Robbin Gheesling
About the researcher
I'm a sound designer, photographer, and professional wineaux who spent years in commercial music recording studios before shifting my focus to the culture of food and wine. Through Spuntino Studios, the production house I founded, I support and promote small-scale producers using spatial audio storytelling techniques that transport listeners directly to these artisans and their craft.
PhD abstract
Thesis title
The Positioned Listener: Binaural Technique as Narrative Strategy in Audio Documentary
Abstract
My research explores how binaural recording techniques create different narrative experiences in audio documentaries. Most documentary sound uses basic mono or stereo recording, which strips away the spatial qualities that make listening feel real and immersive. Binaural recording captures three-dimensional sound, but we don't yet have clear frameworks for how microphone placement affects storytelling. I'm using food environments like markets, kitchens, and dining spaces as my testing ground because they have rich, layered soundscapes. Through hands-on recording experiments, I'm analyzing how different microphone positions and techniques shape what listeners experience and understand. Drawing on acoustic ecology theory and recent work on spatial audio, I'm developing practical tools and guidelines for documentary makers. The goal is to help creators use spatial audio strategically to place audiences inside stories rather than just observing from outside. I'm also producing documentary pieces that demonstrate these techniques in action.