Methods and apparatus are provided for direct synthesis of RF signals using maximum likelihood sequence estimation. An RF digital RF input signal is synthesized by performing maximum likelihood sequence estimation on the digital RF input signal to produce a digital stream, such that after filtering by a prototype filter the produced digital stream produces a substantially minimum error. The substantially minimum error comprises a difference between a digital output of the prototype filter and the digital RF input signal. The digital stream is substantially equal to the input digital RF signal. The digital stream can be applied to an analog restitution filter, and the output of the analog restitution filter comprises an analog RF signal that approximates the digital RF input signal.