Noise cancellation, or active noise control,
involves recording the single cycle of
a sound wave and transposing a wave with
the same amplitude but opposite polarity,
the anti-phase. The two waves will have the
same frequency but opposite phases. As the
waves interfere with one another they create
a new wave and cancel out, much like
a standing wave. Noise cancellation allows
for any sound with a continuous wave, like
that of a fan, to be blocked selectively by
programming the recording device to the
specific frequency of disturbance.