Abstract: A technique for hiding of data, including watermarks, in human-perceptible sounds, that is, audio host data, is disclosed. In one embodiment a method comprises three steps. In the first step, data to be embedded is inputted. In the case of a watermark, this data is a unique signature, and may be a pseudo-noise (PN) code. In the case of hidden data to be embedded in the host data, this data is the hidden data itself, or the hidden data as spread against the frequency spectrum by a pseudo-noise (PN) code. In the second step, the inputted data is embedded within the host data, in accordance with a perceptual mask of the host data. The perceptual mask determines the optimal locations within the host data to insert the inputted data. In the case of sounds, these optimal locations are determined by reference to the human auditory system. In the third step, the host data, with the embedded data, is further masked by a non-frequency mask. In the case of audio data, the non-frequency mask is a temporal mask.