This paper reviews our recent efforts in the design and implementation of real-time speech coders. We discuss our approach and methodology for real-time hardware for coder techniques ranging from low to high complexity. Examples of realizations are given for each approach. They include adaptive differential PCM coding, subband coding, harmonic scaling with subband coding, and adaptive transform coding. Low to medium complexity techniques are based on the use of the Bell Laboratories digital signal processing (DSP) integrated circuit. High complexity block processing techniques are based on the use of an array processing computer. We conclude with an assessment of the performance versus complexity tradeoffs involved in these coding methods.