multi track sync

[martinsnow]

Hello, I have a Fostex VF16 digital mutlitrack recorder recording 7 instrument tracks of a band, each is a mono track.
I have Audacity 1.3.13-beta running on XP sp3 using a PCI soundcard accepting S/PDIF lightpipe i/p.
At the moment I’m transferring the 7 tracks individually by means of S/PDIF and lightpipe, saving each as a .wav file & opening them as multiple tracks into an Audacity window.
I can lock them together using ‘sync lock tracks’& time shift each track with the ‘time shift tool’, but they are not properly in sync.
Q. How do I get all 7 tracks to be automatically in sync for editing in Audacity?
I imagine I’m importing a time code with each .wav file, but how to sync them?
Export as a stereo pair, after mixing.
New to mixing so any help would be appreciated – Thank you.

[kozikowski]

I imagine I’m importing a time code with each .wav file,

Unless your system explicitly says so, I wouldn't assume that. SMPTE time code and other video services are special beasts with intentional provision for burned-in running time or time of day. That's not normal in straight audio land. SMPTE time code, for one example, is one whole audio track itself.

they are not properly in sync.

What's improper about them? The movie people use a clapboard...

http://www.studio1productions.com/clapboards.htm

At the beginning of every shot so the picture and sound people can easily re-sync themselves in post production.

Koz