In one embodiment, an apparatus for decoding is disclosed. The apparatus includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to obtain one or more parameters corresponding to a system, determine a plurality of settings corresponding to an adaptive soft decoding procedure for decoding a product code, wherein the plurality of settings are determined based on the one or more parameters using a trellis, and determine a decoded codeword by performing the adaptive soft decoding procedure on the received codeword, wherein the adaptive soft decoder utilizes the determined plurality of settings.