diff --git a/libavutil/channel_layout.c b/libavutil/channel_layout.c
index 3bd5ee29b7..a52f78bb9f 100644
--- a/libavutil/channel_layout.c
+++ b/libavutil/channel_layout.c
@@ -37,75 +37,89 @@ struct channel_name {
 };
 
 static const struct channel_name channel_names[] = {
-     [0] = { "FL",        "front left"            },
-     [1] = { "FR",        "front right"           },
-     [2] = { "FC",        "front center"          },
-     [3] = { "LFE",       "low frequency"         },
-     [4] = { "BL",        "back left"             },
-     [5] = { "BR",        "back right"            },
-     [6] = { "FLC",       "front left-of-center"  },
-     [7] = { "FRC",       "front right-of-center" },
-     [8] = { "BC",        "back center"           },
-     [9] = { "SL",        "side left"             },
-    [10] = { "SR",        "side right"            },
-    [11] = { "TC",        "top center"            },
-    [12] = { "TFL",       "top front left"        },
-    [13] = { "TFC",       "top front center"      },
-    [14] = { "TFR",       "top front right"       },
-    [15] = { "TBL",       "top back left"         },
-    [16] = { "TBC",       "top back center"       },
-    [17] = { "TBR",       "top back right"        },
-    [29] = { "DL",        "downmix left"          },
-    [30] = { "DR",        "downmix right"         },
-    [31] = { "WL",        "wide left"             },
-    [32] = { "WR",        "wide right"            },
-    [33] = { "SDL",       "surround direct left"  },
-    [34] = { "SDR",       "surround direct right" },
-    [35] = { "LFE2",      "low frequency 2"       },
+    [AV_CHAN_FRONT_LEFT              ] = { "FL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_FRONT_RIGHT             ] = { "FR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_FRONT_CENTER            ] = { "FC" },
+    [AV_CHAN_LOW_FREQUENCY           ] = { "LFE" },
+    [AV_CHAN_BACK_LEFT               ] = { "BL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_BACK_RIGHT              ] = { "BR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_FRONT_LEFT_OF_CENTER    ] = { "FLC" },
+    [AV_CHAN_FRONT_RIGHT_OF_CENTER   ] = { "FRC" },
+    [AV_CHAN_BACK_CENTER             ] = { "BC" },
+    [AV_CHAN_SIDE_LEFT               ] = { "SL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_SIDE_RIGHT              ] = { "SR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_TOP_CENTER              ] = { "TC" },
+    [AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_LEFT          ] = { "TFL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_CENTER        ] = { "TFC" },
+    [AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_RIGHT         ] = { "TFR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_LEFT           ] = { "TBL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_CENTER         ] = { "TBC" },
+    [AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_RIGHT          ] = { "TBR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_STEREO_LEFT             ] = { "DL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_STEREO_RIGHT            ] = { "DR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_WIDE_LEFT               ] = { "WL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_WIDE_RIGHT              ] = { "WR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_SURROUND_DIRECT_LEFT    ] = { "SDL" },
+    [AV_CHAN_SURROUND_DIRECT_RIGHT   ] = { "SDR" },
+    [AV_CHAN_LOW_FREQUENCY_2         ] = { "LFE2" },
+    [AV_CHAN_SILENCE                 ] = { "PAD" },
 };
 
-static const char *get_channel_name(int channel_id)
+const char *av_channel_name(enum AVChannel channel_id)
 {
     if (channel_id < 0 || channel_id >= FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_names))
         return NULL;
+    if ((unsigned) channel_id >= FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_names))
+        return "?";
     return channel_names[channel_id].name;
 }
 
+int av_channel_from_string(const char *str)
+{
+    for (int i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_names); i++) {
+        if (channel_names[i].name && !strcmp(str, channel_names[i].name)) {
+            return i;
+        }
+    }
+    return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+}
+
 static const struct {
     const char *name;
-    int         nb_channels;
-    uint64_t     layout;
+    AVChannelLayout layout;
 } channel_layout_map[] = {
-    { "mono",        1,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_MONO },
-    { "stereo",      2,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO },
-    { "2.1",         3,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_2POINT1 },
-    { "3.0",         3,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_SURROUND },
-    { "3.0(back)",   3,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_2_1 },
-    { "4.0",         4,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_4POINT0 },
-    { "quad",        4,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_QUAD },
-    { "quad(side)",  4,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_2_2 },
-    { "3.1",         4,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_3POINT1 },
-    { "5.0",         5,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT0_BACK },
-    { "5.0(side)",   5,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT0 },
-    { "4.1",         5,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_4POINT1 },
-    { "5.1",         6,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT1_BACK },
-    { "5.1(side)",   6,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT1 },
-    { "6.0",         6,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT0 },
-    { "6.0(front)",  6,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT0_FRONT },
-    { "hexagonal",   6,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_HEXAGONAL },
-    { "6.1",         7,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT1 },
-    { "6.1(back)",   7,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT1_BACK },
-    { "6.1(front)",  7,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT1_FRONT },
-    { "7.0",         7,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT0 },
-    { "7.0(front)",  7,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT0_FRONT },
-    { "7.1",         8,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT1 },
-    { "7.1(wide)",   8,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE_BACK },
-    { "7.1(wide-side)",   8,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE },
-    { "octagonal",   8,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_OCTAGONAL },
-    { "hexadecagonal", 16, AV_CH_LAYOUT_HEXADECAGONAL },
-    { "downmix",     2,  AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO_DOWNMIX, },
+    { "mono",           AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_MONO                },
+    { "stereo",         AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_STEREO              },
+    { "2.1",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_2POINT1             },
+    { "3.0",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_SURROUND            },
+    { "3.0(back)",      AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_2_1                 },
+    { "4.0",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_4POINT0             },
+    { "quad",           AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_QUAD                },
+    { "quad(side)",     AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_2_2                 },
+    { "3.1",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_3POINT1             },
+    { "5.0",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT0_BACK        },
+    { "5.0(side)",      AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT0             },
+    { "4.1",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_4POINT1             },
+    { "5.1",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT1_BACK        },
+    { "5.1(side)",      AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT1             },
+    { "6.0",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT0             },
+    { "6.0(front)",     AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT0_FRONT       },
+    { "hexagonal",      AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_HEXAGONAL           },
+    { "6.1",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT1             },
+    { "6.1(back)",      AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT1_BACK        },
+    { "6.1(front)",     AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT1_FRONT       },
+    { "7.0",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT0             },
+    { "7.0(front)",     AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT0_FRONT       },
+    { "7.1",            AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT1             },
+    { "7.1(wide)",      AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE        },
+    { "7.1(wide-back)", AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE_BACK   },
+    { "octagonal",      AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_OCTAGONAL           },
+    { "hexadecagonal",  AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_HEXADECAGONAL       },
+    { "downmix",        AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_STEREO_DOWNMIX,     },
 };
 
+#if FF_API_OLD_CHANNEL_LAYOUT
+FF_DISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS
 static uint64_t get_channel_layout_single(const char *name, int name_len)
 {
     int i;
@@ -115,7 +129,7 @@ static uint64_t get_channel_layout_single(const char *name, int name_len)
     for (i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_layout_map); i++) {
         if (strlen(channel_layout_map[i].name) == name_len &&
             !memcmp(channel_layout_map[i].name, name, name_len))
-            return channel_layout_map[i].layout;
+            return channel_layout_map[i].layout.u.mask;
     }
     for (i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_names); i++)
         if (channel_names[i].name &&
@@ -183,8 +197,8 @@ void av_bprint_channel_layout(struct AVBPrint *bp,
         nb_channels = av_get_channel_layout_nb_channels(channel_layout);
 
     for (i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_layout_map); i++)
-        if (nb_channels    == channel_layout_map[i].nb_channels &&
-            channel_layout == channel_layout_map[i].layout) {
+        if (nb_channels    == channel_layout_map[i].layout.nb_channels &&
+            channel_layout == channel_layout_map[i].layout.u.mask) {
             av_bprintf(bp, "%s", channel_layout_map[i].name);
             return;
         }
@@ -195,7 +209,7 @@ void av_bprint_channel_layout(struct AVBPrint *bp,
         av_bprintf(bp, " (");
         for (i = 0, ch = 0; i < 64; i++) {
             if ((channel_layout & (UINT64_C(1) << i))) {
-                const char *name = get_channel_name(i);
+                const char *name = av_channel_name(i);
                 if (name) {
                     if (ch > 0)
                         av_bprintf(bp, "+");
@@ -225,8 +239,8 @@ int av_get_channel_layout_nb_channels(uint64_t channel_layout)
 int64_t av_get_default_channel_layout(int nb_channels) {
     int i;
     for (i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_layout_map); i++)
-        if (nb_channels == channel_layout_map[i].nb_channels)
-            return channel_layout_map[i].layout;
+        if (nb_channels == channel_layout_map[i].layout.nb_channels)
+            return channel_layout_map[i].layout.u.mask;
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -247,7 +261,7 @@ const char *av_get_channel_name(uint64_t channel)
         return NULL;
     for (i = 0; i < 64; i++)
         if ((1ULL<<i) & channel)
-            return get_channel_name(i);
+            return av_channel_name(i);
     return NULL;
 }
 
@@ -281,7 +295,252 @@ int av_get_standard_channel_layout(unsigned index, uint64_t *layout,
 {
     if (index >= FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_layout_map))
         return AVERROR_EOF;
-    if (layout) *layout = channel_layout_map[index].layout;
+    if (layout) *layout = channel_layout_map[index].layout.u.mask;
     if (name)   *name   = channel_layout_map[index].name;
     return 0;
 }
+
+FF_ENABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS
+#endif
+
+void av_channel_layout_from_mask(AVChannelLayout *channel_layout,
+                                 uint64_t mask)
+{
+    channel_layout->order       = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE;
+    channel_layout->nb_channels = av_popcount64(mask);
+    channel_layout->u.mask      = mask;
+}
+
+int av_channel_layout_from_string(AVChannelLayout *channel_layout,
+                                  const char *str)
+{
+    int i, channels;
+    const char *dup = str;
+    uint64_t mask = 0;
+
+    /* channel layout names */
+    for (i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_layout_map); i++) {
+        if (channel_layout_map[i].name && !strcmp(str, channel_layout_map[i].name)) {
+            *channel_layout = channel_layout_map[i].layout;
+            return 0;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /* channel names */
+    while (*dup) {
+        char *chname = av_get_token(&dup, "|");
+        if (!chname)
+            return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+        if (*dup)
+            dup++; // skip separator
+        for (i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(channel_names); i++) {
+            if (channel_names[i].name && !strcmp(chname, channel_names[i].name)) {
+                mask |= 1ULL << i;
+            }
+        }
+        av_free(chname);
+    }
+    if (mask) {
+        av_channel_layout_from_mask(channel_layout, mask);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    /* channel layout mask */
+    if (!strncmp(str, "0x", 2) && sscanf(str, "%"PRIx64, &mask) == 1) {
+        av_channel_layout_from_mask(channel_layout, mask);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    /* number of channels */
+    if (sscanf(str, "%d", &channels) == 1) {
+        av_channel_layout_default(channel_layout, channels);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    /* number of unordered channels */
+    if (sscanf(str, "%d channels", &channel_layout->nb_channels) == 1) {
+        channel_layout->order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC;
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
+}
+
+void av_channel_layout_uninit(AVChannelLayout *channel_layout)
+{
+    if (channel_layout->order == AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM)
+        av_freep(&channel_layout->u.map);
+    memset(channel_layout, 0, sizeof(*channel_layout));
+}
+
+int av_channel_layout_copy(AVChannelLayout *dst, const AVChannelLayout *src)
+{
+    av_channel_layout_uninit(dst);
+    *dst = *src;
+    if (src->order == AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM) {
+        dst->u.map = av_malloc(src->nb_channels * sizeof(*dst->u.map));
+        if (!dst->u.map)
+            return AVERROR(ENOMEM);
+        memcpy(dst->u.map, src->u.map, src->nb_channels * sizeof(*src->u.map));
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+char *av_channel_layout_describe(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    switch (channel_layout->order) {
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE:
+        for (i = 0; channel_layout_map[i].name; i++)
+            if (channel_layout->u.mask == channel_layout_map[i].layout.u.mask)
+                return av_strdup(channel_layout_map[i].name);
+        // fall-through
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM: {
+        // max 4 bytes for channel name + a separator
+        int size = 5 * channel_layout->nb_channels + 1;
+        char *ret;
+
+        ret = av_mallocz(size);
+        if (!ret)
+            return NULL;
+
+        for (i = 0; i < channel_layout->nb_channels; i++) {
+            enum AVChannel ch = av_channel_layout_get_channel(channel_layout, i);
+            const char *ch_name = av_channel_name(ch);
+
+            if (i)
+                av_strlcat(ret, "|", size);
+            av_strlcat(ret, ch_name, size);
+        }
+        return ret;
+        }
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC: {
+        char buf[64];
+        snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "%d channels", channel_layout->nb_channels);
+        return av_strdup(buf);
+        }
+    default:
+        return NULL;
+    }
+}
+
+int av_channel_layout_get_channel(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout, int idx)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    if (idx < 0 || idx >= channel_layout->nb_channels)
+        return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+
+    switch (channel_layout->order) {
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM:
+        return channel_layout->u.map[idx];
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE:
+        for (i = 0; i < 64; i++) {
+            if ((1ULL << i) & channel_layout->u.mask && !idx--)
+                return i;
+        }
+    default:
+        return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+    }
+}
+
+int av_channel_layout_channel_index(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout,
+                                    enum AVChannel channel)
+{
+    int i;
+
+    switch (channel_layout->order) {
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM:
+        for (i = 0; i < channel_layout->nb_channels; i++)
+            if (channel_layout->u.map[i] == channel)
+                return i;
+        return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE: {
+        uint64_t mask = channel_layout->u.mask;
+        if (!(mask & (1ULL << channel)))
+            return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+        mask &= (1ULL << channel) - 1;
+        return av_popcount64(mask);
+        }
+    default:
+        return AVERROR(EINVAL);
+    }
+}
+
+int av_channel_layout_check(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout)
+{
+    if (!channel_layout || channel_layout->nb_channels <= 0)
+        return 0;
+
+    switch (channel_layout->order) {
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE:
+        return av_popcount64(channel_layout->u.mask) == channel_layout->nb_channels;
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM:
+        return !!channel_layout->u.map;
+    case AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC:
+        return 1;
+    default:
+        return 0;
+    }
+}
+
+int av_channel_layout_compare(const AVChannelLayout *chl, const AVChannelLayout *chl1)
+{
+    /* different channel counts -> not equal */
+    if (chl->nb_channels != chl1->nb_channels)
+        return 1;
+
+    /* if only one is unspecified -> not equal */
+    if ((chl->order  == AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC) !=
+        (chl1->order == AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC))
+        return 1;
+    /* both are unspecified -> equal */
+    else if (chl->order == AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC)
+        return 0;
+
+    /* can compare masks directly */
+    if (chl->order != AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM &&
+        chl->order == chl1->order)
+        return chl->u.mask != chl1->u.mask;
+
+    /* compare channel by channel */
+    for (int i = 0; i < chl->nb_channels; i++)
+        if (av_channel_layout_get_channel(chl,  i) !=
+            av_channel_layout_get_channel(chl1, i))
+            return 1;
+    return 0;
+}
+
+void av_channel_layout_default(AVChannelLayout *ch_layout, int nb_channels)
+{
+    switch (nb_channels) {
+    case 1: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_MONO;     break;
+    case 2: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_STEREO;   break;
+    case 3: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_SURROUND; break;
+    case 4: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_QUAD;     break;
+    case 5: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT0;  break;
+    case 6: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT1;  break;
+    case 7: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT1;  break;
+    case 8: *ch_layout = (AVChannelLayout)AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT1;  break;
+    default:
+        ch_layout->order       = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC;
+        ch_layout->nb_channels = nb_channels;
+    }
+}
+
+uint64_t av_channel_layout_subset(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout,
+                                  uint64_t mask)
+{
+    uint64_t ret = 0;
+    int i;
+
+    if (channel_layout->order == AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE)
+        return channel_layout->u.mask & mask;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < 64; i++)
+        if (mask & (1ULL << i) && av_channel_layout_channel_index(channel_layout, i) >= 0)
+            ret |= (1ULL << i);
+
+    return ret;
+}
diff --git a/libavutil/channel_layout.h b/libavutil/channel_layout.h
index 50bb8f03c5..e6c8c58b9c 100644
--- a/libavutil/channel_layout.h
+++ b/libavutil/channel_layout.h
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 
 #include <stdint.h>
 
+#include "version.h"
+#include "attributes.h"
+
 /**
  * @file
  * audio channel layout utility functions
@@ -34,6 +37,60 @@
  * @{
  */
 
+enum AVChannel {
+    AV_CHAN_FRONT_LEFT,
+    AV_CHAN_FRONT_RIGHT,
+    AV_CHAN_FRONT_CENTER,
+    AV_CHAN_LOW_FREQUENCY,
+    AV_CHAN_BACK_LEFT,
+    AV_CHAN_BACK_RIGHT,
+    AV_CHAN_FRONT_LEFT_OF_CENTER,
+    AV_CHAN_FRONT_RIGHT_OF_CENTER,
+    AV_CHAN_BACK_CENTER,
+    AV_CHAN_SIDE_LEFT,
+    AV_CHAN_SIDE_RIGHT,
+    AV_CHAN_TOP_CENTER,
+    AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_LEFT,
+    AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_CENTER,
+    AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_RIGHT,
+    AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_LEFT,
+    AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_CENTER,
+    AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_RIGHT,
+    /** Stereo downmix. */
+    AV_CHAN_STEREO_LEFT = 29,
+    /** See above. */
+    AV_CHAN_STEREO_RIGHT,
+    AV_CHAN_WIDE_LEFT,
+    AV_CHAN_WIDE_RIGHT,
+    AV_CHAN_SURROUND_DIRECT_LEFT,
+    AV_CHAN_SURROUND_DIRECT_RIGHT,
+    AV_CHAN_LOW_FREQUENCY_2,
+
+    /** Channel is empty can be safely skipped. */
+    AV_CHAN_SILENCE = 64,
+};
+
+enum AVChannelOrder {
+    /**
+     * The native channel order, i.e. the channels are in the same order in
+     * which they are defined in the AVChannel enum. This supports up to 63
+     * different channels.
+     */
+    AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE,
+    /**
+     * The channel order does not correspond to any other predefined order and
+     * is stored as an explicit map. For example, this could be used to support
+     * layouts with 64 or more channels, or with channels that could be skipped.
+     */
+    AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM,
+    /**
+     * Only the channel count is specified, without any further information
+     * about the channel order.
+     */
+    AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC,
+};
+
+
 /**
  * @defgroup channel_masks Audio channel masks
  *
@@ -46,36 +103,41 @@
  *
  * @{
  */
-#define AV_CH_FRONT_LEFT             0x00000001
-#define AV_CH_FRONT_RIGHT            0x00000002
-#define AV_CH_FRONT_CENTER           0x00000004
-#define AV_CH_LOW_FREQUENCY          0x00000008
-#define AV_CH_BACK_LEFT              0x00000010
-#define AV_CH_BACK_RIGHT             0x00000020
-#define AV_CH_FRONT_LEFT_OF_CENTER   0x00000040
-#define AV_CH_FRONT_RIGHT_OF_CENTER  0x00000080
-#define AV_CH_BACK_CENTER            0x00000100
-#define AV_CH_SIDE_LEFT              0x00000200
-#define AV_CH_SIDE_RIGHT             0x00000400
-#define AV_CH_TOP_CENTER             0x00000800
-#define AV_CH_TOP_FRONT_LEFT         0x00001000
-#define AV_CH_TOP_FRONT_CENTER       0x00002000
-#define AV_CH_TOP_FRONT_RIGHT        0x00004000
-#define AV_CH_TOP_BACK_LEFT          0x00008000
-#define AV_CH_TOP_BACK_CENTER        0x00010000
-#define AV_CH_TOP_BACK_RIGHT         0x00020000
-#define AV_CH_STEREO_LEFT            0x20000000  ///< Stereo downmix.
-#define AV_CH_STEREO_RIGHT           0x40000000  ///< See AV_CH_STEREO_LEFT.
-#define AV_CH_WIDE_LEFT              0x0000000080000000ULL
-#define AV_CH_WIDE_RIGHT             0x0000000100000000ULL
-#define AV_CH_SURROUND_DIRECT_LEFT   0x0000000200000000ULL
-#define AV_CH_SURROUND_DIRECT_RIGHT  0x0000000400000000ULL
-#define AV_CH_LOW_FREQUENCY_2        0x0000000800000000ULL
+#define AV_CH_FRONT_LEFT             (1ULL << AV_CHAN_FRONT_LEFT           )
+#define AV_CH_FRONT_RIGHT            (1ULL << AV_CHAN_FRONT_RIGHT          )
+#define AV_CH_FRONT_CENTER           (1ULL << AV_CHAN_FRONT_CENTER         )
+#define AV_CH_LOW_FREQUENCY          (1ULL << AV_CHAN_LOW_FREQUENCY        )
+#define AV_CH_BACK_LEFT              (1ULL << AV_CHAN_BACK_LEFT            )
+#define AV_CH_BACK_RIGHT             (1ULL << AV_CHAN_BACK_RIGHT           )
+#define AV_CH_FRONT_LEFT_OF_CENTER   (1ULL << AV_CHAN_FRONT_LEFT_OF_CENTER )
+#define AV_CH_FRONT_RIGHT_OF_CENTER  (1ULL << AV_CHAN_FRONT_RIGHT_OF_CENTER)
+#define AV_CH_BACK_CENTER            (1ULL << AV_CHAN_BACK_CENTER          )
+#define AV_CH_SIDE_LEFT              (1ULL << AV_CHAN_SIDE_LEFT            )
+#define AV_CH_SIDE_RIGHT             (1ULL << AV_CHAN_SIDE_RIGHT           )
+#define AV_CH_TOP_CENTER             (1ULL << AV_CHAN_TOP_CENTER           )
+#define AV_CH_TOP_FRONT_LEFT         (1ULL << AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_LEFT       )
+#define AV_CH_TOP_FRONT_CENTER       (1ULL << AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_CENTER     )
+#define AV_CH_TOP_FRONT_RIGHT        (1ULL << AV_CHAN_TOP_FRONT_RIGHT      )
+#define AV_CH_TOP_BACK_LEFT          (1ULL << AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_LEFT        )
+#define AV_CH_TOP_BACK_CENTER        (1ULL << AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_CENTER      )
+#define AV_CH_TOP_BACK_RIGHT         (1ULL << AV_CHAN_TOP_BACK_RIGHT       )
+#define AV_CH_STEREO_LEFT            (1ULL << AV_CHAN_STEREO_LEFT          )
+#define AV_CH_STEREO_RIGHT           (1ULL << AV_CHAN_STEREO_RIGHT         )
+#define AV_CH_WIDE_LEFT              (1ULL << AV_CHAN_WIDE_LEFT            )
+#define AV_CH_WIDE_RIGHT             (1ULL << AV_CHAN_WIDE_RIGHT           )
+#define AV_CH_SURROUND_DIRECT_LEFT   (1ULL << AV_CHAN_SURROUND_DIRECT_LEFT )
+#define AV_CH_SURROUND_DIRECT_RIGHT  (1ULL << AV_CHAN_SURROUND_DIRECT_RIGHT)
+#define AV_CH_LOW_FREQUENCY_2        (1ULL << AV_CHAN_LOW_FREQUENCY_2      )
 
+#if FF_API_OLD_CHANNEL_LAYOUT
 /** Channel mask value used for AVCodecContext.request_channel_layout
     to indicate that the user requests the channel order of the decoder output
-    to be the native codec channel order. */
+    to be the native codec channel order.
+    @deprecated channel order is now indicated in a special field in
+                AVChannelLayout
+    */
 #define AV_CH_LAYOUT_NATIVE          0x8000000000000000ULL
+#endif
 
 /**
  * @}
@@ -122,6 +184,135 @@ enum AVMatrixEncoding {
     AV_MATRIX_ENCODING_NB
 };
 
+/**
+ * An AVChannelLayout holds information about the channel layout of audio data.
+ *
+ * A channel layout here is defined as a set of channels ordered in a specific
+ * way (unless the channel order is AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC, in which case an
+ * AVChannelLayout carries only the channel count).
+ *
+ * Unlike most structures in Libav, sizeof(AVChannelLayout) is a part of the
+ * public ABI and may be used by the caller. E.g. it may be allocated on stack.
+ * In particular, this structure can be initialized as follows:
+ * - default initialization with {0} or by setting all used fields correctly
+ * - with predefined layout as initializer (AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_STEREO, etc.)
+ * - with a constructor function such as av_channel_layout_default()
+ * On that note, this also applies:
+ * - copy via assigning is forbidden, av_channel_layout_copy() must be used
+ *   instead (and its return value should be checked)
+ * - if order is AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM, then it must be uninitialized with
+ *   av_channel_layout_uninit().
+ *
+ * No new fields may be added to it without a major version bump, except for
+ * new elements of the union fitting in sizeof(uint64_t).
+ *
+ * An AVChannelLayout can be constructed using the convenience function
+ * av_channel_layout_from_mask() / av_channel_layout_from_string(), or it can be
+ * built manually by the caller.
+ */
+typedef struct AVChannelLayout {
+    /**
+     * Channel order used in this layout.
+     * This is a mandatory field, will default to AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE.
+     */
+    enum AVChannelOrder order;
+
+    /**
+     * Number of channels in this layout. Mandatory field.
+     */
+    int nb_channels;
+
+    /**
+     * Details about which channels are present in this layout.
+     * For AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC, this field is undefined and must not be
+     * used.
+     */
+    union {
+        /**
+         * This member must be used for AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE.
+         * It is a bitmask, where the position of each set bit means that the
+         * AVChannel with the corresponding value is present.
+         *
+         * I.e. when (mask & (1 << AV_CHAN_FOO)) is non-zero, then AV_CHAN_FOO
+         * is present in the layout. Otherwise it is not present.
+         *
+         * @note when a channel layout using a bitmask is constructed or
+         * modified manually (i.e.  not using any of the av_channel_layout_*
+         * functions), the code doing it must ensure that the number of set bits
+         * is equal to nb_channels.
+         */
+        uint64_t mask;
+        /**
+         * This member must be used when the channel order is
+         * AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM. It is a nb_channels-sized array, with each
+         * element signalling the presend of the AVChannel with the
+         * corresponding value.
+         *
+         * I.e. when map[i] is equal to AV_CHAN_FOO, then AV_CH_FOO is the i-th
+         * channel in the audio data.
+         */
+        enum AVChannel *map;
+    } u;
+} AVChannelLayout;
+
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_MONO \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 1,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_MONO }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_STEREO \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 2,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_2POINT1 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 3,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_2POINT1 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_2_1 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 3,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_2_1 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_SURROUND \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 3,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_SURROUND }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_3POINT1 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 4,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_3POINT1 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_4POINT0 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 4,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_4POINT0 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_4POINT1 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 5,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_4POINT1 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_2_2 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 4,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_2_2 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_QUAD \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 4,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_QUAD }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT0 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 5,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT0 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT1 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 6,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT1 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT0_BACK \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 5,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT0_BACK }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_5POINT1_BACK \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 6,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_5POINT1_BACK }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT0 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 6,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT0 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT0_FRONT \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 6,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT0_FRONT }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_HEXAGONAL \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 6,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_HEXAGONAL }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT1 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 7,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT1 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT1_BACK \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 7,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT1_BACK }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_6POINT1_FRONT \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 7,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_6POINT1_FRONT }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT0 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 7,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT0 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT0_FRONT \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 7,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT0_FRONT }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT1 \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 8,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT1 }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 8,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE_BACK \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 8,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_7POINT1_WIDE_BACK }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_OCTAGONAL \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 8,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_OCTAGONAL }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_HEXADECAGONAL \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 16, .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_HEXAGONAL }}
+#define AV_CHANNEL_LAYOUT_STEREO_DOWNMIX \
+    { .order = AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_NATIVE, .nb_channels = 2,  .u = { .mask = AV_CH_LAYOUT_STEREO_DOWNMIX }}
+
+#if FF_API_OLD_CHANNEL_LAYOUT
 /**
  * Return a channel layout id that matches name, or 0 if no match is found.
  *
@@ -138,7 +329,10 @@ enum AVMatrixEncoding {
  *   AV_CH_* macros).
  *
  * Example: "stereo+FC" = "2c+FC" = "2c+1c" = "0x7"
+ *
+ * @deprecated use av_channel_layout_from_string()
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 uint64_t av_get_channel_layout(const char *name);
 
 /**
@@ -161,7 +355,9 @@ int av_get_extended_channel_layout(const char *name, uint64_t* channel_layout, i
  *
  * @param buf put here the string containing the channel layout
  * @param buf_size size in bytes of the buffer
+ * @deprecated use av_channel_layout_describe()
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 void av_get_channel_layout_string(char *buf, int buf_size, int nb_channels, uint64_t channel_layout);
 
 struct AVBPrint;
@@ -172,12 +368,17 @@ void av_bprint_channel_layout(struct AVBPrint *bp, int nb_channels, uint64_t cha
 
 /**
  * Return the number of channels in the channel layout.
+ * @deprecated use AVChannelLayout.nb_channels
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 int av_get_channel_layout_nb_channels(uint64_t channel_layout);
 
 /**
  * Return default channel layout for a given number of channels.
+ *
+ * @deprecated use av_channel_layout_default()
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 int64_t av_get_default_channel_layout(int nb_channels);
 
 /**
@@ -188,20 +389,28 @@ int64_t av_get_default_channel_layout(int nb_channels);
  *
  * @return index of channel in channel_layout on success, a negative AVERROR
  *         on error.
+ *
+ * @deprecated use av_channel_layout_channel_index()
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 int av_get_channel_layout_channel_index(uint64_t channel_layout,
                                         uint64_t channel);
 
 /**
  * Get the channel with the given index in channel_layout.
+ * @deprecated use av_channel_layout_get_channel()
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 uint64_t av_channel_layout_extract_channel(uint64_t channel_layout, int index);
 
 /**
  * Get the name of a given channel.
  *
  * @return channel name on success, NULL on error.
+ *
+ * @deprecated use av_channel_name()
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 const char *av_get_channel_name(uint64_t channel);
 
 /**
@@ -210,6 +419,7 @@ const char *av_get_channel_name(uint64_t channel);
  * @param channel  a channel layout with a single channel
  * @return  channel description on success, NULL on error
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 const char *av_get_channel_description(uint64_t channel);
 
 /**
@@ -221,9 +431,158 @@ const char *av_get_channel_description(uint64_t channel);
  * @return  0  if the layout exists,
  *          <0 if index is beyond the limits
  */
+attribute_deprecated
 int av_get_standard_channel_layout(unsigned index, uint64_t *layout,
                                    const char **name);
 
+#endif
+
+/**
+ * This is the inverse function of @ref av_channel_from_string().
+ *
+ * @return a string describing a given channel, "?" if not found.
+ */
+const char *av_channel_name(enum AVChannel channel);
+
+/**
+ * This is the inverse function of @ref av_channel_name().
+ *
+ * @return a channel described by the given string, or a negative AVERROR value.
+ */
+int av_channel_from_string(const char *name);
+
+/**
+ * Initialize a native channel layout from a bitmask indicating which channels
+ * are present.
+ *
+ * @note channel_layout should be properly allocated as described above.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout the layout structure to be initialized
+ * @param mask bitmask describing the channel layout
+ */
+void av_channel_layout_from_mask(AVChannelLayout *channel_layout, uint64_t mask);
+
+/**
+ * Initialize a channel layout from a given string description.
+ * The input string can be represented by:
+ *  - the formal channel layout name (returned by av_channel_layout_describe())
+ *  - single or multiple channel names (returned by av_channel_name()
+ *    or concatenated with "|")
+ *  - a hexadecimal value of a channel layout (eg. "0x4")
+ *  - the number of channels with default layout (eg. "5")
+ *  - the number of unordered channels (eg. "4 channels")
+ *
+ * @note channel_layout should be properly allocated as described above.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout input channel layout
+ * @param str string describing the channel layout
+ * @return 0 channel layout was detected, AVERROR_INVALIDATATA otherwise
+ */
+int av_channel_layout_from_string(AVChannelLayout *channel_layout,
+                                  const char *str);
+
+/**
+ * Get the default channel layout for a given number of channels.
+ *
+ * @note channel_layout should be properly allocated as described above.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout the layout structure to be initialized
+ * @param nb_channels number of channels
+ */
+void av_channel_layout_default(AVChannelLayout *ch_layout, int nb_channels);
+
+/**
+ * Free any allocated data in the channel layout and reset the channel
+ * count to 0.
+ *
+ * @note this only used for structure initialization and for freeing the
+ *       allocated memory for AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM order.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout the layout structure to be uninitialized
+ */
+void av_channel_layout_uninit(AVChannelLayout *channel_layout);
+
+/**
+ * Make a copy of a channel layout. This differs from just assigning src to dst
+ * in that it allocates and copies the map for AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_CUSTOM.
+ *
+ * @note the destination channel_layout will be always uninitialized before copy.
+ *
+ * @param dst destination channel layout
+ * @param src source channel layout
+ * @return 0 on success, a negative AVERROR on error.
+ */
+int av_channel_layout_copy(AVChannelLayout *dst, const AVChannelLayout *src);
+
+/**
+ * Get a human-readable string describing the channel layout properties.
+ *
+ * @note The returned string is allocated with av_malloc(),
+ *       and must be freed by the caller with av_free().
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout channel layout to be described
+ * @return a string describing the structure or NULL on failure in the same
+ *         format that is accepted by @ref av_channel_layout_from_string().
+ */
+char *av_channel_layout_describe(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout);
+
+/**
+ * Get the channel with the given index in a channel layout.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout input channel layout
+ * @return channel with the index idx in channel_layout on success or a negative
+ *                 AVERROR on failure (if idx is not valid or the channel order
+ *                 is unspecified)
+ */
+int av_channel_layout_get_channel(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout, int idx);
+
+/**
+ * Get the index of a given channel in a channel layout. In case multiple
+ * channels are found, only the first match will be returned.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout input channel layout
+ * @return index of channel in channel_layout on success or a negative number if
+ *         channel is not present in channel_layout.
+ */
+int av_channel_layout_channel_index(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout,
+                                    enum AVChannel channel);
+
+/**
+ * Find out what channels from a given set are present in a channel layout,
+ * without regard for their positions.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout input channel layout
+ * @param mask a combination of AV_CH_* representing a set of channels
+ * @return a bitfield representing all the channels from mask that are present
+ *         in channel_layout
+ */
+uint64_t av_channel_layout_subset(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout,
+                                  uint64_t mask);
+
+/**
+ * Check whether a channel layout is valid, i.e. can possibly describe audio
+ * data.
+ *
+ * @param channel_layout input channel layout
+ * @return 1 if channel_layout is valid, 0 otherwise.
+ */
+int av_channel_layout_check(const AVChannelLayout *channel_layout);
+
+/**
+ * Check whether two channel layouts are semantically the same, i.e. the same
+ * channels are present on the same positions in both.
+ *
+ * If one of the channel layouts is AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC, while the other is
+ * not, they are considered to be unequal. If both are AV_CHANNEL_ORDER_UNSPEC,
+ * they are considered equal iff the channel counts are the same in both.
+ *
+ * @param chl input channel layout
+ * @param chl1 input channel layout
+ * @return 0 if chl and chl1 are equal, 1 if they are not equal. A negative
+ *         AVERROR code if one or both are invalid.
+ */
+int av_channel_layout_compare(const AVChannelLayout *chl, const AVChannelLayout *chl1);
+
 /**
  * @}
  * @}
diff --git a/libavutil/version.h b/libavutil/version.h
index f9976151a7..275c4f0e35 100644
--- a/libavutil/version.h
+++ b/libavutil/version.h
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@
 #ifndef FF_API_PSEUDOPAL
 #define FF_API_PSEUDOPAL                (LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR < 57)
 #endif
+#ifndef FF_API_OLD_CHANNEL_LAYOUT
+#define FF_API_OLD_CHANNEL_LAYOUT       (LIBAVUTIL_VERSION_MAJOR < 57)
+#endif
 
 
 /**
