If you insist on getting another Canopus DV box, realizing this 1990s tech is not great quality-wise, then at least "upgrade" to the lesser 100 model. The 300 has always-on filters that actually make quality worse. Yes, even when "off" the filters are more like "low". It's damaging.

I'm intrigued, what are other peoples set ups for capturing video. Hardware wise I mean.

@dpalomaki Can't believe you can capture with VLC, that's bonkers! Thanks again for the software and manual.

Our British funny guy did a nice hardware comparison between few USB capture devices in 3 rounds and he concluded that the Startech.com USB capture device is actually the best among all:

The first round video, Second round video, Third round video (the final winner).

Warning: Videos are too funny.
Note: He uses OBS which is the wrong tool for capturing analog video, don't use it.

The ADVC was "end of service" in 2014, end of production is 2011, so finding any repair service for it will be a challenge.

IMO not worth fixing or replacing with another used unit, unless you are especially in love with it.

Getting VLC to capture is a bit strange, it is under the streaming capability and getting there is not obvious. A brief color bar captured from the ADVC300 using VLC is attached. I do not suggest it as a good way to capture and I do not use it. I did this only to see if it worked.

For the very few analog captures I do these days I use:

1 - BMD Intensity pro. It has HDMI as well and composite, component, and s-video and audio. It requires a good, solid signal, and provides HDMI output from my NLE as well.

2 - BMD Mini Recorder for HDMI and SDI source capture coupled to a BMI Mini Recorder Analog-to-SDI converter.

I also occasionally have dumped tape to a DVD recorder for a quick and dirty conversion where it is not worth spending my time on it. (A wise man once said that when you spend time polishing a turd you just end up with a smaller, perhaps shinier, turd.)

I have a BMD Intensity Pro 4k, but only use it for HDMI capture occasionally. It is NOT suitable for component video capture.

While these are not the preferred solutions for legacy SD on this site they meet my overall needs in a single package.