Surcode or alternative

[prizi]

I recently got Premiere CS4 expecting to finally implement ac3 5.1 sound export support. I found out that once again the way to export 5.1 sound was by buying the Surcode plugin. Is there a way around this? Is there any alternative to it? Otherwise I will be probably switching soon to Vegas.

[tinker]

To get 5.1 you need plug in. If you want to switch, that is up to you, but make sure Vegas does not have the same restriction.
Most apps have only stereo support as 5.1 licence cost little(much) more to implement.

[poisondeathray]

I don't use CS4, but are you able to export with a 6channel wav?

If so then just use freeware (e.g. aften, eac3to, many others) to encode to 5.1AC3