1. A data translation system comprising: first means for storing breakpoints of a desired data compression input to output transfer function in a reverse look up table (LUT) as a first set of thresholds, one breakpoint being stored for each output of the desired data compression input to output transfer function, each output is a compressed version of the input signal and is represented by an address of said reverse LUT, and each breakpoint being stored as data of said reverse LUT; and second means for comparing an input signal to said breakpoints of said first set of thresholds to obtain a breakpoint, searching said reverse LUT for an address of said reverse LUT corresponding to the breakpoint obtained, and providing a first output represented by the address found, said first output indicative of a first range of said input signal.