Method for decoding side information data required for decoding an encoded Higher Order Ambisonics, HOA, representation of a sound field, the encoded HOA representation comprising dominant directional signals as well as a residual ambient HOA component, wherein the side information for a coded frame of HOA coefficients describes a prediction used for said dominant directional signals, wherein the side information can include a bit array ( ActivePred) indicating whether or not for a direction a prediction is performed, said method comprising: - evaluating a bit value (PSPredictionActive) indicating whether or not said prediction is to be performed; - if said prediction is to be performed, decoding the side information describing said prediction, including decoding the bit array ( ActivePred), wherein decoding the side information describing said prediction comprises: - evaluating a bit value (KindOfCodedPredIds) indicating that said bit array ( ActivePred) indicating whether or not for a direction a prediction is to be performed is used in the decoding of said side information data ( ζ ( k - 2)), wherein: - evaluating said bit array ( ActivePred) indicating whether or not for a direction a prediction is to be performed wherein its elements indicate if for a corresponding direction a prediction is performed; - computing, for those elements of the bit array ( ActivePred) that indicate that prediction is to be performed for the corresponding direction, the elements of a vector ( p TYPE), wherein the elements of the vector ( p TYPE) indicate if for a corresponding direction a prediction is performed, and if so, then the elements also indicate which kind of prediction. said method comprising: - evaluating a bit value (PSPredictionActive) indicating whether or not said prediction is to be performed; - if said prediction is to be performed, decoding the side information describing said prediction, including decoding the bit array ( ActivePred), - evaluating a bit value (PSPredictionActive) indicating whether or not said prediction is to be performed; - if said prediction is to be performed, decoding the side information describing said prediction, including decoding the bit array ( ActivePred), wherein decoding the side information describing said prediction comprises: - evaluating a bit value (KindOfCodedPredIds) indicating that - evaluating a bit value (KindOfCodedPredIds) indicating that said bit array ( ActivePred) indicating whether or not for a direction a prediction is to be performed is used in the decoding of said side information data ( ζ ( k - 2)), wherein: - evaluating said bit array ( ActivePred) indicating whether or not for a direction a prediction is to be performed wherein its elements indicate if for a corresponding direction a prediction is performed; - computing, for those elements of the bit array ( ActivePred) that indicate that prediction is to be performed for the corresponding direction, the elements of a vector ( p TYPE), wherein the elements of the vector ( p TYPE) indicate if for a corresponding direction a prediction is performed, and if so, then the elements also indicate which kind of prediction. - evaluating said bit array ( ActivePred) indicating whether or not for a direction a prediction is to be performed wherein its elements indicate if for a corresponding direction a prediction is performed; - computing, for those elements of the bit array ( ActivePred) that indicate that prediction is to be performed for the corresponding direction, the elements of a vector ( p TYPE), wherein the elements of the vector ( p TYPE) indicate if for a corresponding direction a prediction is performed, and if so, then the elements also indicate which kind of prediction.