Techniques for synthesizing a parameterized haptic track from a multichannel audio signal and embedding the haptic track in a multichannel audio codec bit stream. The haptic track synthesis can occur while encoding the multichannel audio signal as the multichannel audio codec bit stream. The haptic track can be synthesized in a way that allows select parameters of the haptic track to be extracted from the audio signal. The parameters can be adjusted by a user during the encoding process. For example, the parameter adjustments can be made using a authoring/monitoring tool. The parameter adjustments can be recorded as metadata that, along with the haptic track, is included in the codec bit stream. In some aspects the present technology, the adjustable parameters include center frequency, gain, decay rate, and other parameters that allow for modulation of the haptic track during decoding of the codec bit stream. By synthesizing a parameterized haptic track, A/V content creators can be provided greater control in authoring haptic content to accompany the A/V content they create.