Joint composite-rotation adiabatic-sweep isotope filters are derived by combining the composite-rotation [Stuart AC et al. (1999) J Am Chem Soc 121: 5346-5347] and adiabatic-sweep [Zwahlen C et al. (1997) J Am Chem Soc 119:6711-6721; Kupce E, Freeman R (1997) J Magn Reson 127:36-48] approaches. The joint isotope filters have improved broadband filtration performance, even for extreme values of the one-bond (1)H-(13)C scalar coupling constants in proteins and RNA molecules. An average Hamiltonian analysis is used to describe evolution of the heteronuclear scalar coupling interaction during the adiabatic sweeps within the isotope filter sequences. The new isotope filter elements permit improved selective detection of NMR resonance signals originating from (1)H spins attached to an unlabeled natural abundance component of a complex in which the other components are labeled with (13)C and (15)N isotopes.