Audio coding method and apparatus

An apparatus for encoding an audio signal, the apparatus being configured to perform operations comprising:

• encoding spectral peak segments in a first region of a frequency spectrum of the audio signal using a first coding method;
• responsive to encoding the spectral peak segments in the first region, determining whether an available number of bits out of a total number of bits for encoding the audio signal is sufficient for encoding a band in a second region of the frequency spectrum of the audio signal using a second coding method different from the first coding method;
• determining a first relation between an energy of the band in the second region and energies of spectral peaks in the first region;
• determining a second relation between the energy of the band in the second region and an average energy of the second region;
• and
• responsive to determining the available number of bits is sufficient for encoding the band in the second region and determining the first and second relations fulfil a predetermined criterion, encoding the band in the second region using the second coding method.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

• encoding spectral peak segments in a first region of a frequency spectrum of an audio signal using a first coding method;
• responsive to encoding the spectral peak segments in the first region, determining whether an available number of bits out of a total number of bits for encoding the audio signal is sufficient for encoding a band in a second region of the frequency spectrum of the audio signal using a second coding method different from the first coding method;
• determining a first relation between an energy of the band in the second region and energies of spectral peaks in the first region;
• determining a second relation between the energy of the band in the second region and an average energy of the second region;
• and
• responsive to determining the available number of bits is sufficient for encoding the band in the second region and determining the first and second relations fulfil a predetermined criterion, encoding the band in the second region using the second coding method.