A system and method are provided for performing speech processing. A system includes an audio detection system configured to receive a signal including speech and a memory having stored therein a database of keyword models forming an ensemble of filters associated with each keyword in the database. A processor is configured to receive the signal including speech from the audio detection system, decompose the signal including speech into a sparse set of phonetic impulses, and access the database of keywords and convolve the sparse set of phonetic impulses with the ensemble of filters. The processor is further configured to identify keywords within the signal including speech based a result of the convolution and control operation the electronic system based on the keywords identified.