Definition: Most bands that decide to record their projects in their home recording studio also want to release their album on CD. While digital distribution has easily become the wave of the future -- and the compact disc's biggest competitor in the marketplace -- many artists still love selling actual, physical copies.
One of the ways your CD can be manufactured is called replication, and that's what we'll focus on in this article. Replication is a touchy subject; it's the way all professional CD releases are manufactured, and sometimes a term used incorrectly by less than scrupulous duplication companies.
Replicated CDs are generally much higher quality than burned CD-Rs, or "duplicated" CDs. This is because they're made quite differently, with higher cost materials. In order to be replicated, a CD must be made into a master -- usually a piece of glass, which is etched with the individual grooves that a laser will read in order to play the CD. This reverse cast is used to mold a high-quality reflective disc. This is different than CD duplication, in that the reverse-cast master gives a higher level of accuracy, and a much more stable material over a long period of time. In fact, some CD-Rs from the early 2000s are already starting to be unable to be read due to the low quality of burning dyes at that time.
While the upside is quality, CD replication is quite expensive. While in major bulk orders you can be down to pennies per disc, for small run orders less than 500, CD duplications still reigns king as the most cost-effective way to master your CD.
One of the ways your CD can be manufactured is called replication, and that's what we'll focus on in this article. Replication is a touchy subject; it's the way all professional CD releases are manufactured, and sometimes a term used incorrectly by less than scrupulous duplication companies.
Replicated CDs are generally much higher quality than burned CD-Rs, or "duplicated" CDs. This is because they're made quite differently, with higher cost materials. In order to be replicated, a CD must be made into a master -- usually a piece of glass, which is etched with the individual grooves that a laser will read in order to play the CD. This reverse cast is used to mold a high-quality reflective disc. This is different than CD duplication, in that the reverse-cast master gives a higher level of accuracy, and a much more stable material over a long period of time. In fact, some CD-Rs from the early 2000s are already starting to be unable to be read due to the low quality of burning dyes at that time.
While the upside is quality, CD replication is quite expensive. While in major bulk orders you can be down to pennies per disc, for small run orders less than 500, CD duplications still reigns king as the most cost-effective way to master your CD.