KVR Audio

plunge · Post by **plunge** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:12 pm

With all the talk about CD's and rolling your own, I thought it might be useful to discuss some ideas on duplicating.

I know some just burn a CD-R and call it a day, but I think with computer technology, there's no reason that a self-published release can't look as good as the stuff on the shelf at Tower.

As for getting copies, does anyone use an online duplicator or do you just make them in the CD-Burner and put a little label on it? I know the cheapest way is to mass produce 500 - 1000 at a CD plant, but then you have 500 - 1000 CDs that you may not be able to unload. Plus, even though the per unit cost is down, it's still at least $500 to go that route.

I see stuff online about small run thermal printing. I've seen CD's like that, but they usually don't look great.

For the record, here's how I'm doing my discs:
* Burn CD's to order from my Mac
* Print artwork to order on high quality paper on nice color printer. Like Kinkos (here in the States) but done at work. It's cheaper for me to pay for them here than at the copy place.
* Cut artwork down on paper cutter
* Fold artwork
* Put CD label on discs
* Insert all artwork and discs in new Jewel Cases
* Take finished discs to another copy place that does shrink-wrapping.

When it's all said and done, they look pretty good, but since it's an EP, I'm not really making any money on the darn things. I sell them for a five spot and put about $3 plus too much time into each one. Guess I won't be hiring an assistant anytime soon. I've done about 50 this way and it gets old in a hurry.

Share your ideas, please!

fishbowl.tucson.az · Post by **fishbowl.tucson.az** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 7:40 pm

plunge wrote:I know the cheapest way is to mass produce 500 - 1000 at a CD plant, but then you have 500 - 1000 CDs that you may not be able to unload.

Surprisingly enough, short runs of CDs ("pressed" CD-Audio, not CDR) are at about the same price point as vinyl was the last time I was involved in a vinyl production (1980s). Adjusted for inflation, that means they are *cheap*.

The thing about vinyl was, we spent a LOT more money on the cover art than the LP. 4-color offset printing on the 12" cardboard sleeve was more than the record. A lot more.

jones-y · Post by **jones-y** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 8:59 pm

Get yourself one of these and some of these and these.

Thank me in the morning.

Ixox · Post by **Ixox** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:38 am

I should receive my 100 CDs tomorrow.

I also thought about the best way to make them.

In France it's complicated to have the company burn the CD for you... You have pay to have a legal aknowledgement.

What i found is a little company that provides you "blank CDR" that you have to burn yourself.
You provide the image files and they give you back serigraphied CD-R and the covers in a crystal box.
Seems to be the simpler, cheaper way when you want something like 100 CDs with a commercial look.

Edited : they are not "shrink-wrapped"

Wopelka · Post by **Wopelka** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 9:52 am

Ixox wrote:I should receive my 100 CDs tomorrow.

haydxn · Post by **haydxn** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 11:53 am

ixox, that sounds really great!

any chance of letting us know who this company is?

verstaerker · Post by **verstaerker** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:01 pm

http://www.novatune.de/titlee.html
they release it for you (120€ for an album)

Ixox · Post by **Ixox** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:02 pm

haydxn wrote:ixox, that sounds really great!
any chance of letting us know who this company is?

http://www.h-tt.com/
Not really an international company....

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 12:03 pm

I'm about to swap my Yamaha DJX keyboard for an automated CD duplicator

Im probably going to pick up a cheap CD-printing Epson as well so if it works out, I'm quite happy to handle the next KVR meet CD's, and mebbe ultra-short runs of stuff for frenzannacquaintances...

plunge · Post by **plunge** » Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:47 pm

Yeah, they don't look very "international" ixox.

When I can't read the web site, I usually don't buy from them.

I'm sure somebody around here (the US) does that as well. We all know what screen-printed CD's look like, so let us know how happy you are with them. And of course how we can buy one. After you print the music on it.

I hear they make great stocking stuffers...

Do you even stuff stockings in France? Probably sounds a little weird...

knockman · Post by **knockman** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 10:56 pm

i don't release anything as such but occasionally produce odd 'tailor mades' for interested folk. i've had an epson printer for about 3 years that prints pretty well, including direct to CD-R. it's ok for this level of production but if you do more than half a dozen at a time it's no fun.

one thing about direct CD-R printing though is it looks cool at first but the print and printable surface degrade and they're sensitive to atmospherics, can't tolerate any moisture. some of the discs i printed 2 years ago look almost archaeological. some media brands are better than others in this respect, here in japan i've found TDK and IO DATA discs best so far, but it's not something easily tested as it takes time.

hope this is helpful.

regards

edit: just purchased your CD ixox, for the music of course, but now i'm intrigued by the packaging! production

Ixox · Post by **Ixox** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 12:02 pm

Thanks for the purchase....

I'm very happy with the CD printing result...
Those who ordered one will see

plunge · Post by **plunge** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:32 pm

Just read these last two posts. Look forward to seeing the disc, as well, Ixox.

Jeff

Makin' CDs