Systems and methods for multimedia encoding and decoding are disclosed. The systems and methods include multimedia format detection systems, decoder functionality generation systems, decoder instantiation systems, and multimedia processing engines which are capable of selecting a decoder or playback mechanism for each input encoded multimedia stream. The functionality of the decoder or playback mechanism is represented as syntax elements which may be further encoded. The functionality for decoding or playback is then stored or transmitted with the multimedia bitstream. Alternatively, the functionality and multimedia bitstream can be embedded in or associated with a second digital bitstream. Further, the functionality associated with an encoded multimedia stream can be used to instantiate a decoder or playback mechanism and the encoded multimedia stream decoded with the instantiated decoder or mechanism.