Patent ID: 7668722

Claim:
A multi-channel synthesizer for generating at least three audio output channels using an input audio signal having at least one base channel, the input audio signal further including at least two different up-mixing parameters, and an up-mixer mode indication indicating, in a first state that a first up-mixing rule is to be performed, and, indicating, in a second state, that a different second up-mixing rule is to be performed, comprising: an up-mixer for up-mixing the at least one base channel using the at least two different up-mixing parameters based on the first or the second up-mixing rule in response to the up-mixer mode indication so that the at least three audio output channels are obtained, wherein the number of base channels is N, N being greater than or equal to 1, and wherein the number of audio output channels is M, M being greater than N and M being at least three.