Multiple Formats

I won't be sure of what I'm working with until I get into the project and start poking around. I just spoke to someone about the job yesterday, and was just hoping to get a head start by reading up on anything that might help. I'm not all that well informed about all these formats and how to make them into different formats, so I'm really just looking for a good source to start reading up. I think right now that their project is in a SD codec and will eventually go online as HD, but from what it sounded like they've got nothing converted, so some footage is bigger/smaller than the setting they're working with, and some of it is different frame rates, so its slower or faster. I just wanted to get a head start on figuring out some things, software that we'll need, best formats to match everything to, etc.

I think frame rate is the biggest issue right now, because there are a handful of different ones in the footage, and they're having trouble because they're speeding up and slowing down when dropped into FCP. They don't have an idea of what their format will be, once I know I'll post the format they want to use and I can go from there. Is there a way in FCP to match frame rates, or does this need to be done with outside software?

Thanks, once I have a better idea of what all i'm working with I may be posting again, but I think this is a good start. thanks!