A method and system are provided for generating one or more mix coefficients for downmixing a multichannel input signal having a plurality of input channels, to an output signal having a plurality of output channels. Mix coefficients may be generated responsive to a comparison of energy between the downmixed (output) signal and the input signal to the downmixer, such that energy and intended direction of the input signal are substantially preserved in the output signal. Further, or in the alternative, the mix coefficient generation may preserve an intended direction of an input signal, for example, received at a surround input channel, in at least one output channel of the output signal. The mix coefficient values may be generated in a test downmixer environment. Additionally, one or more mix coefficients may be generated by retrieving predetermined mix coefficient values. Additionally, or in the alternative, one or more mix coefficients may be generated responsive to an input energy of a plurality of the input channels.