Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for encoding and decoding human speech signals by generating a data base which stores a number of human speech signal types. The number of human speech signal types stored is sufficiently high enough to cover substantially all observable human speech. According to a first embodiment of the invention, a set of representative human speech signal curves is taken directly from natural human speech. According to a second embodiment of the invention, a predetermined set of speech signal parameters is used where maximum voice signal segment values are measured. According to a third embodiment of the invention, an adaptive set of speech signal parameters is used, where the encoder transmits a set of signal parameters to the decoder. Although the invention is specifically designed for human speech, it can also be used in connection with other audio signals, such as those of electronic musical instruments.