The apparatus for encoding a multi-channel signal having at least two channels, includes: a parameter determiner for determining a broadband alignment parameter and a plurality of narrowband alignment parameters from the multichannel signal; a signal aligner for aligning the at least two channels using the broadband alignment parameter and the plurality of narrowband alignment parameters to obtain aligned channels; a signal processor for calculating a mid-signal and a side signal using the aligned channels; a signal encoder for encoding the mid-signal to obtain an encoded mid-signal and for encoding the side signal to obtain an encoded side signal; and an output interface for generating an encoded multi-channel signal including the encoded mid-signal, the encoded side signal, information on the broadband alignment parameter and information on the plurality of narrowband alignment parameters.