A system includes an integrated encoder comprising an optical storage controller for coupling to an optical storage medium, and a data encoder for coding input data coupled to the optical storage controller, a first external memory coupled to a first memory controller in the integrated encoder, and a second external memory coupled to a second memory controller in the integrated encoder. In one aspect, the integrated encoder further comprises a first memory arbiter for selectively directing access to the first external memory by the optical storage controller and the data encoder, and a second memory arbiter for selectively directing access to the second external memory by the optical storage controller and the data encoder.