Music Duplication

Further your career by choosing the best music CD duplication services and equipment
By Kristina Seleshanko At some point in life, every professional musician will be in charge of music duplication. Almost every musician requires a demo CD, and you'll need many copies of that disk to send out to prospective clients. Or perhaps you'll start your own record label; in that case, you'll want professional, long run audio duplication services or equipment.

Music CD duplication companies are abundant, and there are also plenty of sources for machines and supplies for duplicating music. But before you choose someone to do your audio CD duplication, carefully consider the following:

1. Do you need short run duplication services?

2. Do you need long run "replication" music duplication services?

3. Do you need to invest in your own audio CD duplication machines?

Choose music disk duplication services for shorter runs

Most of us are familiar with CD music duplication; this is the process we use with a modern CD burner. In brief, duplication is when your music is digitally gathered from your primary source (usually a file on a computer or a CD) and transferred to a blank, recordable disk. There are a vast number of music CD duplication companies; look for one that best suits your needs with regards to large or small runs, and extra services like artwork and packaging.
Try:  EDoc Publish offers CD duplication for music, including black-and-white and color printing on the disks. Ultra Entertainment provides large and small run CD duplication. US Digital Media offers wide ranging services, including CD duplication with color, packaging and lots of add-ons. For custom work, Princeton Disc can help with packaging and design services, in addition to providing CD duplication services.

Find a replication service for duplicating music in larger runs

Replication (also called "pressing" or "molding") is how the large label music CDs you buy in the store are created. Your primary source is entered into a machine and physically stamped onto a CD. You can't add or change data on replicated disks. When looking at music CD duplication prices, you'll find that replication is affordable as long as your run is over 1,000.
Try:  DCA Media Solutions provides CD replication as well as packaging. For bulk CD replication and printing services, check out CDDVD Now!. Acutrack offers professional replication services, photo-realistic printing, copy protection and more. DiscBurn offers CD and DVD replication, as well as printing services.

Try do-it-yourself audio duplication

Unless you're wanting to duplicate very small quantities, the do-it-yourselfer is going to need more than the usual CD burner that comes with a PC. You can attach CD copiers to your computer and, together with copying software, they're great for duplicating small runs of music CDs. Some automated versions are also available for larger runs. There are also stand-alone machines that are good for larger runs.
Try:  ProAction Media carries a nice selection of CD and DVD duplicators, printers and packaging equipment. For more duplication equipment and lots of duplication supplies, check out Disc Makers. Primera Technology offers a full line of CD duplication machines, from entry-level types to high-end types. Rimage also sells professional quality CD and DVD duplication machines and printers.

• If you know what to look for, it's easy to tell the difference between a music CD duplication or replication. Duplicated disks have a colored bottom.