A method includes receiving input blocks each having multiple bits to be transmitted. The method also includes applying a first encoding scheme to a first subset of the bits in the input blocks to generate first encoded bits and applying a second encoding scheme to a second subset of the bits in the input blocks to generate second encoded bits. The second encoding scheme has lower overhead than the first encoding scheme. The method further includes generating symbols using the first and second encoded bits. The first encoded bits include two or more first bits per symbol of each output block, and the second encoded bits include one or more second bits per symbol of each output block.