A method for actively cancelling noise, the method comprising: receiving an electronic reference signal from one or more microphones that receives a first acoustic input from a first sound source and a second acoustic input from a second sound source , wherein the one or more microphones are coupled to a motor vehicle or aircraft; selecting one of a plurality of recorded sound signatures stored in a database , wherein the plurality of recorded sound signatures comprises a group of representative sound signatures of noise sources that are anticipated to be cancelled or damped; determining whether the selected recorded sound signature matches or substantially matches a portion of the electronic reference signal ; based on a match between the portion of the electronic reference signal and the selected recorded sound signature, separating the portion of the electronic reference signal from the electronic reference signal as a separated signal; determining whether there are any sound signatures remaining in the database to be compared to the electronic reference signal and, if there are sound signatures remaining in the database , selecting one of the remaining sound signatures; generating a source-separated reference signal based on the separated signals obtained by the match between the portion of the electronic reference signal and each selected recorded sound signature such that the source-separated reference signal represents the acoustic input of one of the first sound source or the second sound source ; generating an electronic correction signal based on the source-separated reference signal , wherein the electronic correction signal comprises a phase-shifted compensation signal configured to reduce a power of a third acoustic input from the one of the first sound source or the second sound source in an area within the motor vehicle; and converting the electronic correction signal into an acoustic correction signal in the area within the motor vehicle or aircraft by an acoustic actuator . receiving an electronic reference signal from one or more microphones that receives a first acoustic input from a first sound source and a second acoustic input from a second sound source , wherein the one or more microphones are coupled to a motor vehicle or aircraft; selecting one of a plurality of recorded sound signatures stored in a database , wherein the plurality of recorded sound signatures comprises a group of representative sound signatures of noise sources that are anticipated to be cancelled or damped; determining whether the selected recorded sound signature matches or substantially matches a portion of the electronic reference signal ; based on a match between the portion of the electronic reference signal and the selected recorded sound signature, separating the portion of the electronic reference signal from the electronic reference signal as a separated signal; determining whether there are any sound signatures remaining in the database to be compared to the electronic reference signal and, if there are sound signatures remaining in the database , selecting one of the remaining sound signatures; generating a source-separated reference signal based on the separated signals obtained by the match between the portion of the electronic reference signal and each selected recorded sound signature such that the source-separated reference signal represents the acoustic input of one of the first sound source or the second sound source ; generating an electronic correction signal based on the source-separated reference signal , wherein the electronic correction signal comprises a phase-shifted compensation signal configured to reduce a power of a third acoustic input from the one of the first sound source or the second sound source in an area within the motor vehicle; and converting the electronic correction signal into an acoustic correction signal in the area within the motor vehicle or aircraft by an acoustic actuator . <EOS>