Can't get clips to play in timeline without rendering

Question

I am new at this so bear with me. I uploaded two 3 minute clips (live band footage) into FCP 5.0.1 Clip one is from a canon hv-20 1440x1080,29.97 fps, data rate 10.6. Second clip is from a pannasonic 3ccd...720x480, 29.97 fps data rate 3.6. The sequence settings are 1440x1080,29.97 fps, hdv1080i60,audio rate 48.
The problem (besides that I don't now what I am doing) is that when I drop either clip into the timeline , I get the red line. what am I doing wrong and or how can I correct it?
Thanks in advance,
Carl

Answer 1

#28 Having to render every clip in the timeline
Shane's Stock Answer #28: When I put a clip in the timline, I have to render it before it will play. Why?
Your clip settings MUST match your timeline settings. If you have DV/NTSC material, you need a DV/NTSC timeline. The frame rate, audio rate and dimensions (4:3, 16:9) all need to match exactly. In Final Cut Pro 6, this is easy, because when you drop a clip into the timeline, it asks if you want to set up the timeline to match the settings of the first clip you drag into it. Click YES and you are ready to go.
However, in FCP 5.1 and earlier, it is a bit trickier.
The most important thing you need to do is properly set up your project from the start, and the best way to do this is to choose a setting from the Easy Setups, located under the Final Cut Pro menu.
Once you do this, you’ll need to create a new sequence. This is because the sequence that is already in your new project is setup for the typical default setting of DV/NTSC, or for the settings of your last project, which might not match what you are currently working with. So delete SEQUENCE 1 and create a new sequence:
This new sequence will contain the settings you chose in the Easy Setup menu, and should match the format you captured.
NOW MIND YOU...you are working with TWO DIFFERENT video formats. Once you set the sequence to one format, you will have to render the other. You are mixing HD (HDV from the Canon) and SD (DV from the Panasonic). For someone who is very new to this...this won't be an easy thing.
Shane