Abstract: Digital processing of speech signals for compression/expansion pitch change is provided by writing and reading a ROM at different rates and controlling the discard/repeat segments of memory to be integral multiples of the pitch period. The rear pointer jumps a portion of the memory to either skip a portion (in compression) or retrace a portion (in expansion) of the recorded information. The read pointer jumps so as to avoid crossing the write pointer (thereby avoiding reading old recorded information). The jump occurs when a predetermined spacing or condition is reached between read and write pointers.