If your band has just recorded an album or EP to be sent to venues and media outlets or to sell at gigs, you may be wondering if you should have copies made using duplication or replication methods. There are a number of factors you should take into consideration when making your decision such as the number of copies you need and your budget.
Here's an overview of the differences between the two methods:
The Duplication Process
The duplication process is similar to burning a CD at home, but professionally duplicated CDs can also come with on-disc printing, which gives them a professional look. Your music is encoded onto each blank disc by a machine that burns microscopic holes into the top layer of the disc, and several discs can be completed at once thanks to multi-tower machines that are designed for mass-producing CDs.
The ease with which CD duplication companies can complete several hundred discs makes this option ideal if you need a quick turnaround time. Additionally, because there's minimal equipment setup involved, it's possible to order smaller quantities of duplicated CDs than you can if you opt for replication. This is because it's not cost-effective for companies to spend time setting up a replication run for a small number of CDs.
Duplication is ideal if you want a professional looking product that can be tailored to fit your budget. You can order a short run of 50-100 CDs at a time, meaning you don't have to be worried about being stuck with leftover CDs for an extended period.
The Replication Process
The replication process involves pressing your music onto the surface of blank CDs, so each disc is manufactured from your glass master disc. This is the method used by professional recording artists, but the process of creating your glass master makes CD replication more expensive than duplication.
Your master disc from the recording studio is copied onto a circular block of glass that's coated with chemicals that preserve the data. It's then polished to ensure there are no microscopic scratches on the glass, coated in a light-sensitive material, and baked to harden the surface. The next step is to coat it in a nickel layer to create a durable disc that can be used to press thousands of CDs without loss of sound quality.
CD replication is a good option if you require a large run of thousands of CDs or if you want a finished product that matches the quality of those produced by major record labels. However, this may not be the best way to spend your band's budget if you simply want CDs to sell at gigs or send to venues.
If you're having your latest material duplicated or replicated, ask your chosen company about their package deals. It's typically more cost-effective to have the CDs, booklets, cases, and shrink-wrapping taken care of by the one company. Contact a company such as AA Duplication Services (Vic) Pty Ltd to learn more.
Share