How do I work with H.264 files in Final Cut Pro?

the H.264 codec should just work in FCP. I'm not sure this is what you are asking but, here you go. Just open a new project and go to file>import>files and it should work. I'm summing that you are using .mov file in H.264.

Don't. Do not edit h.264 in FCP...it is not an editing codec. It might work for a few shots, but as you add more and more, the processors get taxed more and more and things slow down, and eventually things are unworkable.

Do not encode to H.264. Use MPEG STREAMCLIP to extract as DV/NTSC.

Shane

Ok... I learned something today as well... That's good advice. That said, I haven't had a problem editing H.264. But I haven't had to do more than 4 or 5 cuts or add CG's to it and export it back out. Thanks for the heads up!

Use MPEG Streamclip to extract as Apple Pro Res. H264 will stutter and splutter in FCP. H264 is gret for making Qtimes, but not for editing.

In large measure, if the codec isn't one of the easy setups in FCP, it isn't an editing codec.

You might need to upgrade your version of MPEG Streamclip.

-DH