In one embodiment, the method includes receiving an audio signal having configuration information and multi-channels, and reading an indicator from the configuration information. The indicator indicates whether or not channel mapping information is included in the configuration information. The method further includes reading the channel mapping information from the configuration information if the indicator indicates that the channel mapping information is included in the configuration information. The channel mapping information indicates to which speaker in a reproduction device to map each channel in the audio signal. Channel rearrangement information is read from the configuration information. The channel rearrangement information indicates the rearrangement of the multi-channels. The multi-channels are decoded based on the channel mapping information and channel rearrangement information.