Scalable coding of audio into a core layer in response to a desired noise spectrum established according to psychoacoustic principles supports coding augmentation data into augmentation layers in response to various criteria including offset of such desired noise spectrum. Compatible decoding provide s a plurality of decoded resolutions from a single signal. Coding is preferabl y performed on subband signals generated according to spectral transform, quadrature mirror filtering, or other conventional processing of audio input . A scalable data structure for audio transmission includes core and augmentation layers, the former for carrying a first coding of an audio sign al that places post decode noise beneath a desired noise spectrum, the latter f or carrying offset data regarding the desired noise spectrum and data about coding of the audio signal that places post decode noise beneath the desired noise spectrum shifted by the offset data.
SCALABLE CODING METHOD FOR HIGH QUALITY AUDIO