Rate-distortion optimized quantization in multistage audio coding

In this work, we develop a new method for quantization in multistage audio coding. Given a (perceptual) distortion measure and a bit-rate constraint, we analytically derive the optimal rate distribution between subcoders (stages) and the corresponding optimal quantizers using high-rate theory. The analytical solutions for optimal quantizers allow a coder to easily adapt to changes in bit-rate requirements. As an illustration of the new method, we consider quantization in a two-stage sinusoidal/waveform coder that is a widely used combination in audio coding. We show that at low total rates most of the rate should be assigned to the sinusoidal (model-based, subspace) subcoder, while at high total rates most of the rate should be assigned to the waveform (full-space) subcoder. We compare the new method to a reference quantization method that does not use rate-distortion optimization. A significantly higher performance of the new method is shown by means of a listening test.