Allain Gaussin was born in Saint Sever (Normandy, France) in 1943.

He interrupted his studies of mathematics and physics when he was 20 years old to start musical studies.

In October 1966, he continued at the "Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique" in Paris, where he studied composition with Olivier Messiaen. There, he won first prizes in music writing and analysis, and the composition prize.

He also studied piano (with Helene Boschi), choir conducting, conducting (with Louis Fourestier), electoacoustics (at the GRM in 1974 and 1975) and music technology (IRCAM in 1984).