Is there an exact support protocol to taking:
24p footage shot from the HD-100U:
Capturing in HDVXDV and getting optimum
Audio/Video Settings in FCP for Editing
in HDV720 30p?

I went out and just got a Quad 2.5 G5 System in
hopes to speed up converting captured footage in
HDVXDV and still takes 2hours to convert 60 minutes
of 720 24p footage and when I get it into FCP after
trying many different settings, still no realtime
editing, just red lines needing rendering....help!

You probably just have a sequence/clip mismatch.

Here are some threads were we have discussed some 720P24 to FCP real-time workflows.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=56015

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=57357

Rob, it would help to know exactly what options you used in HDVxDV.
This is what I usually do:

- Grab the m2t from the camera.
- Export it from HDVxDV as AIC using the "Expert" option.
- Select AIC with 720p.

It takes a while but I use a PB G4 1.67, with your machine it should be defintely useable.

--
Paolo

I went out and just got a Quad 2.5 G5 System in
hopes to speed up converting captured footage in
HDVXDV and still takes 2 hours to convert 60 minutes
of 720 24p footage....help!

If you are familiar with double-system audio, you might want to skip HDVXDV and use the technique doxumented at:

http://www.gyhduser.com/showthread.php?t=313

I just used Expert Settings in HDVXDV and did AIC W/ 720p.
Then brought it into FCP using Tim's settings. Perfect results.

Question: Why 23.98 and not 24 frames for the FCP Settings?

Any recommend settings for down converting 720 24p HDV footage
to DV format 4:3 showing the black bars/letter box in the picture?