A programmable Active Noise Compensation (ANC) system for an audio input includes a parameter store structured to store a number of various filter parameters. A mode of operation is selected that represents the type of environment the ANC system is operating in—feed-forward, feed-back, or combined feed-forward and feedback. Different filter parameters are retrieved from the parameter store based on the selected mode and desired operation. Audio inputs are sampled at a relatively high sample rate that matches inputs from a feed-forward and feedback microphone that may be present in the system. Parameters and instructions may be changed in the system responsive to changing conditions of the compensation system.