Basic Resolution Questions

I recently uploaded to FCPX some mini DV footage shot on a canon XL2. I have some basic questions. Any help is much appreciated!The footage was imported at 720 x 480 SD. I created synced compound clips on a timeline that was set to 1280 x 720.

1. Is it preferable to create compound clips and edit at the same resolution that they were imported at (720 x 480)? Why or why not?
2. Is it possible to edit with clips at different resolutions and then export them all as 1?

If these are stupid questions, what am I missing?

Thank you!!

There are no stupid questions, just stupid... well.. we're all stupid, nobody notices, don't worry about it.

Putting them into a compound clip will do nothing to help increase resolution, 720x480 is all the data you have, and not much can change that ( maybe Topaz Video Enhance AI, which I like).

Yes, you can mix clips of different resolutions and frame rates in the same Project just fine. Normally you make the Project the resolution of the smallest frame size.

haha thanks Ben! I appreciate it. 

If we want a uniform resolution to the final project, then our best bet is to edit everything at 720 x 480? And then export at 720 x 480? Or you're saying that we can edit clips at different resolutions and when we export them at 720 x 480, they'll all be the same?

Your project is one frame size, but you can place videos of other sizes in it. Then resize them to fit as you want. 720x480 is old standard def video, and if you want to output high def video, you have to make a choice on how to handle the SD video. Enlarging it to HD size will pixelate it and it will look horrible. You could put a copy on top of itself, enlarge the bottom copy and apply a Gaussian blur to it. That way you have the SD at it's native size, small in the center of the screen, and the screen behind is filled with a blurred, enlarged copy. Or find someone to enlarge it with specialty (expensive) software. But as far as doing the whole thing at standard def resolution, I'd not do it. Even 99% of YT is HD now.