An Rth-order filter models the frequency response of multiple filters, to provide a filter which offers the control of multiple filters without the complexity of multiple filters. The Rth-order filter can be used as a spectral noise weighting filter or a combination of a short-term predictor filter and a spectral noise weighting filter, referred to as the spectrally noise weighted synthesis filter, depending on which embodiment is employed. In general, the method models the frequency response of L Pth-order filters by a single Rth-order filter, where the order R