STEREO CODING USING EITHER A PREDICTION MODE OR A NON-PREDICTION MODE

摘要

The invention relates to a method and system for encoding a stereo audio signal having a left channel (L) and a right channel (R), and a corresponding decoding method and system. The method of encoding comprises estimating a prediction coefficient (α) from the left channel and the right channel, downmixing the left and right channel to produce a mid signal (M) and a residual signal (D) using the prediction coefficient, and multiplexing the mid signal, the residual signal, and the prediction coefficient to generate an audio bitstream. The encoding operates in either a prediction mode or a non-prediction mode for a time frame, and the method comprises outputting an indication of whether the encoding operated in the prediction mode or the non-prediction mode, wherein said indication is provided as a value of the prediction coefficient.