Import issue: Native files 1920x1080 @ 24 fps to FCE - No Codec available

Question

Love this forum. I have learned a lot on here thanks to you tech-smart people
Searching this and other forums I can not find a clear answer to my compression import situation below:
1st, why the heck is their no codec in Final Cut Express for 24 frames per second?
Question: And since there is none, which of the HD Apple Intermediate Codec settings do I choose for FCE ‘Easy Setup’ selection?
The closest one seems to be HD Apple Intermediate Codec 1920 x 1080i60 for source material @ 29.97 fps … Will that work even though my source files are 24 fps? (I have no red render line using that choice)
Or is there a better suggestion? How important is this to my overall quality?
I am not making movies for YouTube—I am aiming at Full HD theatre quality final product for clients (Yeah shoulda got the FC-Pro . So I need to be sure I import, edit and finalize movie projects in Full-HD, as far as I understand it all.
My Specs:
- In US
- Shooting MOV. clips w/audio using Canon D1 Mark IV
- Native MOV. clips: Codec – H.264 Linear PCM / 1920x1080 @ 23.98 frames per second and 16.9 widescreen
- MacBook Pro
- 1 TB G-Raid external hard drive for scratch and movie files
- To avoid having to render while editing I am converting all movie (H.264) clips using Squared-5 MPEG Streamclip app set for: Apple Intermediate Codec (with empty fps box)
- Converted movie clips import to FCE at native 23.98 fps
I appreciate any suggestions about this, including one I already got from a friend, which was, “Buy Final Cut Pro”… My reply; “Spend all that money just to get five less frames per second!” … To Apple Corp.—add 24 fps to that FCE Codec list please!

Answer 1

Thanks for that suggestion.
It makes me wonder how I find out if something like Streamclipping to 29.97 will actually work … What would be a good test of this? I mean I understand the principle and could adjust the FCE Easy Settings to match 29.97, but exactly what test could I do that would ensure I have a good or bad quality on a large screen? I am sure any major weirdness would stick right out but the less obvious aberrations may not.
… I can make a one-minute movie as a test but I only have a 23-inch workstation screen to view projects on, I wonder if that will be large enough to pinpoint resolution or codec-line problems. This project, or portions of it, may end up on both TV and theatre screens in the coming year.
You can tell I am new to FCE and the larger movie projects… I have been getting by fine with smaller projects using iMove—But I need to move up to the more serious programs and thought FCE would be a perfect stepping stone….
Furthermore, I am being extra careful on all of this because my movie project has recently become very large and will involve close to 160 gigabytes of raw movie clips… So I really need to lock-in a solid codec solution before Streamclipping that many gigs!
(Yes moving up one more step to Final Cut Pro would eliminate this problem But I am stubborn and would like to work with what I already have.
Thanks again, I appreciate your reply, I will give 29.97 a try,
Leigh