Dynamic selection of suitable codes for variable length coding and decoding

A data compressor for compressing a data signal comprising:

• (i) compression circuitry for compressing said data signal using a plurality of variable length compression codes;
• (ii) a digital code select signal generator for generating a digital code select signal in response to an indicator signal indicating a preferred compression distribution, said digital code select signal selecting between at least some of said plurality of variable length compression codes, such that an average value of said digital code select signal corresponds to an average value of said indicator signal and a frequency of said digital code select signal is higher than a frequency of said indicator signal;
• (iii) said compression circuitry being responsive to said digital code select signal to select one of said plurality of compression codes in dependence upon a current value of said digital code select signal and to compress said data signal using said selected compression code.