Minimize videotape comets?

Gary34 · #1 01-28-2026, 01:21 PM

Some tapes I have get quite a bit more comets with consecutive playbacks. I have one that was very different proc amp settings from scene to scene so I was going to make 3 separate captures with different proc amp settings and the amount of comets on the third capture is really bad compared to the first. Is there anyway to minimize the consecutive capture comets? Some tapes I don’t notice a big increase in comets from consecutive playbacks but some I do.

That’s the first video I’ve had to get close to maxing out a setting in my TBC 3000. The brightness is +15 and I believe the max is +17. Contrast was +4 then I changed it up on the other captures.

themaster1 · #2 01-28-2026, 01:49 PM

clean the heads drum (i mean really clean it, manually IPA alcohol + printer paper after each play

Gary34 · #3 01-28-2026, 02:14 PM

Is there anyways that me not having a heater in this room right now and no central heat and air could be causing an issue? Before I always had a heater in this room. The last little bit I haven’t had a heater in here and it is really cold outside. IDK if that would matter though.

BarryTheCrab · #4 01-28-2026, 04:05 PM

Is the room so cold you can see your breath?
My thoughts are a moderate constant temperature is best for the VCR as well as the tape.
Whether the cold room is affecting your current situation is unclear, but it don’t help.

Gary34 · #5 01-28-2026, 05:55 PM

It was been a constant temp until just recently. Someone needed a heater so I gave them that one. It’s a very small non corner room. It doesn’t get as cold as other rooms. I’ll throw another heater in there. I’ve always kept a dehumidifier in there. Humidity stays at 40 to 45. Temp has been 70 or a little colder up until recently.

aramkolt · #6 01-28-2026, 06:38 PM

Best bet would be to recapture a tape that didn't have as many comets before to verify that it is different as opposed to a more degraded batch of tapes I'd say.

As far as how to reduce comets in general, tape cleaning can possibly help if there's dirt around, cleaning the tape path, increasing tape tension (depends on your VCR model as to how straightforward that would be). I actually read somewhere that some tapes types actually have fewer dropouts on successive playbacks, or an extension of that could just be doing a full fast forward and rewind of a tape (ideally in a dedicated tape rewinder/fastforwarder).

Lastly, you could try direct tape lubrication which is highly recommended by a few archival bodies, but they aren't super clear on how the application part is supposed to go. I assume it could be done via a tape cleaner like the VHS is life machine, though applying it sparingly and specifically what type would probably take a lot of trial and error. Definitely wouldn't try that on anything important in the experimentation stages.

BarryTheCrab · #7 01-28-2026, 07:23 PM

This is one of the reasons many of us own several VCRs.
I'm here because I saw "COMETS" in the header. I have been struggling with a grainy low-light comet-ridden tape, and in 2 machines it is just terrible. I was playing with Hybrid to mitigate the crap with Despot. It was better, but...I tried a last ditch capture with a 3rd machine (Toshiba W808) and lo and behold...BAM! Not great but damn it's better. Way better. After Hybrid it should look less-than-horrible!

lordsmurf · #8 01-28-2026, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarryTheCrab

This is one of the reasons many of us own several VCRs.
I'm here because I saw "COMETS" in the header. I have been struggling with a grainy low-light comet-ridden tape, and in 2 machines it is just terrible. I was playing with Hybrid to mitigate the crap with Despot. It was better, but...I tried a last ditch capture with a 3rd machine (Toshiba W808) and lo and behold...BAM! Not great but damn it's better. Way better. After Hybrid it should look less-than-horrible!

Upload a bad comet clip for me.
No AVI, interlaced MPEG preferred, interlaced H.264 fine.
720x480

Gary34 · #9 01-29-2026, 01:24 AM

I put a heater in that room. Since it’s getting worse with each playback at least I have those plays captured.

lordsmurf · #10 01-29-2026, 05:21 AM

Do you see micro-flecks on the tape? You probably have micro-shedding.

Is this a BASF, or another early 80s tapes?

Warm up the VCRs with a non-important retail tape before inserting tape.

BarryTheCrab · #11 02-01-2026, 08:27 AM

Attached is a side by side of the 7800 and the W808. Also a clip from the W808 by itself.

Gary34 · #12 02-02-2026, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Do you see micro-flecks on the tape? You probably have micro-shedding.

I’m a little spooked now to put this tape back in my 1980 again after hearing the micro-shedding part. That is a real possibility. My full size older tapes were stored very poorly. My VHS-C were stored way better. The VHS-C that were stored better don’t have the same issue as the older ones that were stored outdoors in a shed. I even remember thinking the playback looked slightly better after a few plays with the VHS-C like Aramkolt said earlier. That’s definitely not the case with this tape. I think i have what I need now though. If something small isn’t right on it then it is what it is. I’m not putting it back in my 1980. I guess with some of these tapes you really need to get it right the first time.

It’s a Scotch brand tape. The tape was recorded in 1992.