The invention relates to a system comprising a magnetic tape (310) formatted by means of a write head (360), and an apparatus comprising a magnetic head unit (320) which is movable on a transverse direction (y) by means of an actuator. By means of the write head (360) the magnetic tape (310) has been provided with a pattern of servotracks ST101-ST127 which extend in a longitudinal direction (x). The odd-numbered servotracks contain a first servosignal and the even-numbered servotracks contain a second servosignal Sb which is phase opposition to the first servosignal. The servotracks ST103-ST113 and ST116-ST126 have a typical width W1 and form a group of two bands of N1 servotracks which are separated by a band of N2 servotracks ST114, ST115 having a typical width W2. The magnetic tape (310) is adapted to cooperate with an apparatus comprising eight magnetic write heads (H31-H38). The actuator is controlled in response to the servosignals read by the heads. The center-to-center distance (p) between the magnetic write heads (H31-H38) is equal to four times the typical width W1 and, moreover, it holds that: N2 = 2, 4, 6 etc. and W2=(k+1/2)W1 or N2 = 1, 3, 5 etc. and W2=2k.W1, where k = 1, 2 etc.