CDs, DVDs, and Vinyl

Replication vs. Duplication:

REPLICATION:

CD / DVD Replication is the manufacturing process that essentially replicates or "clones" your original master. A Glass Master is created from your original master.

From the Glass Master a set of "stampers" are made. The stampers or molds are the blueprint for the CD / DVD replication process. Stampers are mounted into a High Tech injection mold machine. In the molding process, a replica of the mold is created in the form of a 4.75 (120 mm) plastic disc. The formed disc is then coated with a micro-thin reflective layer of aluminum.

The final stage of the CD / DVD replication process involves the application of a protective lacquer that is spun onto the disc and then hardened by ultraviolet (UV) light. The replication process is now complete. All processes are performed in-line to ensure quality, accuracy and speed from start to finish.

DUPLICATION: 

Known as CD-R, CDROM, DVD-R, DVD-ROM or CD / DVD Recordable Disc Duplication, CD / DVD Duplication is the process of duplicating data onto an existing pre-made disc. This disc is known as a CDR, short for Compact Disc Recordable, and DVDR, short for Digital Versatile Disc Recordable, respectively.

CD / DVD Duplication is very similar in theory to duplicating a 3 1/2" Diskette, Audio Cassette or Video Cassette. In all cases your are duplicating data onto existing media. Existing media is the key. Unlike CD / DVD Replication, you begin this process with a pre-made disc that is capable of receiving recorded data.

Glossary of terms

What stores look for on a CD consignment?  Bar codes and spline labels. Get a spine label for your CD or DVD and stand up to any major commercial release on the shelves. Some retail outlets require the repeated title and UPC bar code that a spine label provides, and every store will appreciate the professionalism a spine label represents. 

REPLICATION (Manufactured)

When you need 300 or more disc (the manufactured product) complete with barcodes, Internet uploads, Soundscan registration, and much more.

If you're looking for professional manufactured compact disc, you'll need to order a minimum of 300 disc.

How Much Will it cost?

Quote-O-Matic :Welcome to the new Disc Makers Quote-O-Matic. It's a simple and fast way to get a quote online in just minutes.

You will need to fill out the INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS to place an order.

Disc Makers PRODUCTS and PRICING

 Pyramid Recording Studio is a Platinum STUDIO PARTNER with Disc Makers.

  We help with the process.

CD Graphics

Preparing and submitting your graphics.

Stores love spine labels - If you want to place CDs in stores, you'll need this

    Before ordering your CDs, it is important to address the issue of Graphics - the artwork, lyrics, and credits.  It will be required that whomever does the artwork use the templates of the manufacturer (and recommended software) so the project does not get bogged down with inserts that don't fit right.  Nine times out of ten, this is what holds up CD releases.  You can do your own, but you'll need the right software, template, and save it top the right file format.

Graphic Designing: A real pain if you don't know what you're doing.  If you don't use the manufacturer's template, they will have to resize it and that will take time and more money.  Better sometimes to pay people there (like Disc Makers) to do this for you.

Consider the Enhanced CD by Disc Makers!

Give your fans and industry contacts more than music – enhance your CD by adding MPEG video clips, animation, screen savers, interviews, promotional materials, direct links to your website, email, and more.

An Enhanced CD (E-CD) is an audio CD that includes CD-ROM data such as video, photos, web links etc.

It uses this leftover space to include additional data. In an audio player, an E-CD simply plays music, but on a PC or Mac it launches the additional content giving more value to your customer's buck.

Click the Pic for more information!

Why go with Disc Makers? - Our reason:  You can't beat the service, product, and all the helpful extras for the price!!  An example is a free membership with CD Baby:

CD BABY OFFER- One of the benefits to belonging with CD Baby is a CREDIT CARD SWIPE  device you can use at your gigs for CD sales and proof of sales since you generate a receipt!

CREDIT CARD SWIPER OFFER - Now you can take credit card payments ANYWHERE - at live shows, conference booths, etc.  We send you a physical credit card swiping terminal, which you can bring to your live shows, and set up a merchandise table, to sell anything you want to your fans with credit cards.

Copyrights - Recording cover tunes?  If you intend to professionally duplicate the CDs (like @ Disc Makers) and sell them, you will have to get permission from the copyright owners and pay a small fee.  Hey, if you created a tune that made someone wealthy wouldn't you want to be rewarded too? Disc Makers can assist with this.

Copyright your music - A kit from Disk Makers to do your own - so YOU can collect if someone uses your work!

HFA is the foremost mechanical licensing, collection, and distribution agency for music publishers in the U.S. Our processes, culture, and technology are client-driven and results-oriented. We continually strive to add value and strength to the music rights industry.

SESAC is a performing rights organization with headquarters in Nashville and offices in New York, Los Angeles, and London.

BMI is a performing right organization: It collects license fees on behalf of its songwriters, composers and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed.

ASCAP is a membership association of over 145,000 composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music and hundreds of thousands worldwide. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization created and controlled by composers, songwriters and music publishers, with a Board of Directors elected by and from the membership.

Nielsen SoundScan is an information system that tracks sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada. Sales data from point-of-sale cash registers is collected weekly from over 14,000 retail, mass merchant and non-traditional (on-line stores, venues, etc.) outlets. Weekly data is compiled and made available every Wednesday. Nielsen SoundScan is the sales source for the Billboard music charts.

Making your music get NOTICED by big labels (if you sell enough units)

SoundScan and BDS information from Disc Makers

DUPLICATION

Disc Makers SHORT RUN CDS and DVDs

Also called CDRs, these are designed by you online 24/7 with the CD sent to be copied or audio files uploaded.  These are for demos, and small order sales (UNDER 200). 

The per CD cost is higher than the replicated CDs, but you don't need to spend a lot to get a few out there.  The CD usually has black ink on disc but the covers are surprisingly professional looking.  They will shrink wrap it before mailing the order to you.

Keep in mind that these are "burned" CDRs rather than a manufactured CD.  They don't last as long but the quality of music is of course, they same.  Since they will not have a bar code, most stores will not want to do a consignment agreement to  sell them.  

That being said, these are great for small orders and demos!

CD Release

Dos and Don'ts of a CD Release!

DJs aren't the only ones using the old vinyl records.  With almost 1/2 million hits on "record players" using Google, there certainly is interest in old vinyl.  "The phonograph record is a marvelous medium for storing and reproducing sound. With frequency response from 7 Hz to 25kHz and over 75 dB dynamic range possible, it is capable of startling realism. Its ability to convey a sense of space, that is width and depth of sound stage, with a degree of openness and airiness, is unrivaled by anything but the most esoteric digital systems."  Kevin Gray 5/3/1997

Copyright & Information

If you're recording original material, protect your work!  If you're recording cover tunes and plan on selling someone else's material, you can't replicate (manufacture) the recordings until you get the permissions from the copyright owners and set up for royalties to be paid. 

via Disc Makers service

Actual government link

Copyright information for starters