A device comprising: a receiver configured to receive bitstream parameters corresponding to an encoded audio signal that includes an encoded mid signal; and a decoder configured to: generate a synthesized mid signal based on the bitstream parameters; and generate a synthesized side signal selectively based on the bitstream parameters in response to determining whether the bitstream parameters correspond to an encoded side signal; wherein the decoder is configured to generate the synthesized side signal based on the bitstream parameters and independently of the synthesized mid-signal in response to determining that the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal; and wherein the decoder is configured to generate the synthesized side signal based at least in part on the synthesized mid signal in response to determining that the bitstream parameters do not correspond to the encoded side signal; wherein determining whether the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal comprises: receiving an inter-channel gain parameter at the device; and determining that the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal based on determining that the inter-channel gain parameter satisfies an inter-channel gain threshold. a receiver configured to receive bitstream parameters corresponding to an encoded audio signal that includes an encoded mid signal; and a decoder configured to: generate a synthesized mid signal based on the bitstream parameters; and generate a synthesized side signal selectively based on the bitstream parameters in response to determining whether the bitstream parameters correspond to an encoded side signal; wherein the decoder is configured to generate the synthesized side signal based on the bitstream parameters and independently of the synthesized mid-signal in response to determining that the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal; and wherein the decoder is configured to generate the synthesized side signal based at least in part on the synthesized mid signal in response to determining that the bitstream parameters do not correspond to the encoded side signal; generate a synthesized mid signal based on the bitstream parameters; and generate a synthesized side signal selectively based on the bitstream parameters in response to determining whether the bitstream parameters correspond to an encoded side signal; wherein the decoder is configured to generate the synthesized side signal based on the bitstream parameters and independently of the synthesized mid-signal in response to determining that the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal; and wherein the decoder is configured to generate the synthesized side signal based at least in part on the synthesized mid signal in response to determining that the bitstream parameters do not correspond to the encoded side signal; wherein determining whether the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal comprises: receiving an inter-channel gain parameter at the device; and determining that the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal based on determining that the inter-channel gain parameter satisfies an inter-channel gain threshold. receiving an inter-channel gain parameter at the device; and determining that the bitstream parameters correspond to the encoded side signal based on determining that the inter-channel gain parameter satisfies an inter-channel gain threshold. <EOS>