CD/DVD Disc Duplication :This process uses the CD-R or DVD-R discs people normally use to burn from their home or office. Our process utilizes the HIGHEST quality CD-R/DVD-R blanks and we will use a 300 dpi to 600 dpi thermal process to print either black text or full color directly on the disc faces. This process is especially cost effective for shorter runs of discs from as low as 1 disc up to 5000 if needed. The turnaround is also much faster than the disc replication process, duplicated discs can be produced in as little as 1 day for up to 2000 full color packaged disc orders.
CD/DVD Disc Replication:This process is typically most cost effective for larger runs of discs from 1000 to 1,000,000 and up. This process requires set up and has turn times of 7 – 10 business days. Replication is done from scratch, and CDs/DVD’s are injection molded from plastic pellets and then are covered in reflective material and stamped with the information. Disc faces are printed using both Silk Screen and Off Set printing processes.
Both duplication and replication extract data from the original in the same way. There is no data difference between a processed duplicated and a glass mastered replicated disc.
The discs we duplicate for you are 100% compliant with the specifications set forth for data or audio disc creation. Some players, especially older ones, may have difficulty reading CD-R discs. Factors that influence playability besides engineered support for CD-Rs are disc reflectivity, dye color of the duplicated disc, re-read rate, poor disc care, dirty lens, player temperatures, non-clean environments and disc capacity. We use the highest quality discs for your duplication to ensure the compatibility of your discs to the most playback devices possible. There may be instances when a duplicated CD-R will not play back on one device but will on another. This is unavoidable under any condition but with good quality discs, it can be minimized.
Depending on your package selection, the minimum order can be as low as 1 copy for duplication and as low as 1000 for replication.
No. Some companies charge more if the content of the disc is over 1/2 full. Our pricing is based on the size of the order not on the amount of information stored on the disc.
Upon receipt of your conponents, (master, artwork and payment) (DAY 0), your order will be entered into evaluation status. Both your master and artwork will be checked for errors and quality. Excluding any Pre – QC issues your project may have your order will be in full production and shipped within the time allowed :
* 1-5 business days for duplication
* 7-10 business days for replication
Please note: The time lines listed above are to be used as a guide as some delays may be beyond our control. Should your project need design corrections, your master rejected due to uncorrectable errors, or shipping / freight delays your project may be delayed. It is best practice to allot adequate time for the production and packaging of your project. If you are on a tight schedule and time is of a concern, we do offer Expedited Services for both Duplication and Replication orders for an additional fee.
In case of a re-order, the production starts upon receipt of payment. We use the exact same artwork and master to produce re-orders and there is no Pre-QC.
Over runs and under runs are only applicable to replication orders. Due to the industrial nature of the replication process and our high quality control standards, replicating the precise number of the order is not always possible. Hence, we maintain a 10% over run and under run cushion. But no matter whether it is an over run or an under run, you pay only for the number of discs actually delivered.
MAIL IN A MASTER CD (recommended form of delivery for replication)
We need a playable, Red Book AUDIO CD created using the following guidelines. Follow these steps when burning a master CD in order to decrease risk of production error. Do not mail in your only master copy as Disc Outlet must retain your mailed in master CD for re-order purposes.
1. Ensure the CD-RW drive is clean. Run a CD-ROM lens cleaner through your drive. You can find one at your local electronics store.
2. Use high-density media CD-R’s. Recommended brands are Apogee (available at Guitar Center Stores), Mitsui, Maxell Pro (available at Best Buy Stores), and Taiyo Yuden. Most CD-R media with a gold reflective (burn side) will suffice as high-density. Please refrain from using brands that are not recommended, our suggested brands generally provide for better duplication / replication.
3. The burn speed should be approximately 25-40% of the drive’s maximum capability. For example, the optimum burn speed for a 52x maximum speed burner is 16x-24x.
4. Burn the master disc using the DISC-AT-ONCE option. We strongly suggest avoiding the TRACK-AT-ONCE option. This is very important. This option can normally be found under the “preferences”, “properties” or “options” menu of the CD burning software.
5. Mail in the master enclosed in a CD envelope inside of a CD media mailer or bubble cushioned packaging. Please avoid using jewel cases as these types may scratch the surface during transit. Make sure the disk is NOT SCRATCHED. Any noticeable scratches (even the lightest) could ruin an entire master.
6. DO NOT WRITE ON THE CD. Include the Title, Company / Artist Name, and Phone # on the envelope or on the packaging used to mail in your master.
7. Include a duplicate master CD copy along with the master CD. This copy will serve as a backup, please burn this duplicate at 4x-8x speed.
8. Play/ listen to your master and backup CD on a standard, consumer brand CD player from start to finish before mailing it in.
In the event that your master CD is flawed you will be notified via email. You have the option to approve the master disc that does not pass our Quality Control checks as is or send us a new one. You will be assuming the liability for any errors in the duplication / replication including but not limited to skipping, pops, unwanted noises, etc. if you choose to continue with the failed master. If you decide to send in a new master (recommended) please be advised, your originally scheduled due date will change accordingly.
These guidelines will also suffice for Data CD duplication/replication orders.
Please preview your master CD for accuracy prior to submitting it for production. We are not liable for any content or program effectiveness. We can only guarantee the quality of the duplication / replication process, not your content.
If you’re master CD contains any special requirements or features such as Enhanced CD’s, CD Text encoding, ISRC encoding, etc. It is your responsibility to notify us. Please supply your order number and the notification to: sales@mydiscoutlet.com
For Audio CD orders, DO NOT send us MP3 or WAV files copied on a disc. Please be sure to mail us a PLAYABLE Audio CD, otherwise your order will incur a mastering fee to re-create and convert a copy of your master CD into a medium that we duplicate/replicate from.
Track at once (TAO): The CD-RW drive’s laser burns the first track, stops, burns the 2nd track, stops, etc. When the last track is burnt, the session/CD is closed, either automatically or manually depending on your settings. No more data can be put on the disk. This last stage is called “finalizing” the disk.
Disk at once (DAO): A list of songs is compiled and a computer will create an image of the CD. The laser will burn the CD from start to finish without ever stopping. There is a continuous burn of data. Hence, the entire disk is burnt and finalized in one pass. Note: All data, including track separators, is burnt.
Every time the laser stops and starts up again during a track-at-once recording, there is a small gap, between the tracks, of “un-burnt CD-R”; space that was never touched by the laser. This could be interpreted as missing data or corrupt data. That depends on the quality (accuracy) of the burner’s laser. This could result in skipping, popping, clicks, crackles, or other unwanted sounds in between the songs, at the end of the songs, or at the beginning of the songs. That depends on the drive that’s reading it.
Even with the best (most expensive, most accurate, strongest laser) burner and highest quality media (the kind of CD-R you pay $2-4 for), the highest possible grade that a TAO master can get is a “C”, a very LOW “C”, in our analyzers.
The concept of TAO was thought of because back in the day when CD-RW drives were about $300-500 and CD-Rs cost around $2-5/ea (for the cheap kind), people didn’t want to waste disks. They would burn a track at one place, burn another track from somewhere else (like another studio), etc, and then finalize the disk. Nowadays, CD-Rs are ridiculously cheap. If someone uses 30 seconds worth of a CD-R and throws it away, the losses are minimal. Buy the generic brand for real cheap. Use those for 1-time-uses. Buy the high end CD-Rs for masters. That’s what they’re there for. And YES, there is a difference.
That’s the difference between DAO and TAO. DAO will ALWAYS result in a better quality master.
Standard CD – A round disc with a 120mm diameter and a capacity of 650 to 700 megabytes. That means approximately 74 to 80 minutes of audio or the data equivalent. It can be read on any standard computer’s CD-ROM drive and is compatible with most up to date CD players.
The discs we use have a maximum capacity of 700MB or about 80 minutes of music. Some of this space is used up with space between audio tracks on audio CDs or indexing information on data CDs. To add up the total time of your audio tracks, add the time of all the individual tacks together and then add 2 seconds at the beginning of the disc and 2 seconds between each track, if you choose to do so, to your total.
For data CDs, a general rule of thumb is to allow about 10 to 15 MB of space for indexing. So the maximum total size for files on our data discs is about 685 MB. In the event that the source files you submit to us do not fit on a disc, we will contact you.
There are various shapes that one may choose when deciding on what form the final product will be for CD duplication or replication. These include standard CD, Mini-CD, Hockey Rink CD and Business Card CD options.
Mini- CD – Primarily used for projects that contains a small amount of data. The Mini-CD is a miniature version of the Standard CD. It is 80mm in diameter. It can hold anywhere from 150 to 210 megabytes of data. Or approximately 18 to 24 minutes. Mini-CDs will work in any standard desktop computer’s CD-ROM drive.
Hockey Rink CD – Similar to mini-CDs in size and capacity, but with a slightly different shape. Hockey rink CDs are an excellent way to present portfolios, demo tracks, trade show giveaways, software demos, multi-media presentations, and more. This small size CD has a capacity of 50 to 80 megabytes. Hockey Rink CDs fit any standard desktop computer’s CD drive.
Business Card CD – Frequently used to replace standard business cards, but they pack a lot more information. A business card CD has a capacity of 30 to 40 megabytes of data. It is great for multi-media presentations and a great way to get your business noticed. This CD will only fit into the inner tray of a desktop computer’s CD-ROM drive.
But remember, if your file size is greater than the storage capacity of the disc you choose, you can always add more CDs to a set.
DVDs come in two sizes: 4.7 inches (12 cm) and 3.1 inches (8 cm), both with a thickness of 1.2 mm. The discs are up of two 0.6mm substrates glued together. This is the same way CDs are formed. A DVD can be made to contain recorded content on a single-sided or double-sided disc with each side containing one or two layers of data. The amount of content a disc can hold depends on how much the video and audio are compressed. The often quoted figure time of 133 minutes is not always exact. There are a number of different DVDs with various storage capacities, including DVD-5, DVD-9 and DVD-10.
DVD-5 – 4.7 Gigabytes capacity. It is single layer and single sided with up to 133 minutes of video.
DVD-9 – 8.54 Gigabytes capacity. It is dual layer and single sided with up to 240 minutes of video.
DVD-10 – 9.4 Gigabytes capacity. It is single layer and two sided. Conventional DVD printing is not an option for DVD-10s because both sides of the disc must be readable. This means only printing on the hub of the disc is available.
Mini DVD-5 – 1.1 Gigabytes capacity. It is dual layer and single sided.
Flex Disc DVD-5 – 4.7 Gigabytes capacity. It is single layer and single sided.
Also called “CD Plus,” “ECD”, “Enhanced CD” and “Enhanced CD-ROM,” it is a compact disc format that contains both audio and data. The most common use is to include video or multimedia as the data section of the disc. It uses the multisession capability to store up to 98 audio tracks in the first session and one CD-ROM XA data track in the second session. Audio CD players will play the first session and ignore the second. A multisession CD-ROM drive (all newer drives) will read the last session first, and the software in the data session can cause the audio session to be played.
Audio discs created as Enhanced CDs are handled as a “non-standard” audio disc format as these contain both Redbook audio and data on the same disc, the combination of the two also known as Bluebook CD format. These discs are considered specialized audio discs. This type of disc requires special processing in the duplication process. The disc information must be put through a special decoding procedure to extract the information which is then subsequently transferred to the duplicated discs. When a master is created in an enhanced format with data and audio (Bluebook), the duplicating or replicating service must be informed by the client of such features to ensure the correct processing can be applied.
Our automated production process is designed to produce discs that conform to standard Redbook audio discs duplication and does not transfer specialized disc encoding that is not part of the Redbook Standard. Discs with specialized encoding as mentioned above can be processed outside of our automated system if we are made aware of the special features of the disc and if requested to reproduce said features. If support for and Enhanced CD is required to be copied from your mailed-in master, you must contact us prior to placing the order for special processing and ordering instructions. Additional charges may apply for the specialized handling of the duplication process. Enhanced CD disc projects are not available for uploaded content.
Conceptually very similar to the ISBN number used for books, the ISRC (acronym for International Standard Recording Code) is a 12-character code defined to uniquely identify a music track song). Unfortunately, over the years very few artists have adopted this standard and currently less than one percent Audio CDs use the ISRC. Each ISRC code is its own digital fingerprint. The code is used as a permanent identifier for a recording and is permanently encoded into a product. Royalty payments are then traceable through the encoded ISRC identifying the recordings. The ISRC is encoded in digital sound carriers in the pre-mastering or authoring process of an audio CD in accordance with the specification on the format used. Therefore, the ISRC should be allocated in each recording when a Master is completed and the decision to release a recording has been made. Normally the audio mastering software used will allow an ISRC to be associated with each track. In the case of Compact Discs the ISRCs and other PQ-data are encoded in the disc sub-code (Q channel) in the disc mastering process. For this reason, ISRCs must be encoded for each track in the Pre-Master for CD. A separate ISRC must be assigned to every different track of a recording where there has been new creative or artistic input but not to an unchanged track when it is reused on a new album of recordings. The ISRC codes, together with the Digital Copy Prohibited flag, and the relevant point of sale code, such as EAN/UPC should be inserted on the Pre-Master during the pre-mastering process from the original Master.
The UPC (Universal Product Code) is a 13-digit number that uses the UPC/EAN bar coding standard to uniquely identify the whole CD. The same ISRC considerations apply to the UPC code; very few Audio CDs currently use the UPC.
Audio discs containing ISRC or EAN/UPC encoding are handled as a “non-standard” audio disc format as these are extensions of the Redbook audio recording format and considered specialized audio discs. This type of disc requires special processing in the duplication process. The disc information must be put through a special decoding procedure to extract the information which is then subsequently transferred to the duplicated discs. When a master contains this information or any other special features, such as ISRC coding, enhanced format with data and audio (Bluebook), and so on, the duplicating or replicating service must be informed by the client of such features to ensure the correct processing can be applied. Our automated production process is designed to produce discs that conform to standard Redbook audio discs duplication and does not transfer specialized disc encoding that is not part of the Redbook Standard. Discs with specialized encoding as mentioned above can be processed outside of our automated system if we are made aware of the special features of the disc and if requested to reproduce said features. If support for ISRC or EAN/UPC is required to be copied from your mailed-in master, you must contact us prior to placing the order for special processing and ordering instructions. Additional charges may apply for the specialized handling of the duplication process. Uploaded files do not support ISRC or EAN/UPC.
Discs with specialized encoding as mentioned above can be processed outside of our automated system if we are made aware of the special features of the disc and if requested to reproduce said features. If support for ISRC or EAN/UPC is required to be copied from your mailed-in master, you must contact us prior to placing the order for special processing and ordering instructions. Additional charges may apply for the specialized handling of the duplication process. Uploaded files do not support ISRC or EAN/UPC.
Essentially CD Text is an extension of the existing audio CD standard (“Red Book”) that adds the ability to store text and graphical information like album titles, artist names, and song titles on a music CD. This text is what is displayed on auto CD players and newer home CD players that have CD Text reading capability. Generally scrolling the title of the song across a display as the song is playing. This information is stored in such a way that it doesn’t interfere with the normal operation of any CD players or CD-ROM drives.
Audio discs containing CD Text encoding are handled as a “non-standard” audio disc format as these are extensions of the Redbook audio recording format and considered specialized audio discs. This type of disc requires special processing in the duplication process. The disc information must be put through a special decoding procedure to extract the information which is then subsequently transferred to the duplicated discs. When a master contains this information or any other special features, such as ISRC coding, enhanced format with data and audio (Bluebook), and so on, the duplicating or replicating service must be informed by the client of such features to ensure the correct processing can be applied. Our automated production process is designed to produce discs that conform to standard Redbook audio discs duplication and does not transfer specialized disc encoding that is not part of the Redbook Standard. Discs with specialized encoding as mentioned above can be processed outside of our automated system if we are made aware of the special features of the disc and if requested to reproduce said features.
If support for CD Text is required to be copied from your mailed-in master, you must contact us prior to placing the order for special processing and ordering instructions. Additional charges may apply for the specialized handling of the duplication process. CD Text is not present in files that are uploaded, such as .MP3 and .WAV files. CD Text for uploaded files MUST be provided separately via submission of an email form and purchase of the CD Text Encoding Feature. Discs created from uploaded files WITHOUT purchase of the CD Text Encoding Feature will be duplicated WITHOUT the CD Text… Discs with specialized encoding as mentioned above can be processed outside of our automated system if we are made aware of the special features of the disc and if requested to reproduce said features.
CDDB (which stands for Compact Disc Database) is a database for software applications to look up CD (compact disc) information over the Internet. This is performed by a client who calculates a (nearly) unique disc ID and then queries the database. As a result, the client is able to display the artist name, CD title, track list and some additional information. The database is used primarily by media player and CD ripper software. CDDB was designed around the task of identifying entire CDs, not merely single tracks. The identification process involves creating a ‘disc id’, a sort of “fingerprint” of a CD created by performing calculations on the track duration information stored in the table-of-contents of the CD. This disc id is used with the internet database, typically either to download song names for the whole CD or to submit song names for a newly-identified CD. Note that, as is, if you change the order of the tracks the song names won’t correspond. If you make your own compilation of songs, you can’t get the information for the tracks. There is also a chance that several CDs may generate the same disc id, since this is based on track lengths rather than the actual information in the tracks.
Disc ID, CDDB, FreeDB and similar information is NOT supported for uploaded files. If you want to ensure your disc ID information remains intact, you must mail-in a master from which we will make an exact duplicate.
Blu-ray is the new industry standard High Definition DVD format. It is a high-density physical format that holds 25 GB per layer and up to 2 layers per disc for a total possible capacity of 50GB. Recording capacity on a single layer is about 2 hours of HD video (at 28 Mbps) or about 10 hours of standard-definition video (at 4.5 Mbps).
IPR stands for Intellectual Property Rights Form. Due to special laws governing disc duplication/replication requests, it is necessary that the Intellectual Property Rights Form (IPR) be completed in its entirety in order for us to produce your requested order.
Intellectual property by definition is product of the intellect that has commercial value. Intellectual property is divided into two categories: Industrial property, which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, and industrial designs; and Copyright, which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs. Rights related to copyright include those of performing artists in their performances, producers of recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television programs. The IPR form is a necessary safeguard to protect the rights of everyone involved in creating digital media and is standard for all reputable duplication and replication facilities.
In an effort to make sure Disc Outlet does not duplicate or replicate pirated material, we require that this form be filled out before work begins on a project. This policy also protects our customers from piracy. Disc Outlet will not accept jobs without this form completed correctly, in its entirety and signed by the customer.
If you are a musician who has recorded a cover version of someone else’s song, you need to get a mechanical license authorizing you to reproduce their composition. You can find out who owns the copyright by contacting ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. Then either contacts the owner directly and negotiates your own rate, or contacts the Harry Fox Agency and pays their current rate. Applications for less than 2,500 copies can be made online at http://www.songfile.com.
Only orders shipped within the state of California or New York are taxable unless you are a reseller and have filed a California Resale Certificate with us.
Not everyone has or needs a certificate of resale. It completely depends upon your particular circumstances whether the use of a resale certificate is applicable or not. Under many state laws, which vary by state, when you purchase tangible personal property for resale, the transaction is not subject to sales or use tax, provided the sale is properly documented. In other words, if you are going to resell the product purchased from Disc Outlet to other people, such as a retailer, and you have the proper documents, using a resale certificate it allows you to avoid paying taxes twice.
75% of the total gross amount of the bill is due at the time the order is placed. The balance, including shipping and applicable sales taxes, is due at the completion of your order and must be paid before product is released. Unless you make other payment arrangements in advance, the credit card number used for your deposit will also be used for the balance. If you wish to pay your balance by check or money order, your product will ship once we receive payment and payment has cleared. Disc Outlet accepts all major credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover.
Disc Outlet maintains a full selection of templates to aid you and to ensure quality control over the entire media manufacturing process. By using our templates, the packaging design submission procedure is streamlined, enabling Disc Outlet to deliver the highest quality product with the fastest turnaround times in the industry. Art files not placed in our templates will incur an automatic charge of $75.
We work with a number of different graphic design programs and maintain all the latest versions. Acceptable software applications for artwork submission include Adobe Acrobat, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop and QuarkXPress.
There are a number of ways to submit your artwork. We accept artwork that uses our templates on CD, DVD, USB thumb drive, hard drive, or you can use an FTP. Disc Outlet prefers artwork be submitted in layered files, allowing for greater flexibility with fonts and images if adjustments need to be made. You may use our provided FTP site to upload your files for your convenience.
Screen Printing Produces: With screen printing, the image is stenciled onto the disc face by transferring ink through a fine mesh screen, using CMYK inks. (C=Cyan, M=Magenta, Y=Yellow, K=Black), or Pantone, Hexachrome (6 color), and other color-matching processes. Offset Printing Produces: The offset printing process uses an intermediate blanket cylinder to transfer an image from the image carrier to the disc face, also using CMYK inks, (C=Cyan, M=Magenta, Y=Yellow, K=Black), or Pantone, Hexachrome (6 color), and other color-matching processes.
Pantone Procedures: Pantone color processing is a color matching system, used widely to identify an exact color. This process mixes several inks to provide the unique color chosen from a scale of options. Printing with Pantone will improve solid color range and accuracy over traditional CMYK printing. Pantone printing utilizes silkscreen printing. There are additional costs associated with Pantone printing.
Thermal Printing Produces: With thermal printing, your image is printed on a piece of plastic (thermo chromic paper) and is then adhered to the disc by heating and stamping the disc and thermo chromic paper together. This is a dry toner printing process.
In all actuality, your computer screen displays your art in a 3 color format called RGB (Red, Green, Blue), and we print in a CMYK format, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black, a four color process. Depending on your artwork, the color contrast can be somewhat different.
A barcode is the series of black lines and accompanying numbers, also known as the Universal Product Code that is scannable by computer and used for retail purposes. Disc Outlet can create a barcode for each of your ready for retail projects.
