Converting M channels of digital audio data packets into N channels of digital audio data

In a computer system operable for connecting to a communications channel, a method of encapsulating an audio stream of M channels of data into an aggregated data stream to be transmitted on the communications channel comprising:

• determining, at the computer system, a packet size for the communications channel for transmission of the packet size originated from the computer system over the communications channel;
• storing, on a storage device, at least one packet containing information about the aggregated data stream to form a header section including a channel mask in a data structure that defines the aggregated data stream;
• storing, on the storage device, packets containing samples of data from the multiple data streams to form a data section in the data structure;
• designating a portion of the header for holding conversion data;
• and
• storing, on the storage device, the conversion data in the designated portion of the header, wherein the conversion data defines at least two different continuously varying functions specified in a separate stream of the audio data for converting the M channels of data of the audio stream into N channels of data for use by a destination computer and for converting the M channels of data of the audio stream into P channels of data for use by the destination computer, and further wherein the aggregated data stream is stored on the storage device prior to receiving a request for transmission of the aggregated data stream of the determined packet size on the communications channel from the destination computer.