First, let's talk about the basics - 

You will need:

1. Two hi-fi/stereo VCR's; one for recording, one for playback.
2. A television set or video monitor.
3. A MIDI interface that has SMPTE read/write capabilities.
4. A MIDI sequencer and digital audio program that can be controlled with
     SMPTE.  A program like Voyetra Digital Orchestrator Pro has both MIDI
     sequencing and Digital Audio, as well as SMPTE synchronization
     capability.  
5. Audio mixer - if you have multiple sound sources, like synthesizers, or the
     video you get has dialogue recorded on it, you'll also need an audio
     mixer of some kind, nothing fancy, just a standard mixer that has enough
     inputs for all your devices.

Now we need to hook them up, so we'll need some cables.  I'm assuming you
already have a MIDI setup so I won't go into that here.  Your MIDI interface
needs to have SMPTE in's and out's.  

Usually, you will get a standard videotape from the filmmaker, with timecode
or SMPTE recorded on one of the audio channels (left or right) and dialogue
recorded on the other.  If dialogue was recorded to the other stereo channel,
connect an audio cable from the VCR to an empty channel of the audio mixer.  

Now we will connect the audio from the mixer to the recording VCR.  
There are 2 ways of doing this: 
  1) Connect the Main audio outputs from the mixer to the audio inputs of the
     recording VCR.  
  2) Use the tape output of the mixer to the audio inputs of the recording
     VCR.

Using the tape output of the mixer is the preferred way so that you can listen
to your audio without going through the VCR.  You can connect the main outs to
speakers.


SMPTE: 
For those of you who would like to know, SMPTE was made a standard by the
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers for synchronization of
audio and video.  It's basically a timecode that is broken down into Hours, 
Minutes, Seconds, and Frames (H: M: S: F). 



There are several different formats, or Frame Rates (30 Frame Drop, 30 Frame
non-Drop, 24 Frame), so make sure the format you are using is the same as the
format the filmmaker used.



SMPTE will be read off of the videotape as an audio signal, which your
computer uses to start and stop the MIDI sequencer/digital audio program.


SPOTTING: 
Once everything is hooked up, you have to watch the video and figure out where
music should be on the film.  This is called Spotting.  The filmmaker should
have the visual SMPTE on the videotape.  While you are spotting the film and
find an area that needs music, pause the videotape, rewind a little section
and find the point where you want the music to start.  Write down the timecode
displayed on your TV or video monitors' screen.  This selected area for music
is called a CUE.



Now that you've selected a 'music in' point, you need to find a 'music out'
point.  Watch the scene and find a good spot for the music to end, and just
like before, when you find the spot, pause the tape and write down the SMPTE
number.  

Once you have all the timings, you will want to open your MIDI
sequencer/digital audio program.

The start time of your sequence is called the SMPTE offset.  Basically, it's
where the sequencer starts playing the music for the scene.



If you're lucky, the film editor cut the film so that all of the cuts in the
cue have the same time interval.  


EXAMPLE:
  Every cut in a cue is 4 seconds long.  This makes the Tempo of the scene
  a multiple of 60bpm, or 1 beat per second.  You can multiply or divide your
  tempo however you see fit, and your tempo will be even.  If you choose 60bpm
  as your tempo, your music will be 1 measure per cut, if you choose 120bpm, 
  then your music will be 2 measures per cut.

Now compose music that you think would be great for the scene.  Remember that
the music in a movie is subliminal and shouldn't overpower the visuals of the
film.  Music can mislead the viewer by changing the mood of a scene, or bring
the tension level of the viewer higher by foreshadowing what is about to
happen in the next scene.

Once your composition is finished, set your sequencer to follow SMPTE.  



Rewind the tape to about a minute before the scene, press play on the
sequencer, and press play on the play VCR.  Your music should start where you
wanted it.  Watch the scene, if you like it, you're good to go, if not, you
can always change it.

Of course, if you like it, you'll want to record it.  This is where the
second VCR comes in.  Play with your audio mixer settings to make sure the
dialogue can be heard while the music is playing, and get a good mix for your
music.  Once you're happy with the sound, you're ready to 'dub' or record your
new and improved scene.  Press Record on the record VCR, and Play on the
sequencer and playback VCR, and you're off into the wonderful world of Film
Scoring.


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