Preparing Your Master Disc

It is not possible to listen to each audio track or monitor each video that is supplied so we also advise customers to listen or view their discs checking for any low audio and skip issues etc before sending.

All masters should be prepared correctly using high quality discs and copied at low burn speeds. (see guidelines below)

THE DUPLICATION PROCESS
The duplication process involves copying information directly from your supplied master disc, onto our grade A blank discs. Duplication is ideal for short runs (up to 500) and quick turn arounds, within 48 hours, as unlike the replication process, duplication does not require a glassmaster to be produced. Duplication, also known as "burning", this is carried out in-house on our latest industrial robotic auto loading machines and Pioneer drivers. Data from your master disc is then processed onto internal hard drives, this is then verified against your original and recorded onto premium grade A media discs.

Consider the following guidelines when producing your own master discs:

Advice On Supplying CD Masters

If you are supplying your own home produced master disc, please use the following as a guideline.

  • Always use highest quality discs and check for compatibility with your CD writer.
  • Make sure that the reflective underside of the discs are free from dust, marks and scratches
  • Do not use RW rewritable discs
  • Burn your master at a slow speed, never use the maximum speed of your CD writer
  • Check or enable red book compatibility if your software allows it
  • Avoid LE, lite or express versions of burning software as they usually don’t burn to red book standard
  • Use the latest available version of your preferred burning software
  • Verify your master if your software allows it
  • Make a back up of your master, CDs do get lost in the post
  • Check that your master plays or opens correctly, then check again
  • Check for playback compatibility on older stereos and car radios
  • Avoid using the full capacity of your disc, never burn more than 78 minutes of audio
  • If master contains computer data or software check for PC and Mac compatibility
Duplicated or Replicated CDs are only ever as good as the master that is supplied