yes he did , if the video is distorted in record mode this is completely
independent of the tape mechanism/electronics, but concerning cotton buds,
regardless of what anybody says its better to just keep them off the
rotary head (use em on rollers and audio/erase head) that rotary head is
very sensative and in your case has nothing to do with the problem ,
however it never hurts to clean heads and i usually use a cloth that feels
pretty smooth, put a lil good old alcohol on it and rotate the head with
your finger at the top, dont apply much pressure to the side with the
cloth at all, just enough to bath it without snagging the cloth. make sure
you dry it or the next tape played will be swallowed.