If you have a MIDI interface with a SMPTE in connection such as the MIDI Timepiece AV, you can slave your DAW to MIDI Timecode (MTC). This can be done with a number of applications - these instructions are for Digital Performer 4 and AudioDesk 2. For this FAQ, we'll use DP 4 and a MIDI Timepiece AV.

• Connect the 1/4" SMPTE output of your SMPTE source (such as an analog tape deck) to the 1/4" SMPTE input on the MTP AV.
• In Digital Performer, go to the Setup menu, choose Receive Sync. Set it to "MTC, DTL, or DTLe". Choose "any" for the sync port, set the frame rate to match your SMPTE source, and press OK. Choose Slave to External Sync from the Setup menu. Press Play on DP's transport controls; it should flash, waiting for external sync. Press play on the SMPTE source.
• Within a second or so, the MTP AV will lock to the SMPTE timecode and DP will resolve to the incoming MTC, and DP will play in sync with the SMPTE source.