A new approach to design variable IIR digital filters by using a cascade of N identical individual filters of any order n is proposed in this paper. First, the approximation method for lowpass filter specifications is outlined, then the general limitations of the new method are investigated and a compact formula is derived. Next, the limitations for the main canonic approximations (Butterworth, Chebyshev and Elliptic) are investigated and compared and convenient expressions for design and evaluation are obtained. New first- and second-order filter sections, permitting very easy tuning of the cutoff frequency by recalculating and reprogramming of a single multiplier coefficient value, are developed and the design and tuning strategies for highpass, bandpass and bandstop filters are proposed. Finally design examples are given and the sound superiority of the new method compared to other known is demonstrated experimentally.

In this paper a new general method for approximation of arbitrary multiband filter loss specifications, including all classical, maximally flat and equiripple approximations as special cases, is proposed. It is possible to specify different magnitude behavior (flat or equiripple of given degree) and different maximal losses in the different passbands and to optimize all transmission and attenuation zeroes positions or to have some of them fixed. The optimization procedures for adjustment of the filter response are based on modified Remez algorithm and are performed in s-domain what is regarded since recently as an advantage in the case of design of parallel allpass structures based IIR digital filters. A powerful algorithm and appropriate software are developed following the method and their efficiency is verified through design examples.