In some embodiments, a DMA controller includes a set of transaction control registers configured to receive a linked list sequence of transaction control sets. The transaction control sets collectively describe a data transfer by which the DMA controller is to move data from a peripheral alternatingly to a first memory buffer and a second memory buffer, wherein the first and second memory buffers are arranged in parallel with one another at an interface of the peripheral. The DMA controller is configured to transfer a first set of data from the peripheral to the first memory buffer according to a first transaction control set in the linked list sequence, and is configured to subsequently transfer a second set of data from the peripheral to the second buffer according to a second transaction control set in the linked list sequence.