1. A method for combining a subband decomposition and a linear signal processing filter, where the subband decomposition comprises N-levels, with each level comprises at least two synthesis filters and an adjacent upsampler, and where each synthesis filter includes a low-pass composite filter and at least one upper-subband filter with a high-pass component, the method comprising the steps of: (a) merging the linear signal processing filter, via superposition, with each synthesis filter of the first level of the subband decomposition into a set of composite filters; (b) generating, via an identity formulation, an equivalent structure for the low-pass composite filter and its adjacent upsampler to allow for combination of the equivalent structure with a ynthesis filter on the next level of the subband decomposition; (c) repeatedly operating the step of merging on the next level of the subband decomposition; (d) creating, via an inverse form of the identity formulation, an equivalent structure for the set of composite filters generated by the merging step and its adjacent upsampler in order to allow for combination of the equivalent structure with at least one synthesis filter on the next level; (e) repeatedly operating the generating step (b), the repeatedly operating step (c), and the creating step for each remaining level in the subband decomposition to generate a composite subband synthesis linear operator; whereby the composite subband synthesis linear operator may be used to operate directly on the data represented by the subband decomposition.