Is it possible to capture the sound procuded before it traverses through the surrounding medium?

When a person speaks, sound waves are generated and these traverse through the air or any other surrounding medium. This sound will be audible to others. Is it possible to stop the sound waves from spreading beyond a small radius using a small equipment? without using the the strict enclusures like sound proof walls etc.

Is it possible to capture the sound procuded before it traverses through the surrounding medium?
We can do this artificially using electronics.





Since electronic signals travel faster than sound it is possible to record something then produce an approximate opposite to the sound in order cancel out the waves of the original sound.





This is how noise canceling headphones work. They don't completely kill the noise but do reduce the amplitude significantly.





It is also possible to project the anti-sound to a location so it will hear a reduced amplitude using high directional speakers.





BOSE Scientists do a lot of research in sound and may be able to help you if you have a question.
Reply:If you are asking can the surrounding medium (like air) be "dampened" to prevent sound travel, yes, but the process would probably be noisier than the sound you are trying to stop.


A sound wave being propagated through the air will only be stopped by a wave or force which cancels out this vibration.


Anything that would cancel out a reasonable sound wave would not be possible with a "small piece of equipment". I guess the best option would be a "white noise" box. This would mask the sound and keep it from being understood, but it would not stop the sound.