Patent ID: 8224660

Claim:
A method for encoding a source audio signal, wherein the method comprises the following steps: encoding a quantization interval profile of coefficients representative of at least one transform of said source audio signal, according to at least two distinct encoding techniques, generating at least two sets of data representative of the quantization interval profile; selecting one of the sets of data as a function of a selection criterion that makes a compromise between: (a) a perceived distortion between said source audio signal to be encoded and signals reconstructed respectively on the basis of said sets of data; and (b) a bit rate necessary to encode said sets of data, said step of selecting being implemented by comparing a reference masking curve, which is estimated on the basis of the audio signal to be encoded, with said sets of data; and transmitting and/or storing said set of data selected by the step of selecting and an indicator representative of the encoding technique corresponding to the selected set of data.