UC San Diego

This dissertation deals with the topic of spatial audio in the context of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). It is separated into three main sections: creating, capturing, and conveying spatial audio. One additional introductory chapter discusses the historical significance of this medium, as well as the psychoacoustic principles exploited. The final chapter summarizes the contributions, motivations, and outline of this dissertation presented in Chapter 1. During my graduate education in New York, I was first exposed to spatial audio as a research topic. During my time in San Diego as a Ph.D. student, I was exposed to the world of open-source software. This dissertation is my attempt at marrying both worlds, describing a framework and methodology rooted in social consciousness and scientific principles for art-making and research. Part of my motivation for writing this dissertation stems from my background as a citizen of an underdeveloped nation: Bolivia. I hope this manuscript can serve as a roadmap for artists and researchers in underprivileged communities interested in the field of spatial audio, and in particular ambisonics.