Patent ID: 8346564

Claim:
A multi-channel audio encoder for encoding N audio signals into M audio signals and associated parametric data, M and N being integers, N>M, M≧1, wherein the multi-channel audio encoder comprises: a first unit for encoding the N audio signals into the M audio signals and first associated parametric data, wherein the M audio signals and the first associated parametric data represent the N audio signals; and a second unit coupled to the first unit, the second unit being arranged for generating, from the M audio signals, second associated parametric data representing the M audio signals, the second associated parametric data comprising modification parameters enabling a reconstruction of the M audio signals from K further audio signals being an alternative downmix of the N audio signals than the M audio signals, and wherein the associated parametric data comprise the first and second associated parametric data, wherein K is equal to M and greater than 1, wherein the second unit is arranged for generating, from the M audio signals and from the K further audio signals, the second associated parametric data such that the modification parameters represent a difference between the M audio signals and the K further audio signals; wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises a hardware implementation.