When manufacturing a CD, there are some important checks that should be made to make to ensure that your content comes out exactly like you wish it to. If is a DVD with songs you are producing, then adequately preparing your DVD for manufacturing will ensure that the songs are recorded in the correct order and that the spacing in between is also right. One important precaution to take before parting with your master is to make a copy of it.
The master needs to be mixed to two tracks and these are the edited and sequenced tracks. Be sure that the content sounds the way it should. Also, know that every manufacturer will do things a little differently. For instance, some will only do equalization and level if asked to while others do it as a standard part of the service. Also, some will take a look at your master tape and collaborate with you on ways to improve and sharpen it while others will just reproduce what you give them.
Another difference is that there are some manufacturers who may require that you fill a track listing form and submit this together with their master. This will usually be available on their site. On this form you will also be required to give complete and highly accurate running time logs. The time should show all the events on the tape such as songs, pauses, tones and all other content in the order that they should occur.
You might also have to sign a disclaimer from for content that exceeds the standard time of 78:00 minutes. Remember that the longest possible length a CD can run for is 79:45 minutes.
Manufacturers also specify the tape formats they accept. Most of them can work with PMCD master (pre-mastered CD), CD-R master (16-bit/ 44.1kHz CDA format only), Mini Disk, DDP 2.0, Digital Audio Tape (DAT) and half or quarter inch Analog Tape.
Apart from the technical aspects of production, there is a legal side too. Legal audio product suppliers will want to see the relevant license if the content being produced is original and is being manufactured for sale. This is required by law and is a measure taken to protect the rights of singers and songwriters against label owners who may record and distribute their content without paying for the rights to do so.
Lastly, handle the master well. CDs and DVDs should only be touched on the edge as fingerprints and scratches will be heard in form of data errors. As a last precaution in order to prepare the DVD for manufacturing, do a final test prior to parting with the master so that production can begin. The final result will be a precise replica of the master.
The master needs to be mixed to two tracks and these are the edited and sequenced tracks. Be sure that the content sounds the way it should. Also, know that every manufacturer will do things a little differently. For instance, some will only do equalization and level if asked to while others do it as a standard part of the service. Also, some will take a look at your master tape and collaborate with you on ways to improve and sharpen it while others will just reproduce what you give them.
Another difference is that there are some manufacturers who may require that you fill a track listing form and submit this together with their master. This will usually be available on their site. On this form you will also be required to give complete and highly accurate running time logs. The time should show all the events on the tape such as songs, pauses, tones and all other content in the order that they should occur.
You might also have to sign a disclaimer from for content that exceeds the standard time of 78:00 minutes. Remember that the longest possible length a CD can run for is 79:45 minutes.
Manufacturers also specify the tape formats they accept. Most of them can work with PMCD master (pre-mastered CD), CD-R master (16-bit/ 44.1kHz CDA format only), Mini Disk, DDP 2.0, Digital Audio Tape (DAT) and half or quarter inch Analog Tape.
Apart from the technical aspects of production, there is a legal side too. Legal audio product suppliers will want to see the relevant license if the content being produced is original and is being manufactured for sale. This is required by law and is a measure taken to protect the rights of singers and songwriters against label owners who may record and distribute their content without paying for the rights to do so.
Lastly, handle the master well. CDs and DVDs should only be touched on the edge as fingerprints and scratches will be heard in form of data errors. As a last precaution in order to prepare the DVD for manufacturing, do a final test prior to parting with the master so that production can begin. The final result will be a precise replica of the master.
About the Author:
If you want to send a master DVD to a larger market, you need the right software to do DVD duplication quickly and easily. DVD replication should provide copies that are as good as the original.
