Coding/decoding of digital audio signals

A method of decoding an audio signal in several sub-bands, in which at least one first and one second sub-bands which are adjacent are transform decoded, wherein, in order to apply a perceptual weighting, in the transformed domain, at least to the second sub-band, the method comprises:

• a determination of at least one frequency masking threshold to apply on the second sub-band, on the basis of a decoded spectral envelope, the same threshold not being applied on the first sub-band, and
• a normalization of said masking threshold in order to ensure a spectral continuity between said first and second sub-bands,
• to produce a decoded audio signal.

A coder for coding a signal in several sub-bands, at least one first and one second sub-bands which are adjacent being transform coded, wherein, in order to apply a perceptual weighting, in the transformed domain, at least to the second sub-band, the coder comprises means for:

• determining at least one frequency masking threshold to be applied on the second sub-band, the same threshold not being applied on the first sub-band, and
• normalizing said masking threshold in order to ensure a spectral continuity between said first and second sub-bands.

A decoder for decoding a signal in several sub-bands, at least one first and one second sub-bands which are adjacent being transform decoded, wherein, in order to apply a perceptual weighting, in the transformed domain, at least to the second sub-band, the decoder comprises means for:

• determining at least one frequency masking threshold to apply on the second sub-band, on the basis of a decoded spectral envelope, the same threshold not being applied on the first sub-band, and
• normalizing said masking threshold in order to ensure a spectral continuity between said first and second sub-bands.