A channel fitting process is described for a cochlear implant. A check is made for a channel fitting response condition to a stimulation signal, and if the condition is present, a channel operating parameter is set for the current electrode contact based on the channel fitting response condition, and if channel operating parameters have been set for all the electrode contacts, the channel fitting process ends. Otherwise, a next electrode contact is selected, the stimulation level is changed by a channel fitting increment, and if a stimulation level limit has been reached, the channel fitting process ends, or otherwise, the currently selected electrode contact is stimulated with the stimulation signal at the current stimulation level and the channel fitting process repeats.