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FAQs about CD Duplication and CD Copying
by MantraGlass
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What
is the difference between CD replication and CD duplication?
What are CD pressing and CD burning?
What is short-run duplication?
Should I have my CD mastered?
What is glass mastering?
Should I have my CD mastered by the duplication company?
What is the difference between CD and CD-R in terms of audio
quality?
Should I do my own artwork?
How many copies should I make?
What should I do to promote my album or demo?
Replication is the process of manufacturing large quantities of CD's. A "glass
master" of your information is made to produce "stampers" which
replicate the information onto CD foil.This is lacquered and packaged. Replication
is carried out automatically and so in numbers of 1000 or greater is very cost-effective
compared to duplication.
Duplication is the process of manufacturing smaller quantities of CD-R. The
CD-R is loaded into CD burners and the information is digitally extracted from
the master and copied to the blank CD-Rs. Thanks to newer, more economically
accessible hardware, it is nowadays possible to offer professional CD services
this way to customers that need smaller quantities. .
CD pressing and CD burning are both terms for producing CD-R in short runs.
Short-run duplication is when we duplicate fewer than 500 CD-R, as opposed to
replication or glass mastering which involves 500 plus CDs.
For a proper professional result with an audio CD, it should always pass through
the mastering phase. This should not be confused with the prouction of the glass
master for a replication job. Mastering, or audio mastering, brings out the
best elements of your music and prepares it for radio and commercial usage.
This should cost between £75 and £300 plus VAT or thereabouts, depending
on the amount of material available. This is based on an estimate of between
three and twelve hours' work. Some up-market mastering houses charge up to £200
per hour! It is a good idea to attend mastering sessions so as to ensure prompt
fulfilment of your order, and avoid unnecessary delays in production due to
last-minute preferences.
Glass mastering is the same as replication - large quanitity automated CD production.
By all means have your CD mastered by the duplication company if they have an
in-house audio mastering facility. If your duplication company doesn't offer
this service, or if you prefer to have it done at a specialist mastering house,
then you need to arrange for this separately and in advance. We suggest you
attend mastering sessions, so if your company doesn't offer this, then go elsewhere.
There is no difference in terms of audible quality between a CD-R which has
been duplicated, and a CD which has been replicated. Both processes extract
the information from your master source in exactly the same way. CD-R were at
one time produced very cheaply, and some poorer grade CD-R did not perform so
well as CDs on certain equipment. That problem has been largely resolved by
improved production methods - however, you should always ask and be prepared
to pay for higher quality CD-R for your short-runs.
You should only carry out your own artwork if you are confident that you understand
printer terminology, and can communicate with your proposed duplication company
printers over colour issues and so forth. This is particularly true for replication
jobs. With a CD-R order, you may find that laser printed artwork is more forgiving
of amateur image preparation, but litho reproduction, as used in replication
jobs, is a completely different kettle of fish! look at our artwork
page for more information.
If you are looking
for a low-level start in duplication, and will only sell or use a few units
weekly, then it may be more economically sensible to go the duplication route,
and order lots of 50-100 at a time. If you are not sure whether you want 500
or 1,000, you may find that, in replication terms, there is only a small difference
in price between the two, and many companies will produce 1000 sets of artwork
at a time anyway. If you're going to produce more than 1,000 you probably already
know your market and how many you need to replicate.
It's a good idea
to compile a mailing list of record companies who are interested in receiving
your demo - not all are! The right demo in the right hands is worth twenty that
are going straight in the bin. From our point of view, you can promote yourself
online via the Giggerlist or even
apply to our record label Cmon Records
- but you will still need a good dose of self-promotion and thinking commercially.
For help with building an effective promotional website for your music, please
look at our website design and promotions
pages in Megaviz.
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here for our commercial website
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