Burst and spike characteristics in an excimer laser output in a burst operation are efficiently improved. A tape-based data storage system according to another embodiment includes a head having an array of channels for reading a set of data tracks on a magnetic tape; wherein data read from the magnetic tape in a given pass of the tape relative to the head includes at least two error correctable sets, wherein each of the error correctable sets is read by a unique subset of the array of channels. When the record button is pressed, the stub program immediately begins recording a digital signal corresponding to the sound waves incident on a microphone of the device in a compressed format.