Another VHS to Digital Question

[Huckleberry]

I have a Sony DVD recorder, model RDR-GX257
(made in 2009), with RCA inputs and an HDMI output.
It also has FireWire, but only as an input.

If I run my VHS into it, out the HDMI, and into
my computer through an HDMI-to-USB capture dongle,
would the output be the same, better, or worse than if I just ran the VHS
straight into my computer via my RCA-to-USB converter dongle?

Thanks in advance!

[JPMedia]

What are the models of HDMI-to-USB capture dongle and the RCA-to-USB converter dongle? This information will help to give more specific advice.

[Huckleberry]

What are the models of HDMI-to-USB capture dongle and the RCA-to-USB converter dongle? This information will help to give more specific advice.

Here's the RCA-to-USB, which does work:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NPFJJ7K

Here's the HDMI-to-USB, which is on order:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CKBPZ8D

Both are cheap and I don't expect them to do anything except get data into my computer.
The main point of my question is, will running the VHS signal through my DVD recorder improve
on the video quality or will it be the same as if I just ran it directly from the VCR into my computer?
I'll be trying it regardless, the dongle is less than $20.
I got the idea from this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC5Zr3NC2PY&t=734s

Here's the DVD recorder:
https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-rdr-gx257/

[phelissimo_]

The main point of my question is, will running the VHS signal through my DVD recorder improve
on the video quality or will it be the same as if I just ran it directly from the VCR into my computer?

I would say: try it out if you already have the SONY.
Here are some similar models used

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crEojSrXzFM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMA5aH_olAQ

[JPMedia]

You would probably get better quality running your VCR directly into the RCA-to-USB converter. Use an S-Video cable instead of a Yellow RCA video cable if possible.

The DVD recorder probably won't improve the signal and if anything will make the signal worse.

[Huckleberry]

I would say: try it out if you already have the SONY.
Here are some similar models used

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crEojSrXzFM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMA5aH_olAQ

Impressive.

You would probably get better quality running your VCR directly into the RCA-to-USB converter. Use an S-Video cable instead of a Yellow RCA video cable if possible.

The DVD recorder probably won't improve the signal and if anything will make the signal worse.

I have an S-video cable, however my VCR doesn't have that output,
and the only way I'm ever buying another VCR is if I find one
for less than $10 at a thrift store and it has stereo output.

[dellsam34]

With the hardware quoted both methods yield mediocre results. If you can't get a better VCR, what's known to work with low quality VCR's that don't have any form of signal timing or noise processing is a miniDV/Digital8 camcorder pass through to firewire (specific models only), Panasonic ES10/15 pass through to a cheap USB dongle, a combo VHS/DVD recorder that plays back the tapes and burns video into blank DVD's, These are the next best options.

The best solution is a S-VHS VCR with line TBC/DNR using S-Video cable and a capture card/device from the 2010's running under Win7, The ultimate solution is the same VCR in the above option with a professional SDI digitizer/TBC/Synchronizer into computer with an SDI interface. I know you are not interested in the last two options but had to mention them to give an idea of the quality scale.

[Huckleberry]

If you can't get a better VCR, what's known to work with low quality VCR's that don't have any form of signal timing or noise processing is a miniDV/Digital8 camcorder pass through to firewire (specific models only), Panasonic ES10/15 pass through to a cheap USB dongle, a combo VHS/DVD recorder that plays back the tapes and burns video into blank DVD's, These are the next best options.

Coincidentally, I discovered this last night.
Unfortunately, neither of my Sony Handycam MiniDV camcorders
has the ability to bring in analog, they can only output it.
I scoured the menu for an "AV-DV-OUT" setting, and it's not there.

[Huckleberry]

Basically what I'll be doing is using Technology Connections' method,
but using the DVD recorder, which I already own, instead of buying this little gizmo.
It's also occurred to me that I could just record the VHS tapes onto DVD, then import it into my computer.
I already own a bunch of blank DVDs, so I might try doing one to see how it looks.