diff --git a/frontends/web/templates/encode.html b/frontends/web/templates/encode.html
index 2951086..f8ea03e 100644
--- a/frontends/web/templates/encode.html
+++ b/frontends/web/templates/encode.html
@@ -130,58 +130,23 @@
                     <div class="accordion step-accordion" id="encodeAccordion">
 
                         <!-- ================================================================
-                             STEP 1: CARRIER TYPE (v4.3.0)
-                             ================================================================ -->
-                        <div class="accordion-item" id="carrierTypeStep">
-                            <h2 class="accordion-header">
-                                <button class="accordion-button" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#stepCarrierType">
-                                    <span class="step-title">
-                                        <span class="step-number" id="stepCarrierTypeNumber">1</span>
-                                        <i class="bi bi-collection me-1"></i> Carrier Type
-                                    </span>
-                                    <span class="step-summary" id="stepCarrierTypeSummary"></span>
-                                </button>
-                            </h2>
-                            <div id="stepCarrierType" class="accordion-collapse collapse show" data-bs-parent="#encodeAccordion">
-                                <div class="accordion-body">
-                                    <input type="hidden" name="carrier_type" id="carrierTypeInput" value="image">
-                                    <div class="btn-group w-100" role="group">
-                                        <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="carrier_type_select" id="typeImage" value="image" checked>
-                                        <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary" for="typeImage">
-                                            <i class="bi bi-image me-1"></i> Image
-                                        </label>
-                                        <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="carrier_type_select" id="typeAudio" value="audio"
-                                               {% if not has_audio %}disabled{% endif %}>
-                                        <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary {% if not has_audio %}disabled text-muted{% endif %}" for="typeAudio">
-                                            <i class="bi bi-music-note-beamed me-1"></i> Audio
-                                            {% if not has_audio %}<small class="d-block" style="font-size: 0.65rem;">(not available)</small>{% endif %}
-                                        </label>
-                                    </div>
-                                    {% if not has_audio %}
-                                    <div class="form-text text-warning mt-2">
-                                        <i class="bi bi-exclamation-triangle me-1"></i>Audio requires numpy and soundfile packages
-                                    </div>
-                                    {% endif %}
-                                </div>
-                            </div>
-                        </div>
-
-                        <!-- ================================================================
-                             STEP 2: IMAGES & MODE
+                             STEP 1: CARRIER & MODE
                              ================================================================ -->
                         <div class="accordion-item">
                             <h2 class="accordion-header">
-                                <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#stepImages">
+                                <button class="accordion-button" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#stepImages">
                                     <span class="step-title">
-                                        <span class="step-number" id="stepImagesNumber">2</span>
-                                        <i class="bi bi-images me-1"></i> Reference, Carrier, Mode
+                                        <span class="step-number" id="stepImagesNumber">1</span>
+                                        <i class="bi bi-images me-1"></i> Carrier & Mode
                                     </span>
                                     <span class="step-summary" id="stepImagesSummary">Select reference & carrier</span>
                                 </button>
                             </h2>
-                            <div id="stepImages" class="accordion-collapse collapse" data-bs-parent="#encodeAccordion">
+                            <div id="stepImages" class="accordion-collapse collapse show" data-bs-parent="#encodeAccordion">
                                 <div class="accordion-body">
 
+                                    <input type="hidden" name="carrier_type" id="carrierTypeInput" value="image">
+
                                     <div class="row">
                                         <div class="col-md-6 mb-3">
                                             <label class="form-label">
@@ -208,10 +173,10 @@
                                         </div>
 
                                         <div class="col-md-6 mb-3">
+                                            <label class="form-label">
+                                                <i class="bi bi-file-earmark me-1"></i> Carrier File
+                                            </label>
                                             <div id="imageCarrierSection">
-                                                <label class="form-label">
-                                                    <i class="bi bi-file-earmark-image me-1"></i> Carrier Image
-                                                </label>
                                                 <div class="drop-zone pixel-container" id="carrierDropZone">
                                                     <input type="file" name="carrier" accept="image/*" required id="carrierInput">
                                                     <div class="drop-zone-label">
@@ -231,16 +196,13 @@
                                                         <div class="pixel-dimensions" id="carrierDims">-- x -- px</div>
                                                     </div>
                                                 </div>
-                                                <div class="form-text">Image to hide your message in</div>
+                                                <div class="form-text" id="imageCarrierHint">Image to hide your message in</div>
                                             </div>
 
                                             <!-- Audio Carrier (hidden by default, shown when audio type selected) -->
                                             <div class="d-none" id="audioCarrierSection">
-                                                <label class="form-label">
-                                                    <i class="bi bi-file-earmark-music me-1"></i> Carrier Audio
-                                                </label>
                                                 <div class="drop-zone pixel-container" id="audioCarrierDropZone">
-                                                    <input type="file" name="carrier" accept="audio/*" id="audioCarrierInput">
+                                                    <input type="file" name="audio_carrier" accept="audio/*" id="audioCarrierInput">
                                                     <div class="drop-zone-label">
                                                         <i class="bi bi-music-note-beamed fs-3 d-block mb-2 text-muted"></i>
                                                         <span class="text-muted">Drop audio or click</span>
@@ -251,7 +213,7 @@
                                                         <div class="pixel-dimensions" id="audioCarrierDuration">--:-- duration</div>
                                                     </div>
                                                 </div>
-                                                <div class="form-text">Audio file to hide your message in</div>
+                                                <div class="form-text" id="audioCarrierHint">Audio file to hide your message in</div>
                                             </div>
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
@@ -278,59 +240,74 @@
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
 
-                                    <!-- Embedding Mode (compact inline) -->
-                                    <div id="imageModeGroup">
-                                        <div class="d-flex gap-2 align-items-center flex-wrap mb-2">
-                                            <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group">
-                                                <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeDct" value="dct" {% if has_dct %}checked{% endif %} {% if not has_dct %}disabled{% endif %}>
-                                                <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeDct" id="dctModeLabel"><i class="bi bi-soundwave me-1"></i>DCT</label>
-                                                <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeLsb" value="lsb" {% if not has_dct %}checked{% endif %}>
-                                                <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeLsb"><i class="bi bi-grid-3x3-gap me-1"></i>LSB</label>
+                                    <!-- Mode & Carrier Type toggles (aligned row) -->
+                                    <div class="row">
+                                        <div class="col-md-6">
+                                            <div id="imageModeGroup">
+                                                <div class="d-flex gap-2 align-items-center flex-wrap mb-2">
+                                                    <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group">
+                                                        <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeDct" value="dct" {% if has_dct %}checked{% endif %} {% if not has_dct %}disabled{% endif %}>
+                                                        <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeDct" id="dctModeLabel"><i class="bi bi-soundwave me-1"></i>DCT</label>
+                                                        <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeLsb" value="lsb" {% if not has_dct %}checked{% endif %}>
+                                                        <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeLsb"><i class="bi bi-grid-3x3-gap me-1"></i>LSB</label>
+                                                    </div>
+                                                    <span class="text-muted d-none d-sm-inline">|</span>
+                                                    <span class="d-flex gap-2 align-items-center" id="outputOptions">
+                                                        <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group">
+                                                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_color_mode" id="colorMode" value="color" checked>
+                                                            <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="colorMode">Color</label>
+                                                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_color_mode" id="grayMode" value="grayscale">
+                                                            <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="grayMode" id="grayModeLabel">Gray</label>
+                                                        </div>
+                                                        <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group">
+                                                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_output_format" id="jpegFormat" value="jpeg" checked>
+                                                            <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="jpegFormat" id="jpegFormatLabel">JPEG</label>
+                                                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_output_format" id="pngFormat" value="png">
+                                                            <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="pngFormat">PNG</label>
+                                                        </div>
+                                                    </span>
+                                                </div>
                                             </div>
-                                            <span class="text-muted d-none d-sm-inline">|</span>
-                                            <span class="d-flex gap-2 align-items-center" id="outputOptions">
-                                                <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group">
-                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_color_mode" id="colorMode" value="color" checked>
-                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="colorMode">Color</label>
-                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_color_mode" id="grayMode" value="grayscale">
-                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="grayMode" id="grayModeLabel">Gray</label>
+                                            <!-- Audio Modes (hidden by default) -->
+                                            <div class="d-none" id="audioModeGroup">
+                                                <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm mb-2" role="group">
+                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeAudioLsb" value="audio_lsb">
+                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeAudioLsb"><i class="bi bi-grid-3x3-gap me-1"></i>LSB</label>
+                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeAudioSpread" value="audio_spread">
+                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeAudioSpread"><i class="bi bi-broadcast me-1"></i>Spread</label>
                                                 </div>
+                                            </div>
+                                            <div class="form-text" id="modeHint">
+                                                <i class="bi bi-{% if has_dct %}phone{% else %}hdd{% endif %} me-1"></i>{% if has_dct %}Survives social media compression{% else %}Higher capacity for direct transfers{% endif %}
+                                            </div>
+                                        </div>
+                                        <div class="col-md-6">
+                                            <div class="d-flex align-items-center gap-2">
                                                 <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group">
-                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_output_format" id="jpegFormat" value="jpeg" checked>
-                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="jpegFormat" id="jpegFormatLabel">JPEG</label>
-                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="dct_output_format" id="pngFormat" value="png">
-                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm" for="pngFormat">PNG</label>
+                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="carrier_type_select" id="typeImage" value="image" checked>
+                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="typeImage"><i class="bi bi-image me-1"></i>Image</label>
+                                                    <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="carrier_type_select" id="typeAudio" value="audio" {% if not has_audio %}disabled{% endif %}>
+                                                    <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap {% if not has_audio %}disabled text-muted{% endif %}" for="typeAudio"><i class="bi bi-music-note-beamed me-1"></i>Audio</label>
                                                 </div>
-                                            </span>
+                                                {% if not has_audio %}
+                                                <span class="form-text text-warning mb-0" style="font-size: 0.7rem;"><i class="bi bi-exclamation-triangle me-1"></i>Requires numpy + soundfile</span>
+                                                {% endif %}
+                                            </div>
                                         </div>
                                     </div>
 
-                                    <!-- Audio Modes (hidden by default) -->
-                                    <div class="d-none" id="audioModeGroup">
-                                        <div class="btn-group btn-group-sm" role="group">
-                                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeAudioLsb" value="audio_lsb">
-                                            <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeAudioLsb"><i class="bi bi-grid-3x3-gap me-1"></i>LSB</label>
-                                            <input type="radio" class="btn-check" name="embed_mode" id="modeAudioSpread" value="audio_spread">
-                                            <label class="btn btn-outline-secondary btn-sm text-nowrap" for="modeAudioSpread"><i class="bi bi-broadcast me-1"></i>Spread</label>
-                                        </div>
-                                    </div>
-
-                                    <div class="form-text" id="modeHint">
-                                        <i class="bi bi-{% if has_dct %}phone{% else %}hdd{% endif %} me-1"></i>{% if has_dct %}Survives social media compression{% else %}Higher capacity for direct transfers{% endif %}
-                                    </div>
-
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                         </div>
 
                         <!-- ================================================================
-                             STEP 3: PAYLOAD
+                             STEP 2: PAYLOAD
                              ================================================================ -->
                         <div class="accordion-item">
                             <h2 class="accordion-header">
                                 <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#stepPayload">
                                     <span class="step-title">
-                                        <span class="step-number" id="stepPayloadNumber">3</span>
+                                        <span class="step-number" id="stepPayloadNumber">2</span>
                                         <i class="bi bi-box me-1"></i> Payload
                                     </span>
                                     <span class="step-summary" id="stepPayloadSummary">Message or file to hide</span>
@@ -382,13 +359,13 @@
                         </div>
 
                         <!-- ================================================================
-                             STEP 4: SECURITY
+                             STEP 3: SECURITY
                              ================================================================ -->
                         <div class="accordion-item">
                             <h2 class="accordion-header">
                                 <button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#stepSecurity">
                                     <span class="step-title">
-                                        <span class="step-number" id="stepSecurityNumber">4</span>
+                                        <span class="step-number" id="stepSecurityNumber">3</span>
                                         <i class="bi bi-shield-lock me-1"></i> Security
                                     </span>
                                     <span class="step-summary" id="stepSecuritySummary">Passphrase & keys</span>
@@ -536,7 +513,9 @@
 // ============================================================================
 const modeHints = {
     dct: { icon: 'phone', text: 'Survives social media compression' },
-    lsb: { icon: 'hdd', text: 'Higher capacity, outputs Color PNG' }
+    lsb: { icon: 'hdd', text: 'Higher capacity, outputs Color PNG' },
+    audio_lsb: { icon: 'soundwave', text: 'Highest capacity, lossless carriers only (WAV/FLAC)' },
+    audio_spread: { icon: 'broadcast', text: 'Lower capacity, survives lossy conversion (MP3/AAC)' }
 };
 
 document.querySelectorAll('input[name="embed_mode"]').forEach(radio => {
@@ -561,7 +540,6 @@ const imageModeGroup = document.getElementById('imageModeGroup');
 const audioModeGroup = document.getElementById('audioModeGroup');
 const capacityPanel = document.getElementById('capacityPanel');
 const audioCapacityPanel = document.getElementById('audioCapacityPanel');
-const stepCarrierTypeSummary = document.getElementById('stepCarrierTypeSummary');
 
 carrierTypeRadios.forEach(radio => {
     radio.addEventListener('change', function() {
@@ -586,23 +564,18 @@ carrierTypeRadios.forEach(radio => {
         if (capacityPanel) capacityPanel.classList.add('d-none');
         if (audioCapacityPanel) audioCapacityPanel.classList.add('d-none');
 
-        // Update summary
-        if (stepCarrierTypeSummary) {
-            stepCarrierTypeSummary.textContent = isAudio ? 'Audio' : 'Image';
-        }
-
-        // Select default mode for the active type
+        // Select default mode for the active type and update hint
         if (isAudio) {
             const audioLsb = document.getElementById('modeAudioLsb');
-            if (audioLsb) audioLsb.checked = true;
+            if (audioLsb) { audioLsb.checked = true; audioLsb.dispatchEvent(new Event('change')); }
         } else {
             // Reset to DCT if available, else LSB
             const dctRadio = document.getElementById('modeDct');
             const lsbRadio = document.getElementById('modeLsb');
             if (dctRadio && !dctRadio.disabled) {
-                dctRadio.checked = true;
+                dctRadio.checked = true; dctRadio.dispatchEvent(new Event('change'));
             } else if (lsbRadio) {
-                lsbRadio.checked = true;
+                lsbRadio.checked = true; lsbRadio.dispatchEvent(new Event('change'));
             }
         }
 
@@ -689,12 +662,12 @@ function updateImagesSummary() {
         summary.textContent = ref ? ref.name.slice(0, 15) : carrier.name.slice(0, 15);
         summary.classList.remove('has-content');
         stepNum.classList.remove('complete');
-        stepNum.textContent = '2';
+        stepNum.textContent = '1';
     } else {
         summary.textContent = isAudio ? 'Select reference & audio' : 'Select reference & carrier';
         summary.classList.remove('has-content');
         stepNum.classList.remove('complete');
-        stepNum.textContent = '2';
+        stepNum.textContent = '1';
     }
 }
 
@@ -720,7 +693,7 @@ function updatePayloadSummary() {
         summary.textContent = 'Message or file to hide';
         summary.classList.remove('has-content');
         stepNum.classList.remove('complete');
-        stepNum.textContent = '3';
+        stepNum.textContent = '2';
     }
 }
 
@@ -748,7 +721,7 @@ function updateSecuritySummary() {
         summary.textContent = 'Passphrase & keys';
         summary.classList.remove('has-content');
         stepNum.classList.remove('complete');
-        stepNum.textContent = '4';
+        stepNum.textContent = '3';
     }
 }