A recordable medium according to some embodiments includes a servo control field having a bit patterned media (BPM) pattern. The pattern includes a plurality of isolated magnetic islands or dots arranged in a down-track orientation and in a cross-track orientation. A phase of dots arranged on the medium in the servo control field varies in a first cross-track direction. The dots arranged on the medium may include a first phase pattern that has a first phase gradient in the first cross-track direction and a second phase pattern that has a second phase gradient, different from the first phase gradient, in the first cross-track direction. The dots may include a plurality of dot composites including a plurality of dots.