A method of demultiplexing haptic signals comprising: receiving a multiplexed signal comprising two or more different types of haptic signals, each type of haptic signal representing a haptic effect and adapted to be played on a corresponding haptic output device, wherein a first type of haptic signal is adapted to be played on a first haptic output device having a first playback capability, and a second type of haptic signal is adapted to be played on a second haptic output device having a second playback capability that is different from the first playback capability; determining a target haptic output device on a haptic playback device; demultiplexing the multiplexed signal into a haptic signal for playback on the target haptic output device; and providing the demultiplexed haptic signal to the target haptic output device, wherein the demultiplexed haptic signal is adapted to be played on the target haptic output device; wherein the demultiplexing the multiplexed signal comprises: extracting channel information about the multiplexed signal; and parsing sample data to extract a channel from the multiplexed signal based on the channel information; wherein the channel information includes information for haptic streams corresponding to at least two different signals of a basic haptic signal, a standard definition haptic signal, or a high definition haptic signal; wherein the basic haptic signal, the standard definition haptic signal, and the high definition haptic signal are each one of the different types of haptic signals, wherein the basic haptic signal is an on/off binary signal and is associated with controlling an eccentric rotating mass actuator, wherein the standard definition haptic signal is associated with controlling a linear resonant actuator, and wherein the high definition haptic signal is associated with controlling a piezoelectric actuator, and has a higher sampling rate than a sampling rate of the standard definition haptic signal and a sampling rate of the basic haptic signal. receiving a multiplexed signal comprising two or more different types of haptic signals, each type of haptic signal representing a haptic effect and adapted to be played on a corresponding haptic output device, wherein a first type of haptic signal is adapted to be played on a first haptic output device having a first playback capability, and a second type of haptic signal is adapted to be played on a second haptic output device having a second playback capability that is different from the first playback capability; determining a target haptic output device on a haptic playback device; demultiplexing the multiplexed signal into a haptic signal for playback on the target haptic output device; and providing the demultiplexed haptic signal to the target haptic output device, wherein the demultiplexed haptic signal is adapted to be played on the target haptic output device; wherein the demultiplexing the multiplexed signal comprises: extracting channel information about the multiplexed signal; and parsing sample data to extract a channel from the multiplexed signal based on the channel information; extracting channel information about the multiplexed signal; and parsing sample data to extract a channel from the multiplexed signal based on the channel information; wherein the channel information includes information for haptic streams corresponding to at least two different signals of a basic haptic signal, a standard definition haptic signal, or a high definition haptic signal; wherein the basic haptic signal, the standard definition haptic signal, and the high definition haptic signal are each one of the different types of haptic signals, wherein the basic haptic signal is an on/off binary signal and is associated with controlling an eccentric rotating mass actuator, wherein the standard definition haptic signal is associated with controlling a linear resonant actuator, and wherein the high definition haptic signal is associated with controlling a piezoelectric actuator, and has a higher sampling rate than a sampling rate of the standard definition haptic signal and a sampling rate of the basic haptic signal.