Press CDs
Introduction
If the cost of pressing vinyl is too expensive for you then CDs could be the way for you to go.
Read on for:
Making CDs at home
Using companies to make 50+
Mass producing CDs
Disk artwork
Cover artwork
Where to sell them
Giving them away
"Duplicating a 74 minute CD at home would take over ten minutes. It would not be practical to duplicate hundreds of CDs at those speeds."
Paul Lines
Director
Media Heaven.co.uk
CDs at Home
There are two types of computer based CD recorders.
The most common are CD-R drives which use disks that can only be written to once. So if something goes wrong, you have to bin the disk and use a new, blank one.
There are also CD-RW drives which will write to the use-once type of disks but can also handle rewritables.
Rewritable blanks are slightly more expensive and regular CD players may have a problem playing them.
Most cats use CD-Rs for public use and CD-RWs for working with.
To make audio CDs on a computer you will also need special software, such as Adaptec 'Toast' or Sonic Foundry 'SoundForge'.
If you don't have a computer, you can buy stand-alone CD recorders. These usually look like ordinary CD players but cost more.
"Duplicating CDs at home is the cheapest way to get your CDs, however unless your CD-R recorder is good, you may have quality problems on other players."
Roy Varley
Managing Director
Spool Multi Media
Make 50+ CDs
There are plenty of pressing companies who will do short runs of CDs for you, maybe 50 at a time.
These will be also be CD-Rs but probably won't have the green dye on the bottom so they will look a bit more professional.
Most duplication companies offer a complete package and will print and even design sleeve artwork.
Have a look in music magazines or the phone book for details of duplication companies in your area.
Price depends on how many you order, but expect to pay around £2 per disk if you want 100 or less.
Most places will copy directly from a CD master that you supply.
If you bring in a DAT cassette they may charge you to make up a master CD that they can duplicate.
Mass Producing
The CDs you buy in shops are mass-produced using an injection-moulding process.
Making the mould is hard which is why the start-up cost is quite high.
Once you've done that, you can knock out the actual disks for next to nothing.
Buying 2,000 can be cheaper on a cost per disk basis but it's important not to get carried away and order trailer loads just because they're cheap.
You can look in a music directory (see list) for details of duplicating companies in your area. They will also advertise in specialist music publications and the phone book.
They'll usually be able to offer you a complete package, including artwork for the disk and its case, and mastering if you need it.
If you are getting disks mass-produced, you may need a licence from the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society before you start. Have a look at the Radio 1 OneMusic site for more info.
"They cost from between 40/50p down to say 20p depending on the quantity. However a charge of £200 is made for 'glass mastering'. This is necessary to be able to press the CDs."
Roy Varley
Managing Director
Spool Multi Media
Disk Artwork
One good thing about getting your CDs done professionally is that the company will be able to print text or graphics onto the actual disk.
Three types of on body print are available:
Inkjet print- low cost, low quality printing and lower quantities.
Thermal print- another option for smaller quantities. It's higher quality but cannot do full colour printing.
Screen-print- provides a quality finish with full colours and metallic finishes if required.
If you're doing it at home though, you're going to have to either hand write your track names onto the CD or use paper or plastic labels which you can then run through your printer and stick onto the disk.
It will defo look better but the extra weight on the disk may stop it from playing if the label isn't on exactly right, so you need to check that each disk plays after you've labelled it.
Cover Artwork
Unless you've got a badbwoy printer you're unlikely to have the print quality to compete with the pro disks in the shops.
So approach a printing company and check the cost of doing a short run - you'll probably have to order a minimum of 100 or so.
Then just use them as you need them.
Most printers will be well used to printing CD inserts so you shouldn't need to deal with a specialist company. Check the phone book and get some quotes.
If you're using a pro company to duplicate your CDs they may offer a printing service too but check around to see you've got the best deal.
Where To Sell Them
PAs are your best bet so try and get a brethren to sell them for you inside the venue.
Otherwise, many local record shops will take CDs on sale-or-return but you could also try the music stall at your local market.
People buy their music from all over so don't discriminate.
Remember though that you're going to need good promotion to get some hype going for your product and also to let the general public know that they can buy your tracks.
If you're doing PAs out of town, it may be worth your while dropping a few in at local shops in the hope that word of mouth from your performance creates a demand for them after the event.
Contact whoever booked you to find out which shops to hit.
Selling through a website is also an option. You can approach established sites like MP3.com or Peoplesound, who will duplicate disks as people order them.
Alternatively, you can sell your own through your site.
Giving Them Away
Although it's good to try to make some money back on all that recording and duplicating cost, many artists now accept that selling their own CDs can be a lot more stress than it's worth.
Instead, they're taking the line that it's an investment in their future and simply giving the disks away.
It's hard on the pocket but it's definitely something to consider.
Offering a free disk to the first few people through the door of your PAs can increase your audience, or you can use free CDs to sweet people into joining your mailing list.
"Send them to tastemakers, radio deejays, to start creating a buzz on the record you are releasing."
Lisa Lindahl
PR Manager
The Playcentre
More... from How to...
Press vinyl
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/distribution/vinylp01.shtml
Approach the media
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/mediap01.shtml
Send out white labels/demos
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/whitep01.shtml
Promote your releases
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/promotep01.shtml
More... from the web
Radio 1 OneMusic: MCPS
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/management/mcpsownp01.shtml
(c) BBC 1Xtra 1XMusic 2006