1. An apparatus comprising: a production module that is substantially in constant physical engagement with a magnetic tape recording medium, the production module including at least one write element that writes magnetic transitions to the magnetic tape recording medium; a supplemental module, including one or more read elements, that periodically physically engages the magnetic tape recording medium, whereby at least one of the read elements generates an electrical signal corresponding to the transitions written to the magnetic tape recording medium by the at least one write element, wherein the one or more read elements of the supplemental module are disposed a distance away from the magnetic tape recording medium when the supplemental module physically engages the magnetic tape recording medium, such that a signal resolution measurement value is approximately a minimum acceptable value when the magnetic tape recording medium is a reference tape; a computer that receives information representative of the electrical signal and determines if a quality metric of the magnetic tape recording medium derived from the electrical signal is within a defined range; and in response to determining that the quality metric is not within the defined range, performing a defined action.