Abstract: Source-coded information from a multi-mode source encoder is channel coded for transmission in a communication system. A multi-mode channel encoder associates a different channel coding error protection profile with each of the modes of the multi-mode source encoder. The channel encoder determines a mode used by the multi-mode source encoder to source code a given frame or other designated portion of the information, and channel codes the source-coded portion of the information utilizing an error protection profile identified at least in part based on the determined mode. A multi-mode channel decoder is operative to hypothesize that a particular one of the modes of the multi-mode source encoder was used to source code the designated portion of the information.