How to import from a Sony HDR CX550V?

[daddog]

I had to reformat my HD and have to go though the process of importing videos to X3.
I recall some 'steps' involved, but am at a loss. Was there another program I am to use to import into X3?

Jeeze, this should be easy.

[Ken Berry]

I thought it *was* easy... You either connect the camcorder to your computer via USB cable and simply Copy/Paste to a folder on your PC using Windows; or take out the flash drive and put it in a flash card reader and do the same. I even thought you could simply open X3, using 'Insert Media File" and navigate to your camera flash drive. It is, after all, regarded by the computer as just being another external drive...

I also thought Sony provided some basic software with the camera which would allow you to transfer the video to your PC. In the process, I think the original .mts format gets slightly changed (though not converted) to .m2ts format... But X3 can handle either.

[snowstorm]

If this could help
I shoot my clips with a Sony HDR-CX520V (many times on Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo)
I copy/paste my clips onto my PC to a dedicated folder with a USB cable through Windows Explorer
Always do perfect job.
Create MTS files
Happy New Year
snowstorm

[pyvo]

I confirm Ken's statement above;
For the same camera, I
- installed the Sony soft called Picture Motion Browser (PMB) supplied with the camera (or downloadable from Sony site)
- used PMB to capture the .m2ts files onto HDD and then
- imported these files for edit using VS X2.
The process works fine even if it is a little slow on my laptop (Centrino 2, 2.26GHz, Win Vista, 4Gb DDR2 + plenty HDD).
When capture is complete, disconnect the USB link from the camera menu first (before physically unplugging) - no need to use Windows option 'Safely Remove Hardware' option.

[daddog]

Thanks Gents,

What I 'forgot' was to install the Sony software. That was the missing step.

I appreciate the replies.