In one embodiment, an apparatus includes at least first and second modules, a mechanism for orienting the modules to control a transducer pitch presented to a tape, and a controller physically configured to determine a state of expansion of the tape based on a readback signal from the tape. Each of the modules have an array of transducers. The first and second modules are fixed relative to each other. The transducers of the first module are about aligned with the transducers of the second module in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross when longitudinal axes of the arrays are oriented at an angle greater than 0.2° relative to a line oriented perpendicular to the intended direction of tape travel. The controller is physically configured to control the mechanism for altering the angle of the modules away from the nominal angle based on the state of expansion of the tape.