Abstract: A noise reduction scheme is incorporated into a computer system for reducing environmental background noise when a user is listening to audio output through a standard set of headphones. The noise reduction scheme utilizes the processing power of the computer system as well as built-in components of the computer for enhancing the audio quality heard by the user. Environmental background noise is received by a built-in microphone, wherein a reciprocal noise canceling signal is generated by the computer's microprocessor. The reciprocal noise canceling signal is then mixed with audio from the computer system for reducing the environmental background noise heard by a user.