CD Mastering Article - Choosing a CD Manufacturer

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Welcome to Mike Wells Mastering

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What is Metadata?

Prep Your Tracks for
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Is My Audio CD
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Performing FTP
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What is an
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Choosing a
CD Manufacturer

Choosing a
Mastering Facility


	Article: Choosing a CD Manufacturer: Download this article as a PDF here. Originally published by Performer Magazine, August 2005 / Reproduced with permission You've completed your latest recording, you have your masters in hand, and it's time to manufacture your release. Choosing a manufacturer can be a difficult process. Some companies seem "too good to be true" and some seem overly expensive. Why is there such a disparity in pricing? What do all the options mean? Read on for some tips on how to select a manufacturer that will deliver a quality product for your release. Manufacturing Options There are two types of manufacturing available: replication and duplication. Replication is the process of creating a pressed CD. A glass master is created from the masters you deliver to the manufacturer, who then "stamp" the information into a layer of the CD. Replicated CDs are guaranteed to be 100% compatible with all CD players on the market, whether old or new. Duplication is the process of "burning" your music information onto a CD-R. It is exactly the same process as when you burn a CD from your computer. Duplicated CDs can have problems on older CD players and on some portable and car stereo devices. Today's players are mostly (90% and higher) compatible with duplicated CDs, making duplication an increasingly viable option for recording artists on a tight budget. Which is better-replication or duplication? The answer depends on your project. If you are creating 1,000 or more units, replication is probably the way to go, since your product will be 100% compatible with all players and the price is right at 1,000 units and higher. If you are creating fewer than 1,000 units, duplication can be the right choice because costs are lower with a small run of CDs. Plants and Brokers Plants manufacturer CDs, while brokers typically do not have any manufacturing equipment, and instead partner with one or more plants. Brokers act as the liaison between you and the actual manufacturing facility. If you're not sure whether you've been talking with a plant or a broker, ask your potential manufacturer if they are a broker. If so, ask how they will handle any problems that come up in the manufacturing process. While brokers can offer some great package deals because they may partner with multiple businesses (a package of mastering, graphics, and duplication, for example), it is in your best interest to find out which companies the broker partners with, and contact those businesses yourself to ensure they will meet your requirements. Specialization Businesses that specialize in one thing tend to do that one thing well. Those that do not specialize (spread themselves across many sectors such as mastering, duplication, logo apparel and stickers) usually are not as good in some or all of those areas. The more diverse a business becomes across different sectors, the more careful you need to be in determining if they can deliver the results you want. Understanding Costs When receiving a quote from a manufacturer, make sure the quote includes all costs: (i.e., manufacturing, artwork, packaging and shrink-wrap, approval, shipping, and sales tax). You may order from out of state to save sales tax only to be hit by the high cost of shipping the units to you. Have your manufacturer go over the quote with you and answer your questions up front; make it clear that you'd like to know in advance about any additional costs not on the quote that you'll get charged for later. Qualifying Added-Value Items Some manufacturers include added-value items, such as submission of your material to online music services and free barcodes. While these can be completely valid and beneficial, don't let this be the deciding factor on your choice of manufacturer: Err on the side of quality first. Artwork Artwork can be one of the most confusing elements of manufacturing. There is artwork required for the insert, the tray card, and the CD, and pricing structures may be based on number of colors, costs per film, costs per project, etc. Make sure you analyze price quotes closely to compare "apples to apples". Look for companies who provide templates for popular graphics programs, and have clearly defined specifications (i.e., DPI, LPI, etc.) for your graphic designer. Find out whether you can supply digital files over the Internet or if they require film to be made and mailed-in. Ask what costs will be added if your artwork requires their modification and if they will notify you of problems before charging you a "correction fee". You should find out how they will provide a proof of the artwork for you to approve. Artwork problems are common and proofs can save a lot of time and money. Approval Copies Some manufacturers offer an approval copy of the audio CD, usually at a small additional cost. This can be an incredible time-saver for both you and the manufacturer, so find out if your manufacturer offers an approval copy in their process. Imagine receiving 1,000 copies of your latest punk release, only to find out it has some blues band on it! It happens. Not only can you verify the audio contents, you can verify that the audio quality matches the masters you submitted, and verify any embedded codes within the master such as ISRC and CD-Text. Support for Up-to-Date Aspects of the CD Medium Most of today's CD-authoring programs commonly support CD-Text and ISRC codes, which are routinely added during the mastering process. Be sure that your manufacturer will carry this information from your masters into your manufactured product. Get that commitment from your manufacturer as part of your order, and verify that the codes have been included when you review your approval copies. Turnaround Time Does your manufacturer guarantee their turnaround time? How will they compensate you if they miss their dates? Is the turnaround time they quoted realistic? What expectations does the manufacturer place on you to guarantee their turn-around time (i.e., your materials must pass their quality inspection process; your artwork must conform to their specifications, etc.). How will you be notified that your submitted materials pass all inspections and that the turnaround time will be met? Preparing Audio Materials for Your Manufacturer If you have gone to a professional mastering facility, your mastering engineer should provide you with audio masters ready to deliver to the plant. If you are preparing your own materials to submit to your manufacturer, use high-quality CD-R media, ensure that your authoring program can create a Red-Bookcompliant audio CD, and burn your master at a slow speed such as 1x or 2x. Don't Wait until the Last Minute Give yourself enough time for manufacturing. If you plan your release party or commit to distributors based on a turnaround time estimate from a manufacturer, you can stress yourself out and rush through important steps which can result in errors in the manufacturing process, creating delays. Treat the manufacturing process with the same respect you give songwriting. Allow time for proper research and for potential delays to save you stress and headaches along the way. You'll be glad you did, and when you slip off the shrink-wrap from the first CD you receive from your manufacturer, you'll have the satisfaction and confidence in the quality of your release. This document is Copyright 2005, Mike Wells Mastering. This document may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Last updated 10/2005.