MOTM

> Assume the following:
>
> 8 MIDI tracks exist under the auspices of Cakewalk "Sonar" on a Wintel
>computer
> MIDI-CV (for MOTM) interfaced to computer via MOTU "midi express"
> MOTM system only large enough to realize one quality MIDI track at a time
> Hard disk "recorder" is another, separate Wintel machine
>
> Without some sort of "master clock", the tracks will invariably get out
>of >sync with each other. 
>
> I am completely ignorant on the subject of syncing so if someone knows of
>>a suitable primer, I'd be overjoyed to read it.

I don't have the time to go into this in detail.  The simplest solution is
to put your MIDI sequencing and audio recording on the same machine running
the same program for both applications.  Since you already have a hard
drive, interface, software, and peripherals, you can build a new Wintel
machine powerful enough for less than $500.

If you insist on syncing one machine to the other, which is almost
guaranteed to be a huge @#$%&* PITA, you first have to find out which sync
standards are supported by your MIDI software, your hard disk recording
software, and your MIDI interface, then add an interface to your hard disk
recorder that supports that standard.  It's fairly easy to convert SMPTE to
MIDI Time Code.  Worst case scenario, you might have to stripe your hard
disk recorder and buy two new interfaces.  Also, do not confuse MTC with
MIDI beat clock (used to sync sequencers and drum machines) which is not
suitable for syncing audio.  If I were you, I would do web searches for
SMPTE, MTC, Cakewalk Sonar, MOTU MIDI Express, and whatever hard disk
recorder you are using.

Yes, you could use a stand-alone master clock with both word clock and
SMPTE and slave everything else to it.  That is the very best solution if
you have to deal with a number of different boxes or different types of
media, but it is also the most complicated and the most expensive.