HURRICANE ENTERTAINMENT, CD PRESSING SPECIALIST AT UNBEATABLE PRICES
So you've recorded enough songs to make an album - congratulations! Now you need to decide whether to release your music digitally or make physical CDs, or even vinyl albums. While CDs are no longer the dominant music distribution format they once were, some listeners still prefer them.
It is up to each musician to decide whether their fans are likely to want a physical copy of the album, and as there are significant costs involved, making CDs doesn't make sense for everyone.
Even if you think most of your fans will go for a digital version of your album, it can still be worth having a short run of CDs available so you can promote your release and sell to people at shows. That is where cost comes in. You will need to decide which format you want for your CDs: pressed or burnt?
1) Pressed or burnt CDs
When you decide to make CDs, especially small runs, you will have the choice between pressed CDs and burnt CDs.
Pressed CDs are sometimes called replicated discs, and burnt CDs are sometimes called duplicated discs. Once you see the difference between these two manufacturing methods, you will understand why these terms make sense.
* Replicated compact disc
Replicated discs - or pressed CDs - are what most people think of when they think of CDs. Manufacturing is sometimes called "pressing". With pressed CDs, the manufacturer takes the master disc you submit and creates a glass master. This glass master is then used to create a nickel stamper and polycarbonate substrates that are metallised.
This process produces an exact replica of your original master, so your final product sounds exactly like that master. You can think of it as "professional quality" - when you buy a CD released by a record label, it is almost certainly a pressed CD.
The advantage of CD pressing is its long-term reliability.
* Duplicated CDs
Duplicated discs - or burnt CDs - are what most people make when they burn CDs at home. A manufacturer takes the music you sent on a CD-R and burns it onto additional CD-Rs for you. Manufacturers can complete the process on a larger scale faster than you could (burning one disc at a time on your computer).
The advantage of CD duplication is the fast turnaround of the order, which does not require a glass master.
The drawback of duplication is the fragility of the disc, which is much more sensitive to scratches and impurities, and the quality of the print itself.
2) This is where size matters
So, to burn or to press, that is the question. The answer depends on the size of your order, your budget and what you hope to do with the product. Duplicated CDs are a good choice for very short runs, as you can order only what you need without the cost of setting up a glass master. If money is an issue, burnt or duplicated CDs are the economical choice for small runs.
If you need larger runs (several hundred or more), replication is probably your best choice. Replication gives a slightly better product, especially as some car CD players have trouble with CD-Rs, and with larger runs the cost of setting up the master becomes more reasonable.
3) Consider your goals
You also need to consider your goals for the project. There is nothing wrong with selling CD-Rs at your shows (priced accordingly) or using CD-Rs for promotion. You can also sell them through your website and many online retailers.
But some retail stores will not sell duplicated CDs. If you are aiming for wide retail distribution and hope to be on many store shelves, replication is probably your best bet. If that is your goal, the size of your order may mean you choose pressing anyway. But if you are in the grey area - say, you want 400 or 500 units - go for replication if you are hoping for a retail push.
CD duplication and replication can both be good choices, so don't overspend on replicated CDs for small runs just for looks or for the sake of that fan with an old car whose CD player can't handle CD-Rs. Instead, choose the option that makes the most financial sense for your album and go from there. Request your affordable CD pressing quote
