Dynosour wanting to hang on to SMPTE!

Hi, I still use Creator with an Atari. I drive all my sound modules through a Soundcraft desk and record all my live stuff ie vocals, guitars etc on a 24trk analogue 2" tape machine. I synchronise it all by recording SMPTE code on the tape machine which then drives the atari. The tape machine is on its last legs so I'm looking to replace it with a digital recorder but when I record SMPTE on a digital recorder it doesn't seem to want to trigger the computer. Is there any reasonably priced digital multitrack (8 would be enough for my current requirements) that generates SMPTE or is there any other way I could synchronise my out-dated set-up. I know I should move with the times but my set-up works really well, does everything I need and the quality is still first class. I'm concerned that unles I spend thousands I won't be able to carry on maintaining the quality I am used to.
A worried dynosaur!