Noise-reduction method for noise-affected voice channels

A method for reducing the noise in an output signal of a common output voice channel created by combining at least first and second digital voice signals from related noise-affected respective first and second voice channels, said method comprising the steps of:

• estimating the noise in the individual at least first and second channels during speaking pauses in the respective at least first and second signals, and damping temporally stationary noise sources by spectral subtraction to provide respective adjusted at least first and second signals;
• producing a pivotable, acoustic directional lobe, which follows movement of a speaker producing the at least first and second voice signals and which damps spatial noise sources, for the respective first and second channels by respective digital directional filtering of the respective said first and second adjusted signals and an adjustment of a phase difference between the respective at least first and second signals, using a linear phase shift estimation, to produce respective further adjusted at least first and second signals;
• adding the respective said further adjusted at least first and second signals for the respective said voice channels to average statistical disturbances resulting from the spectral subtractions and to provide a composite signal;
• and
• subsequently processing the composite signal with a modified coherence function to damp diffuse noise and echo components.