An apparatus and method for generating multiple descriptions of compressed data are comprised. Generally, a quantized bit stream is generated using a reference quantization step. The quantization bet stream is then re-quantized using a first quantization step to generate a first description of compressed data, wherein the first quantization step is determined based on a first required scaling of the reference quantization step. The quantized bit stream may also be re-quantized using a second quantization step to generate a second description of compressed data, wherein the second quantization step is determined on a second required scaling of the reference quantization step.