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Replicated Discs are made with your music, video, or data stamped right into the plastic itself. There are two main used when printing on replicated discs: Offset Printing and Screen Printing.

Offset printing uses the CMYK printing process consisting of UV inks. It is most often printed on top of a white screen print flood. Most printers can also print up to two spot colors. A gloss coat may also be added in place of a spot color. This will have the effect of increasing the gloss level and the vibrancy of the print.

The other print method is Screen Printing. Unlike CMYK printing that can produce a wide range of colors, screen printing can typically only use up to five premixed colors. The colors can be used together and mixed to produce a variable brightness or gradients of the color. The resolution of screen printed discs is not as high as offset printed discs. Also, since the colors are premixed, a white flood is not required. However, color separations ARE required for screen printing. Often a vector based program is used to produce the design for the disc. This can make design much more challenging for the amateur designer. And using a design service like those at Ultra Entertainment is extremely helpful!

Ultra Entertainment uses the highest quality print process available for both of their Duplication and Replication processes. This ensures that the product you get will be the best both in quality and in presentation.

We will start first with a discussion about Duplication printing. There are three main methods to print on a duplicated disc and there are a few variations of those technologies. The available methods include inkjet, printed adhesive label, and thermal print.
Inkjet printers come in a couple of variations. The main difference is the type of ink and how it is cured. Standard inkjet printers use off-the-shelf ink that doesn’t adhere very well to the plastic discs. Usually you can rub off some of the ink with your fingers. Some companies put a clear label over the top to protect the ink. There are also large production inkjet printers that use a UV cured ink. This ink won’t rub off. The quality of these printers vary greatly.

Another popular method is to print on labels and then stick them to the surface of the disc. This is probably what you've done before if you've made a disc label at home. Like any sticker, those can peel up from heat or cold over time.

The best print quality on duplicated discs is definitely by thermal retransfer printers. This method prints a digital image right to the surface of the disc. This method is very high quality but also very expensive. Resolution ranges from 170 DPI up to 600 DPI.

Ultra Entertainment uses our own process called Chroma Plus Disc Printing. This means we use a 600 DPI digital print that is fused to the top of the disc and lacquer coated to protect the print. It produces a glossy 600 DPI print and provides the best on disc print possible! It provides the best resolution available on a printed disc with a glossy shine! With Chroma Plus print it is near impossible to tell the difference between a Replicated product and a duplicated product!

As part of your preparation process for placing your disc Duplication or Replication order, you will need to print and fill out a few forms. There are two forms required with every CD or DVD Duplication or Replication order through Ultra Entertainment. They are the Terms & Conditions and the Replication Rights forms.

The first form we will review is your Terms & Conditions form. This form should be read carefully before you sign it. The purpose of this form is to explain to you many important steps and processes that will pertain to the successful completion of your order. There are many things that Ultra Entertainment want you to be aware of and this form allows you to review all of final important points to cover before producing your discs. After you carefully review this form, simply sign it and mail it in along with your master disc.

The second form that is required is called the Replication Rights Form or IPR form. This form is very important to Ultra Entertainment because without it, they cannot legally duplicate or replicate your discs. The form is there to protect you as the artist or the business professional and it helps to ensure that the company is following the proper laws as it pertains to cd/dvd Duplication and Replication.

The form has several sections where you will detail out the title of your project and how it will be distributed. You will also indicated such things as the Artist Name, Content or Music Type and whether or not you are the owner of all song writing and publishing rights. If you are not the owner of the music you are copying, there is a section on the form that will allow you to indicate where you have obtained the proper licensing. In a nutshell, if the music you are recording was not written by you, you must obtain 'rights' to be able to record and copy it. This pertains most commonly to 'cover songs' but can apply to sampled tracks as well as other types of copying.

For more information on obtaining rights, I suggest you visit such websites as: www.harryfox.com or www.easysonglicensing.com. They answer these questions every day and can assist you to ensure you have all of your ducks in a row before you start your disc duplication or replication process.

In a nutshell, copyrighting prevents others from copying your music or data without your expressed permission. It is not necessary to copyright your music in order to produce a disc but it may be something that you would like to consider before, during or after the process.
You can officially copyright your music with the U.S. Copyright Office or you can use what is often termed as the 'poor man's copyright.' I am not by any means giving you legal advice on which option is right for you but, instead, to only provide you with some information on the available options.

For official copyrighting information, I recommend that you visit www.copyright.gov. This is where you can find all current and accurate information as it pertains to official copyrighting.

If you would like to take a more hands on approach you can follow what many people do and that is to set up a Poor Man's Copyright. The poor man's copyright is not fail proof but it is affordable and easy to do which is why many people choose it. The process is simple. First, put any items that you want to copyright such as music, lyrics or designs into an envelope. Second, seal the envelope and third, mail it to yourself through the United States Postal Service. When you get it 'back' in the mail, do NOT open it. The postal service will have placed a date and seal on it so as long as you do not open the envelope it is an accurate date stamp of when you created your music. If you set it aside in a safe place, you will always have a reference.

Before you start the disc duplication/replication process you must have a viable ‘Master CD’. To obtain a useable master you will need to go through the recording, mixing and mastering process. The process of Recording, Mixing and Mastering really requires a separate and detailed blog of its own, but I would like to cover a few of the very basics as a quick introduction. This will also act as a good 'base' for you.

Before you can make copies, you will of course need to record the music you have written. One decision you will need to make in this process is to determine HOW you want to record your music. There is no right or wrong choice here, but there are two main options that most artists will choose from.

The first option is to record 'live'. This often creates a more 'raw' sound. Depending on the style of your music, you may want this sound. The second option is to use a multi-track recording process where each instrument is individually recorded, or 'stemmed'. A multi-track recording will typically give you a more polished, clear sound.

After you decide how to record, you will need to decide where you want to record. One option would be to reserve time at a local recording studio and have a professional help you through the process. You can check in your local phone book or do an online search for a studio in your area. We recommend that you spend some time researching and try to find a reputable establishment where you can get customer testimonials to ensure the studio is a good fit for your needs. The recording process is not only very time consuming, but it can be extremely stressful and expensive so you want to make sure you partner with a studio that is going to be a good fit for you and your budget.

The second recording option is to purchase your own recording equipment and record "in-house". While this gives you complete artistic freedom and control, it can be a daunting experience if you are not knowledgeable about using the equipment you purchase.

After you record, you will need to move into the next phase which is mixing and mastering. This is where you will spend the most significant amount of time. Mixing involves a lot of 'playing around' with your music. You may do things such as add in effects, adjust fade, equalize your tracks and more. This is also where you will perfect the flow of the song.

The last and final step after your tracks are mixed is to begin the Mastering Process. Mastering is where you perform all of the fine tuning. You will also adjust levels of the songs to ensure they all play at the same volume on your master disc. This last step ensures that your music is exactly as you want your fans to hear it.

Remember that this has been a VERY simplistic description, and does not cover the Recording, Mixing & Mastering process in much detail. 

In order to create your retail ready final product, you must have artwork designed and ready to print. When we discuss the term ‘artwork’, we are referring to the images, graphics, logos and text that we will print on your packaging, inserts, tray cards and disk face.

The first thing to consider is what design program you will use to set up your artwork. There are many design programs available and it is important to select a program that is created for designing artwork for print and not a program designed only for website design or other design. Please see our blog titled "Creating Your Artwork" for a more indepth description of popular programs used by designers. 

No matter what program you use, you may need some help to understand the proper sizing of your artwork. To ensure that your design is set up correctly, we highly recommend the use of Ultra Entertainment's free design templates. The main purpose of the artwork templates are to aid in the making of your artwork. They help you understand where the cuts and fold will occur in your design. They also ensure that you are working in the correct resolution (300dpi). It is recommended that you work in a program that supports layers, such as Photoshop, so you can work on top of the template and then turn it off so it doesn’t appear in your print. It is not an uncommon mistake for a design to be submitted with the guidelines ‘locked’ into the artwork. This poses an obvious problem as the lines would print on the final product.

Templates include important elements that you need to consider when you are doing your design. These include the Bleed, Cut, Safety and Fold lines. The cut and fold lines are fairly easy to explain as it is where we plan to cut and fold the paper used in your CD Packaging. What may be a little less obvious are the terms “bleed” and “safety.” 

As we discuss the bleed and safety lines, it is important that you understand the limitations of print and that it is not possible to cut each piece in exactly the right location every time. You may envision that a printer prints right to the edge of the page and it is 100% accurate. The reality is that your artwork is actually printed on very large sheets of paper along with many other projects. These large pages are then cut up on a large guillotine cutter. This is done by an actual person and subject to the machine tolerances which are typically about 1 millimeter. Keep in mind that the one millimeter variance shows up on both sides of your print so the net effect is that it can be off by up to 2 millimeters. An experienced designer understands this and designs in such a fashion that it won’t matter. Amateur designers often don’t consider this and may be disappointed with the results. Here are some things you want to consider with your design to avoid disappointment.

We strongly advise you to avoid using borders around your print. The one millimeter deviation in the cut causes the design to look flawed as it relates to the border. It is your responsibility as the designer to consider the limitations of the technology in your design. Another thing to consider if you are printing a multi-page booklet that is stapled is not to overlap your design from one page to the next. Doing so increases the potential that the variance will affect the overall presentation of your design.

Pay attention to your “Bleed Line” when you are designing your backgrounds. The bleed line is the outside line on the template. All background color or images should extend at least to or, ideally, past the bleed line. This ensures that when we cut your artwork there will not be any white edges.

Finally, be sure to notice the “Safety Line” which is the inside line on the template. Any and all elements of importance should be well within the safety line. Typically this means that you want to keep all of your text within that area. Folds are a little more accurate than cuts, but again…if you want your piece to look as good as possible, try not to have a dramatic change across your folds. These are things that designers who design for the print world understand. Ultra Entertainment has a full design team available to meet all of your design needs if you do not feel comfortable taking on the task yourself. Our designers are experienced and understand the ins and outs of the design process. They will take all of the stress out of the process for you. If you are ordering design services you will want to take a little time to organize your thoughts and ideas. When organizing your ideas for your design, you will come up with ideas such as color scheme, look and the “feel” that you are going for. For example, is your music dark and ominous, or light and cheery? These sorts of descriptions will help our designers to better understand the look you are trying to achieve. You will also want to gather any photos, images, graphics, logos or other items you want us to use in the design process. Lastly, you will want to organize any copy you want us to use. Copy refers to all of the text or wording that will be included in your project. This includes things like your title, song track names, thank you notes, and more. Once all of this information is presented to the design team, they will go to work for you!

The design process is just that, “a process.” The more detailed your description, the quicker the designers will be able to achieve the perfect design that you are looking for. It is inevitable that you will have to do at least one or two initial proofs before your design is ready for print. A proof will be sent to you for evaluation. You will look it over, make changes/suggestions and then resubmit to the designer. They will then make the necessary tweaks and resend back to you to proof again. This process is repeated until you are happy with the final design!

As an artist you are probably most concerned with your music, and that's how it should be! As your CD provider Ultra Entertainment wants to remind you of another very important piece to your 'CD Puzzle', and that is the 'turn time' or the time it takes for a manufacturer to make your CDs and get them into your hands.

My strong recommendation to all artists is to give yourself PLENTY of time before scheduling any events or, more importantly, scheduling that very important 'Release Party' to make sure you have your product! The worst possible feeling is to have your event date arrive without CDs to support it.

When considering the production time of your discs there are 3 important parts to remember:

Part #1 is the pre-press time. This also includes the time it will take you to mail in your master CD and all other materials you will need to process your order. Pre-press involves uploading your artwork to a designer who will 'pre-press' or review it to ensure it is set up properly for print. A proof is typically emailed back to the band to approve before moving to the next phase. Pre-press can take up to 3 business days and in some cases can take even longer. For example, if the artwork you have submitted is not ready for print you may be required to re-upload it.

Part #2 of your production time is that actual 'pressing' of your CDs. Production can vary dramatically between duplicated and replicated orders as well as between jewel case and cardboard-type orders. It is very important that you discuss the projected turn-time with the person handling your order so they can give you an acurate time range and help you to determine if you would need to RUSH your order to meet any important events. NOTE - All production time is based on business days which means it is a Mon-Fri schedule excluding weekends and any major holidays. Another KEY thing to remember is that standard production time is never guaranteed. As much as every company would like to hit its projected ship date 'dead on' everytime, it just doesn't always happen. There are probably a hundred different potential delays that can happen during the production of your project from the making of the discs, printing of the inserts, packaging and prepping for shipment. Don't schedule your event based on projected dates...MAKE SURE they have shipped before making plans whenever possible.

Part #3 is the ship time. If you live within the Continental U.S. your ship time will vary from 2-5 business days in most cases. However, there can be shipping delays with the carrier such as your UPS driver missing your house! Always build-in some extra time on shipping days to make sure you have them well ahead of schedule. Also remember shipping services run only on business days as well.

Hopefully this little information will help you in your future endeavors. If you have any questions about turn-times please contact one of our sales representatives who can assist you further!

Eventually you may want to consider adding ISRC codes and CD -Text to your CD Duplication project. This is an optional step and can be added during the mastering process or after your discs are created.

ISRC codes are made to identify a particular recording of a song. ISRC codes are used by retailers like iTunes, Napster, and Rhapsody to report music sales to services like SoundScan. ISRC codes can be embedded into the CD during the mastering process, or you can pay a company like Ultra Entertainment to embed them during the Duplication or Replication process.

CD-TEXT is an extension of the standard Audio CD format. It allows storage of addition information such as Album Title, Song Name, Artist and Genre on the cd itself. Encoding CD-Text Titles on a master WILL NOT cause Artist, Song Name, or other information to so display in media programs like iTunes, Napster or Rhapsody. Some more recently made car and home stereos support this format, but we find that it is only about 20% of today's systems. If you want your project information to show up in media programs, you’ll need to use Gracenote, Inc.

Gracenote, Inc. manages the “CDDB” or Compact Disc Database. This service is used by most of the popular media player programs like iTunes, Windows Media Player, Napster, Rhapsody, etc. When a CD is inserted into your compatible device, the first few bits of information are read and sent over the internet to the CDDB database. Since those bits are likely to be unique per disc and per song, the CDDB database service can look up the Artist, Song Name, and other information in their database and send it back to your computer. This database can store a lot of information about the project including album artwork! The data is then copied down into your computer and presented whenever you use the disc. If you insert a disc and find that it doesn’t have CD text, you can title it yourself and transmit it to CDDB using programs like iTunes. Within a few weeks, it should appear in their system. You can also register for a Gracenote account and make entries in a more direct way.

*Sony purchased Gracenote in 2008.
**Note that some free players don’t use the Gracenote CDDB service. 

Did you know that every time you burn a cd, errors are introduced?

Better quality media burning at a lesser speed will introduce the least errors. Errors in the burn typically won’t become any audible defects. The CD and DVD standards have error correction built in to minimize skipping and tracking issues. As players get old and discs get abused by normal wear and tear, it is harder for players to read them. Older players may even have a hard time tracking discs WITHOUT errors for a variety of reasons such as a dirty or worn out laser, calibration problems etc.
Another good thing to consider is that discs can inherit any flaws in the original master. So if you make a copy of a copy of a copy, the disc error rate increases slightly. When creating your master to send to Ultra Entertainment be sure to consider all of the recommendations below to create the most reliable disc with the fewest errors:

1) Send only a first generation disc.
2) Burn your original at very slow speeds. 2x, 4x, 8x. Some burners are more compatible with one brand of media over another and burn more reliably at certain speeds. In general, speeds under 8 times will yield the best results
3) Use a late model burner with the latest firmware upgrades
4) Test your disc in a CD or DVD player (or TWO) to ensure it works reliably. Also make sure you listen to the COMPLETE disc!
5) Utilize testing tools to ensure that you don’t have too many errors. Nero burning software includes testing applications that are compatible with most CD/DVD burners.
6) Don’t touch or scratch either side of the disc. Handle it by the edges only, and always with clean hands.
7) If you are making an audio disc, ensure that you have an actual “Audio” disc and not MP3 or WAV files on a data disc. If you test your CD in a cd player other than a computer, it typically won’t play if it is not an audio disc. Some newer CD players will play MP3 files, however. If you test in a computer, it will often play a disc full of MP3 files as if it were an audio disc.

Remember, your duplicate/replicate discs will only sound as good as your master!

A critical step in the process of creating your CDs is to choose which type of packaging you want. Choosing your packaging is an important step because it will indicate how much room you will have for artwork design. Ultra Entertainment strives to offer you several packaging options to consider.

Probably the most well recognized packaging option is the Jewel Case. These have been around for years and you have undoubtedly purchased many of them when buying music from your favorite artist. The jewel case is the standard plastic case you will see in most every retail CD store including places like Wal-Mart or Target. The cases are made of clear plastic and allow for a paper insert to be placed in the front of the case and a tray card insert that is locked into the back of the case under the plastic tray card area that holds your disc. The insert can be as simple as a single square of paper with artwork on both sides, which is called a 2-panel insert, or as complex as a 32-page stapled booklet. The tray card insert which sits under the tray card, can be printed on one or both sides. The most common is the one-sided tray card that displays on the back of the jewel case with your track listing. You can also choose to have something printed underneath the CD when you pull it out of the case which would be a two-sided tray card. For the plastic tray holding your disc, you can choose from several different colored trays. Jewel Case Packages are probably the most popular package option due to their cost effectiveness and the fact that it has been accepted as an industry standard.