The Sound and Music Computing Field: Present and Future

This paper is a general introduction for the theme of this special issue. It attempts to give a definition of the Sound and Music Computing research field stemming from its methodologies, aims and approaches. A brief account of the disciplines involved along with their academic organization follows, along with a short description of the areas of application involved. Since Sound and Music Computing has recently enjoyed a deep world-wide reflection upon its own goals, visions and perspectives which has resulted in several roadmapping exercises, the last part of this article provides a summary of these exercises by introducing them in the context in which they were created.