A digital audio signal can be processed using continuously variable time-frequency resolution by selecting a portion of an input digital audio signal, resampling the selected portion of the input digital audio signal, generating a plurality of spectral characteristics associated with the resampled portion of the input digital audio signal, generating a portion of an output digital audio signal from the plurality of spectral characteristics, and resampling the portion of the output digital audio signal. Further, resampling the selected portion of the input digital audio signal can comprise determining a sampling ratio and resampling the selected portion of the input digital audio signal in accordance with the determined sampling ratio. Additionally, the portion of the output digital audio signal can be resampled in accordance with the inverse of the determined sampling ratio. The sampling ratio can be determined based on a time-frequency resolution requirement associated with an audio processing algorithm.