An apparatus for coding video information having a plurality of video samples, the apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store a plurality of video samples arranged in a plurality of groups, each video sample having a bit size B and a respective group of the plurality of groups having a group size K; and a hardware processor, the processor configured to code a respective K-length sample vector of the plurality of the video samples in each group of the plurality of groups to form a respective vector-based codes using a variable length coding, VLC, scheme, the respective vector-based codes comprising at least a first portion identifying a type of look-up-table among a plurality of types of look-up-table corresponding to at least one of the bit size B or the group size K, and a second portion representing the plurality of video samples in the respective group, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to code the plurality of video samples in sign magnitude representation in a first number of groups of the plurality of groups, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to code the plurality of video samples in 2's complement representation in a last group of the plurality of groups, and wherein the hardware processor further configured to output the respective vector-based codes, wherein to code the respective K-length sample vector to form the respective vector-based codes, the hardware processor is configured to: convert the respective K-length sample vector to an index value; map the index value to a code number using the type of look-up-table; and code the first portion of the respective vector-based code to indicate the type of look-up table, and code the code number to form the second portion of the respective vector-based code. a memory configured to store a plurality of video samples arranged in a plurality of groups, each video sample having a bit size B and a respective group of the plurality of groups having a group size K; and a hardware processor, the processor configured to code a respective K-length sample vector of the plurality of the video samples in each group of the plurality of groups to form a respective vector-based codes using a variable length coding, VLC, scheme, the respective vector-based codes comprising at least a first portion identifying a type of look-up-table among a plurality of types of look-up-table corresponding to at least one of the bit size B or the group size K, and a second portion representing the plurality of video samples in the respective group, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to code the plurality of video samples in sign magnitude representation in a first number of groups of the plurality of groups, wherein the hardware processor is further configured to code the plurality of video samples in 2's complement representation in a last group of the plurality of groups, and wherein the hardware processor further configured to output the respective vector-based codes, wherein to code the respective K-length sample vector to form the respective vector-based codes, the hardware processor is configured to: convert the respective K-length sample vector to an index value; map the index value to a code number using the type of look-up-table; and code the first portion of the respective vector-based code to indicate the type of look-up table, and code the code number to form the second portion of the respective vector-based code. convert the respective K-length sample vector to an index value; map the index value to a code number using the type of look-up-table; and code the first portion of the respective vector-based code to indicate the type of look-up table, and code the code number to form the second portion of the respective vector-based code.