This paper illustrates the advantages of using the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) as compared to the standard Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) for the purpose of removing noise embedded in a speech signal. The derivation of the Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) ®lter based on the statistical modelling of the DCT coecients is shown. Also shown is the derivation of an over-attenuation factor based on the fact that speech energy is not always present in the noisy signal at all times or in all coecients. This over-attenuation factor is useful in suppressing any musical residual noise which may be present. The proposed methods are evaluated against the noise reduction ®lter proposed by Y. Ephraim and D. Malah (1984), using both Gaussian distributed white noise as well as recorded fan noise, with favourable results. Ó 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. ReÂsume Cet article illustre les avantages apportes par l'utilisation de la Transformation Cosinus Discrete (D...