Abstract: A method processes an initial audio signal, having a target portion and a side portion, by receiving of the initial audio signal; modifying the received initial audio signal using a first signal modifier to obtain a first modified audio signal and modifying the received initial audio signal using a second signal modifier to obtain a second modified audio signal; comparing received initial audio signal with the first modified audio signal to obtain a first perceptual similarity value describing the perceptual similarity between the initial audio signal and the first modified audio signal; and comparing the received initial audio signal with the second modified audio signal to obtain a second perceptual similarity value describing the perceptual similarity between the initial audio signal and the second modified audio signal; and selecting the first or second modified audio signal dependent on the respective first or second perceptual similarity value.