Method and apparatus for eliminating apparent offset in the servo code in a magnetic disc drive

This method and apparatus for eliminating apparent offset in the servo code adjacent to a guard band on a magnetic memory disc utilizes at least two phases of servo code per magnetic cell for seeking and track centering, or track following, operations and two phases of guard band code per magnetic cell. The two phases of guard band code are each either in phase or similarly out of phase with the respective phases of the servo code in individual magnetic cells. Phase lacking on a selected phase of guard band code is achieved by providing a synchronizing code in the guard band using an irregular pattern of guard band code, providing a timing signal count representing a cell count, for example, decoding the synchronizing code to provide an end of code signal and utilizing the end of code signal and a predetermined cell count signal to achieve phase locking on the correct phase of the guard band code.