A method to read information from an information storage medium using a read channel, where that read channel includes a data cache, where the method generates an analog waveform comprising the information, provides that analog waveform to a read channel, generates a digital signal from that analog waveform using one or more first operating parameters, corrects that digital signal at an actual error correction rate, determines if the actual error correction rate is greater than an error correction rate threshold. If the actual error correction rate exceeds the error correction rate threshold, then the method captures the digital signal, stores that captured data in a data cache, reads that digital signal from the cache, generates one or more second operating parameters, provides those one or more second operating parameters to the read channel.