To provide the method and the device to execute the time scale change of signals using the time region means which includes zero crossings and slopes.

The method and device are provided to execute a time scale change. The method includes a zero crossing module 22 which determines the zero crossing points in the signals, a feature vector module 24 which generates the feature vectors to describe the zero crossing points, a distance metric module 26 which generates the distance metrics to describe the local features at the zero crossing points and a matching module 28 which makes the matching of the signals in accordance with a local similarity and the similarity over a selected time interval using the feature vectors and the distance metrics and synthesizes and changes the time scale. Note that the method also includes a cross fade module 20 which makes the transition of the time scale changed signals between continuous frames smooth.