A computer-implemented method of generating advanced feature discrimination vectors (AFDVs) representing sounds forming part of an audio signal input to a device is provided. The method includes taking a plurality of samples of the audio signal, and for each sample of the audio signal taken: performing a signal analysis on the sample to extract one or more high resolution oscillator peaks therefrom; renormalizing the extracted oscillator peaks to eliminate variations in the fundamental frequency and time duration for each sample occurring over the window; normalizing the power of the renormalized extracted oscillator peaks; and forming the renormalized and power normalized extracted oscillator peaks into a respective AFDV for the sample. The method further includes outputting the respective AFDV to a comparison function configured to identify a characteristic of the sample based on a comparison of the respective AFDV with a library of AFDVs associated with known sounds and/or known speakers.