In a helical-scan recording system, multi-channel data transfer requires many heads aligned precisely in a scanner. A single-tip multi-head greatly facilitates this alignment. The new multi-head, combined with an ETF (Embedded Thin Film) head reported previously, has much smaller magnetic cores than a conventional multi-head. This minimizes the crosstalk that is an inherent problem in the multi-head. Head-tape contact for gapto-gap distance up to 900 km has successfully achieved by adjusting the tip-radius and head protrusion.