Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer hardware storage media are provided for variably reducing, but not eliminating, the ambient volume that reaches the eardrum in a particular setting. One or more noise signatures of sound from an ambient environment are received at a mobile device. A profile associated with a suppression or amplification control of the one or more noise signatures of sound from the ambient environment are created and stored at the mobile device. The suppression or amplification control is communicated from the mobile device to a set of variable audio ear plugs. The suppression control causes the variable audio ear plugs to variably reduce, but not eliminate, the sound from the ambient environment and the amplification control does not amplify sound from any source other than the ambient environment.