Apparatus and method for source separation using an estimation and control of sound quality

An apparatus for generating a separated audio signal from an audio input signal is provided. The audio input signal comprises a target audio signal portion and a residual audio signal portion. The residual audio signal portion indicates a residual between the audio input signal and the target audio signal portion. The apparatus comprises a source separator (110), a determining module (120) and a signal processor (130). The source separator (110) is configured to determine an estimated target signal which depends on the audio input signal, the estimated target signal being an estimate of a signal that only comprises the target audio signal portion. The determining module (120) is configured to determine one or more result values depending on an estimated sound quality of the estimated target signal to obtain one or more parameter values, wherein the one or more parameter values are the one or more result values or depend on the one or more result values. The signal processor (130) is configured to generate the separated audio signal depending on the one or more parameter values and depending on at least one of the estimated target signal and the audio input signal and an estimated residual signal, the estimated residual signal being an estimate of a signal that only comprises the residual audio signal portion.