In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for isolating marginal recording to media or recording apparatus is disclosed. The method includes generating an experience metric from an interaction between a media mounted in a drive, updating one or more metrics for each of the media and the drive based on the experience metric and one or more prior metrics of the media and the drive, storing the one or more updated metrics to the associated media and drive, and utilizing the one or more updated metrics to predict performance trends of the media and the drive for preventative maintenance purposes. Other embodiments are also disclosed.