A noise reduction system and method suitable for hands-free communication
comprises a first microphone located in a wireless or cordless headset
and a second microphone located within a separate communication device.
The first microphone may be placed within a headset attached to or near
the ear of the user while the second microphone may be located further
away from the user's mouth. The first microphone collects the intended
voice signal and ambient background or environmental noise while the
second microphone primarily collects ambient noise rather than a voice
signal. The inputs to the two microphones are synchronized and the
ambient noise of the second microphone is used to compensate or remove
noise from the first microphone, such as by subtracting the noise from
the second microphone from the input of the first microphone. Noise
reduction or noise cancellation is achieved through continuous time
quadrant modulation, environmental noise counterbalancing, and/or through
other means.