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I could use some help figuring out how to sync audio tracks in Cubase to my tape machine. Here's what I've got going on. I have a 16 track reel to reel recorder and I've striped the 16th track with SMPTE, generated by my Motu MTP AV (serial port model). I run the SMPTE from track 16 to the SMPTE input on the MTP AV, which converts the SMPTE to MTC. I'm wanting to be able to hit play on the tape machine and then cubase be able to play audio (not MIDI) tracks in perfect sync with my tape machine. This way I will have 15 tracks to record on my tape machine and 24 tracks to record in Cubase. I've read the help file in Cubase and set the transport to sync to MTC from the ADAT/Sync output on the MTP AV. When I hit play on the recorder cubase starts playing a second or two later. It seems to be working, but I haven't had a chance to fully test it. What concerns me is I've read various places that in order to sync audio tracks in a DAW to SMPTE, I have to set the clock source of my sound card (which is an EMU 1212m) to read the word clock from my MTP AV. When I open up the VST Input window in Cubase and set the input source to EMU ASIO, the only options it gives me for clock source are Internal, ADAT, and S/PDIF. My 1212m has an optical ADAT input and output and a S/PDIF rca input & output. There is an optional sync daughter card that I can buy to add to my 1212m that has a word clock input, but it's a bit pricey and hard to find so I'd like to avoid having to buy that if at all possible. So here are my questions:

Can I send the word clock to Cubase through Clockworks, without any additional cables (just the serial cable)? If not, would I be able to run a cable from the word clock out of the MTP AV to the S/PDIF input on my soundcard? If not, can I run a cable from the dsub ADAT out on the MTP AV to the S/PDIF input on my soundcard? Are there any other options that I'm overlooking?

I contaced E-mu and apparently they don't make the sync card for the 1212m anymore, which makes it nearly impossible to find. So, I'm wondering if I would be able to find a cheap Adat and sync it to my MTP AV using the 9 pin dsub and then sync the 1212m to the Adat via S/PDIF cables. Would this work? Is there a cheaper option (cheap a/d converter, some sort of sync box, or something)?

What about an external clock generator with word clock and S/PDIF outputs on it? Could I use this to generate word clock and send it to the MTP AV which is converting SMPTE and send S/PDIF to the 1212m, or does the MTP AV have to be the clock source since it is converting the SMPTE?

I really need some help here!!!