold module to detect and track positive peak amplitudes and negative peak amplitudes of a readback waveform during the data reading. Asymmetry compensation is performed on the data based on input from the tracking threshold module. The asymmetry compensation does not rely on an input except from the tracking threshold module in order to perform the asymmetry compensation.

In one embodiment, a system includes one or more processors and logic integrated with and/or executable by the one or more processors. The logic is configured to cause at least one of the processors to detect positive peak amplitudes and negative peak amplitudes of an unequalized readback signal that exhibits imperfect or bi-modal waveform peaks using a peak tracking threshold module positioned at an input to an equalizer. Also, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to track the positive peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes of the unequalized readback signal in a record. Moreover, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to provide, as an input to an asymmetry compensator, the record of the peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes determined from the unequalized readback signal.

In one embodiment, a system includes one or more processors and logic integrated with and/or executable by the one or more processors. The logic is configured to cause at least one of the processors to detect positive peak amplitudes and negative peak amplitudes of an unequalized readback signal that exhibits imperfect or bi-modal waveform peaks using a peak tracking threshold module positioned at an input to an equalizer. Also, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to track the positive peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes of the unequalized readback signal in a record. Moreover, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to provide, as an input to an asymmetry compensator, the record of the peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes determined from the unequalized readback signal.

Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising applying voltage to a read head during an unload state, detecting characteristic read head data, and storing the detected characteristic read head data in a buffer. In another implementation, the method further comprises performing a read retry operation in response to a read failure, reading the detected characteristic read head data from the buffer, determining if the detected characteristic read head data meets a threshold for a first predetermined criterion, performing a correction operation if the threshold for the first the first predetermined criterion is met, determining whether a media sector is read successfully, and ending the read retry operation if the media sector is read successfully.

Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising applying voltage to a read head during an unload state, detecting characteristic read head data, and storing the detected characteristic read head data in a buffer. In another implementation, the method further comprises performing a read retry operation in response to a read failure, reading the detected characteristic read head data from the buffer, determining if the detected characteristic read head data meets a threshold for a first predetermined criterion, performing a correction operation if the threshold for the first the first predetermined criterion is met, determining whether a media sector is read successfully, and ending the read retry operation if the media sector is read successfully.

Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising applying voltage to a read head during an unload state, detecting characteristic read head data, and storing the detected characteristic read head data in a buffer. In another implementation, the method further comprises performing a read retry operation in response to a read failure, reading the detected characteristic read head data from the buffer, determining if the detected characteristic read head data meets a threshold for a first predetermined criterion, performing a correction operation if the threshold for the first the first predetermined criterion is met, determining whether a media sector is read successfully, and ending the read retry operation if the media sector is read successfully.