An apparatus and method for encoding quantized frequency represented data, the data comprising zero and non-zero represented data is claimed. For zero represented data, a zero run length is determined. A Golomb parameter is determined as a function of the zero run length. A quotient is encoded as a function of the zero run length and the Golomb parameter. A remainder is encoded as a function of the zero run length, the Golomb parameter and the quotient. The coded quotient and the coded remainder are concatenated. For non-zero represented data, the nonzero data is encoded as a function of the non-zero data value and the sign of the non-zero data value.