The present invention is directed to an improved synthesis of clasto-lactacystin-\u03b2-lactone, and analogs thereof, that proceeds in fewer steps and in much greater overall yield than syntheses described in the prior art. The process generates an intermediate signal that is a function of the plural-bit auxiliary data, and data related to human perception attributes of the content signal. Any air mixer known to those skilled in the art can be used with the heating tube.