An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a magnetic tape head module having: a substrate and an encapsulation layer which includes a compliant, deformable material. The magnetic tape head module also includes a closure, and a plurality of transducers positioned in an array along a longitudinal length of the magnetic tape head module. The array of transducers is sandwiched between at least a portion of the encapsulation layer and the substrate. Moreover, a portion of the encapsulation layer extends toward the substrate directly between adjacent transducers in the array.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a magnetic tape head module having: a substrate and an encapsulation layer which includes a compliant, deformable material. The magnetic tape head module also includes a closure, and a plurality of transducers positioned in an array along a longitudinal length of the magnetic tape head module. The array of transducers is sandwiched between at least a portion of the encapsulation layer and the substrate. Moreover, a portion of the encapsulation layer extends toward the substrate directly between adjacent transducers in the array.

Some embodiments of the present invention logically eliminate an end region of a user-data area of a magnetic storage tape during formatting (or re-formatting) of the tape, if the position error signal (PES) variance corresponding to the end region exceeds a threshold. An adjacent region, having a PES variance less than the threshold is designated as a new end region, thereby shortening the user-data area of the tape and extending its usable life.

In one embodiment, a head for a storage drive includes a support member having a first media facing surface, and a wafer chiplet disposed on the support member and having a second media facing surface. In one embodiment, the lateral width of the chiplet is less than the lateral width of the support member and is less than the range of tape head and magnetic tape relative lateral motion. In one aspect of the present description, the chiplet has a third media facing surface which blends with first media facing surface of the support member, and the second media facing surface of the chiplet. In one embodiment, the chiplet is disposed on the support member so that a first bank of transducers of the tape head is centered on the support member and a second bank of transducers is offset from the center of the support member.