1. A method of processing a signal for a data compression system, said method comprising the steps of: receiving an input vector of N length by an input means of said system where N is an integer for processing; decomposing said input vector, said decomposing step including multiplying said input vector with a first and a second decimating matrices each decimating matrix comprising a plurality of integer matrix values, to generate a shape vector and a detail vector respectively, said first and second decimating matrices being dimensioned such that said shape vector and said detail vector each have a length of N/2; reconstructing said input vector, said step of reconstructing including multiplying said shape vector and said detail vector by a first and a second restoring matrix respectively, to generate a reconstructed shape vector and a reconstructed detail vector; adding said reconstructed shape vector to said reconstructed detail vector to generate an integer processed input vector; and outputting compressed data using said integer processed input vector.