A speech processing system and method are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes at least a maximum likelihood quantization (MLQ) multi-pulse analysis unit (item 21) operating on a target vector (item 26). The MLQ multi-pulse analysis unit typically determines an initial gain level for the multi-pulse sequence and performs single gain multi-pulse analysis (MPA) a number of times, each with a different gain level. The pulse sequence which most closely represents the target vector is provided as an output signal (item 38). In another embodiment, the system includes at least a pulse train multi-pulse analysis unit wherein the target vector is modeled as a series of pulse trains. Each pulse train comprises a plurality of single gain pulses, wherein each pulse is at a position which is a pitch value distance apart from the previous pulse in the pulse train. Combinations of maximum likelihood analysis with pulse trains are also part of the present invention.