Audio encoding device and audio encoding method

An audio encoding method comprising:

• calculating, by a computer processor, first phases indicating phases of a first channel signal and a second channel signal included in audio signals of a plurality of channels;
• and
• performing, on the basis of the first phases, either first predictive coding in which a third channel signal included in the audio signals of the plurality of channels is predicted using the first channel signal and the second channel signal or second predictive coding in which the second channel signal is predicted using the first channel signal.

A computer-readable storage medium storing an audio encoding computer program that causes a computer to execute a process comprising:

• calculating first phases indicating phases of a first channel signal and a second channel signal included in audio signals of a plurality of channels;
• and
• performing, on the basis of the first phases, either first predictive coding in which a third channel signal included in the audio signals of the plurality of channels is predicted using the first channel signal and the second channel signal or second predictive coding in which the second channel signal is predicted using the first channel signal.