An encoder apparatus is provided that suppresses the quality degradation of encoding processes. An ultimate selection candidate limiting unit uses the spectrum of an input signal and a residual spectrum to designate a given number of pre-selected suppression factors to a CELP component suppressing unit, which uses the designated suppression factors to generate a suppressed spectrum. A CELP residual signal spectrum calculating unit, to which the suppressed spectrum is input, calculates a residual spectrum. A conversion encoding unit uses the residual spectrum to perform a second encoding process. A distortion evaluating unit determines one of the designated suppression factors by use of the spectrum of a second decoded signal generated by decoding a second code obtained by the second encoding process, and further by use of the suppressed spectrum and the spectrum of the input signal.