Best way to output 720 24pn to SD tape?

I think I've got a fairly simple and common question here. (Sorry if this has been answered before, but I couldn't find it.)

I have a 720 24pn DVCPro HD sequence that I need to output to a miniDV tape.

I don't have a Kona or Blackmagic card, I'm using Firewire to output to a camera.

I tried the "nest the HD sequence into a DV sequence and render" method. The timebase needs to match, so I wind up with a 23.98 DV sequence that seems to play fine. Can I feel good about outputting this to a miniDV tape? Isn't this a poorman's downconvert?

I figured a better way would be to use Compressor to convert the QT to a 4x3 letter boxed 29.97 DV clip, import that into FCP, put it in a sequence and output. But I can't figure out how to get the 4x3 letterbox.

I use the "DV NTSC" preset, but that only converts it to DV and 29.97. What setting do I change to use letterboxing? Padding? Dimensions? Something simpler?

Am I making this more complicated than it is? Would appreciate some perspective. Thanks.

Garret

2x.2.66 GHz Dual-Core Mac Pro, 5 GB RAM, FCP 6.0.1, OS 10.5.1, QT 7.4

Yes, you can. 23.98 sequences can be outputted via FW with a standard 3:2 pulldown. Check your playback prefs for the pulldown pattern. When you turn on your external video, FCP will add the pulldown on the way out thru your FW. I don't know if this pulldown is added for print to video or edit to tape, but I would imagine so. check the manual for that. Otherwise, you can crash it out on playback.

CHL

Chi-Ho Lee
Film & Television Editor
Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Instructor