Why do I have to keep rendering?!?

Question

I installed Final Cut Pro HD. I set the frame rate sequence preset at 640x480 (i.e., the frame rate of all my imported video) and it's still forcing me to render it. Could someone kindly walk me through the setup (Easy Setup, Audio/Video settings, etc.) so I don't have to keep rendering 640x480 video? It'd be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Pixel dimensions are but a very small part of the picture. Codec and frame rate also come in play. Obviously the sequence settings don't match every setting of the clips you are trying to import:
#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.
Shane