an apparatus for recording a multichannel program includes an audio converter adapted to convert said multichannel program at least partially into a modified program requiring less channels than said multichannel program . the audio converter including control elements used to modify the conversion process used to generate said modified program . a coefficient generator coupled to said converter to generate a coefficient indicative of the operation of said controls . a mixer is arranged to mix the coefficient with program data . a recorder is arranged to record the mixed data on a medium , whereby the medium can be played either using a multichannel player device or a reduced channel player device by using said coefficient .