A method for adjusting a signal includes applying compensation to a data signal to generate an output signal and sampling the output signal to generate data values and an error value, each data value comprising either a high value or a low value based on the sampling of the output signal, the error value indicating residue of the distortion based on the sampling of the output signal. The method further includes monitoring the output signal for a pattern of data values corresponding to one or more filter patterns, the filter patterns each comprising a pattern of data values pre-determined to occur substantially equally in data beginning with even data and in data beginning with odd data. The method also includes detecting a pattern of data values in the output signal matching one of the filter patterns and adjusting the compensation applied to the data signal based on the error value.