Apparatus and method for generating sound field description using one or more component generators

An apparatus for generating a sound field description using an input signal including a mono signal or a multi-channel signal, comprising: an input signal analyzer for analyzing the input signal to derive directional data and diffusivity data; a low-order component generator to generate a low-order sound field description having one or more components up to a predetermined order and a predetermined modulus from the input signal using a low-order component generator processing procedure; a mid-order component generator to generate a mid-order sound field description using a mid-order component generator process, the mid-order sound field description having one or more components above or at a predetermined order, and above a predetermined modulus, and below or at a high order; and a high-order component generator for generating a high-order sound field description using a high-order component generator processing procedure, the high-order sound field description having sound field components above a high order