Method for influencing noise, wherein a noise source (16), in particular an engine in a motor vehicle, generates the noise with a substantially periodically variable excitation, and wherein a reference variable which is characteristic of the noise source, in particular an engine speed, is present at predetermined successive supply instants (ti), comprising the method steps; reading out at least a first value (Ni−1) of the reference variable at a first supply instant (ti−1) and a second predetermined value at a second supply instant (ti); generating the reference signal (12) at at least one instant (t) between the second supply instant (ti) and a third supply instant (ti+1) as a function of the first and second values that were read out; and sending the reference signal (12) to a device for actively influencing noise (11), which generates activation signals (13) for at least one actuator (14) as a function of the reference signal (12), wherein the at least one actuator (14) emits compensation sound, which interferes with the noise.