Resolution Problems in Final Cut Projects

Question

I'm still using Final Cut Express 4.0.1 and I notice there isn't a section for questions on that version, that this is the only FCE section.  (I'll be upgrading eventually to FCP, but don't want to until I know I'll be making full use of it and actually need it.)
I have raw material that I converted, using iSkySoft Media Converter, to .mov files with a 720x480 resolution (the same resolution the original files were in).
Then I opened FCE, created a project, and imported the files.  I then dropped one file in the view and made rough cuts, taking out whole sections of the video, and dropping them into a sequence in the project.  At this point the video is unrendered and I had about 30 minutes of video, way more than I needed.  I hit Command-R to render and the requestor said that'd take 2 hours.  End of night -- went to sleep, but had woke up one time and it was still chugging away rendering and it was more than 2 hours later.
Then, when I trimmed it and did a test version, I exported a .mov file (doing the "flat" export without any settings) and it took a while to generate the file.  When I loaded the .mov into Quicktime and looked at the info, the resolution was in HD.
I went back and checked my sequence and the properties said the resolution was 720x480.
Which leaves questions:
1) I thought FCE worked with .mov files internally.  Why does it have to render the video from the .mov files (and re-render every time I make changes)?  Is there a format I can convert to BEFORE importing into FCE so I don't have to wait so long for rendering?  Perhaps settings I can use that'll match FCE's internal settings?
2) When importing my files into FCE, and reading the properties of the clip in the sequencer, it looks like the properties were of the original file the clip is from.  What resolution is FCE actually working in and how can I change that resolution when I'm working with DVD quality images (720x480)?
3) Is there an easy way to just say, "These files are in 720x480, so keep it that definition all the way through start to finish" by working with settings?
4) Not quite the same thing, but it's close and I want to be sure I'm on target.  Someone told me that when I have 4:3 video and 16:9 video files, that the project will take on the ratio of the first clip I use.  Is this the first one I import or the first one I drop onto a sequence?  And can different sequences in the same project have different resolutions?  And does that first clip set the resolution as well as the ration?
Thanks for any help.  I used to work as a pro editor back before everyone was doing it digitally and did some digital work for a while, but at this point I've forgotten more than I remember and I want to get back up to speed eventually.

Answer 1

Can you go to the Browser and right click the Sequence icon, then select Item Properties.
Post a screen shot or relay all the info please.
Do the same thing for a clip icon.
Final Cut Express>Easy Setups should be the first thing to be aware of using FCE.
When you select an Easy Setup this governs all Sequence settings until you change it.
Only NEW Sequences are affected by Easy Setup changes not existing ones.
Change can also occur when the first clip hits a New Timeline that doesn't match the Sequence setting,
you get a message asking if you would like to change it.
This method is like an auto Easy Setup selection that allows FCE to best guess, not the best way to set up a Project or a Sequence as it can get it wrong.
The right way is to know exactly what type of file is coming into FCE, dimension size, frame rate etc.
This file should match an Easy Setup exactly, if it doesn't, you will be plagued by continual rendering.
If the files/clips and Easy Setup match, no rendering is required for straight cuts editing.
If your incoming files do not match any Easy Setups then you use a third party app to transcode the files so they do match the Easy Setup selected.
Easy Setups have fine print that tells you about the type of file it wants to use.
Example:    FCE>Easy Setup>DV-NTSC
This MAY be the one to match your incoming files of 720 x 480. Note that there are Anamorphic Easy Setups, these are used for 16:9 footage.
FYI: Changing the Formats and Rates popups gives you differing Easy Setup choices, select (all formats) and (all rates) to see them all.
Hope this gets you going.
Al