Techniques for noise cancelation include an automated method having the steps of: receiving signals from a plurality of microphones positioned within a microphone array outside a target area; identifying, from the received signals, a noise and position information for a source for the noise external to the target area before the noise reaches the target area; before the noise reaches the target area, determining a cancelation sound for the noise based on the noise and the position information; and playing the cancelation sound as the noise reaches the target area so as to significantly cancel the noise within the target area.