The presently claimed invention relates generally to steganographic encoding and digital watermarking. One claim recites a method including identifying at least one change to a digital signal that will be affected by a filter; and encoding at least one digital watermark so the digital watermark survives the changes introduced by the filter. The “digital signal” may represent audio or video. Another claim recites a system including a processor and an encoder. The processor identifies an area or portion of a digital signal that will be affected by a digital filter. The encoder encodes the at least one digital watermark in the digital signal, the encoder encoding the at least one digital watermark so as to avoid the at least one area or portion of the digital signal that is identified by said processor. Of course, other combinations are provided and claimed as well.