ORIGINAL: samhoff

Wow, everyone, thanks for all the great input.

Got to thinking about a couple more questions, specifically, what are "needs" as I do this. Do I "need" to have a bar code on my CD's? Do I "need" to register them somehow with CDDB? Do I "need" to have the words "copyright 2007" on both the CD and the cover somewhere? How about words like "produced by" or the cost per CD? I have a hard time knowing what's optional and what's necessary; any input is appreciated.

Thanks,

Sam

Edit: One more thing: What's "4-color"? Is that the same as full-color? (I assume not)

You only need a UPC bar code if you're going to sell the CD's retail. Applying for a UPC bar code is expensive and time-consuming. You're better off going through a replicator to get one. They usually provide one in the overall cost of replication although some might charge a little extra for one. If you have a UPC bar code you can print it yourself assuming you have the software that can print one out.

You don't need to register with anyone other than as it pertains to copyright approval. But I would definitely look into getting an ISRC code. It doesn't cost anything. And if you do get an ISRC code you will need something like CD Architect in order to encode the ISRC code onto your copies (or the premaster disc you send out for duplication/replication). You should print "copyright" on everything but be sure to actually file for copyright approval (I assume this is original music)

Anything else is optional as far as I'm concerned. Look at some commercial CD's for examples. Consider putting your phone number, email address or MySpace/Website URL on everything too. You never know where these things end up.

Hey guys! It's been a while since I've posted. Been busy getting my studio up. I just wanted to include a company I think I'll be using. Any comments?

http://www.kunaki.com/

It sounds great to me.

I've been following this thread closely, as I do my own cd duplicating, packaging, etc. I currently use Taiyo Yuden CD's and card stock from Surething to complete the process. What I want to know is where can you find the gloss paper that was mentioned earlier for the packaging? Is this just gloss picture paper you would use for pictures? Is there some available that is "prescored" for folding? If I could find it, I would get some of it.

David

Edit: One more thing: What's "4-color"? Is that the same as full-color? (I assume not)

'4-colour' refers to 4-colour separation, printers separate a full colour image into degrees of cyan, magenta, yellow and black, when printed together they make up all the other colours.

ORIGINAL: samhoff

I'm going to revive this thread for one quick question.

Someone told me the other day, "The CD and DVD burners that come with computers are only made to burn 200-300 CDs (or DVDs). After that the quality really starts to suffer. If you're going to burn CD's just let a professional do it."

Fact or fiction?

Thanks,

Sam

It would be fact for me. I run a studio. After the first few hundred burns my sony cd burner started to make a serious decline in quality output. All the way until recently were it was downright unusable. Of course I have a cd burner and a dvd burner in one tower...one sony the other lg. Both received heavy usage and both became unreliable after about 6-7 months.

Burning cds yourself =
Getting Kunaki to do it =

I don't think I've yet burned 300 CD's or DVD's either one on any burner I've ever owned, so I don't know yet. Although I probably have burned more than 300 CD's on the one I have now if you count CD'-RWs where I only burned one or two songs to test in the car or something. Obviously burning just a song or two won't wear out a burner as fast.

I have burned hundreds of CD on my Plextor 716A without any loss of quality. For duplication I use a telex automated tower and that has seen thousands of cd's with one asus burner. So far I only have about one unusable CD in 200. (I use TY only).

What I want to know is where can you find the gloss paper that was mentioned earlier for the packaging? Is this just gloss picture paper you would use for pictures? Is there some available that is "prescored" for folding? If I could find it, I would get some of it.

For tray cards and such, I don't have to worry too much because one of my inlaws have a printing business and I get things at cost (kinda nice). But they usually get their glossy paper from a wholesaler like Kelly Paper.

ORIGINAL: Ognis

Short Run looks awesome.

And very, very expensive for some reason.

Expensive Indeed. Check out http://www.diskfaktory.com, they have better short run prices. I have used them for 6 projects so far with good results.

ORIGINAL: samhoff

3. Send CD off to get mastered
4. When I get the CD back, rip the WAV’s onto my hard drive and use these to burn copies (I currently use Sonic)

If you are going to burn the files yourself, why rip them onto the hard drive? Use a CD copy program. If you want them on your hard drive as separate files, it would be better to send the 2-track mixes to the mastering house via ftp or on CD as a data disk with 24-bit/44.1 khz .wav files. Have the mastering house return then as 16 bit individual files. I would avoid having to rip, as this is an extra conversion step. If you are using Sonic Solutions, or any other CD burner (e.g. Wavelab), then having the individual files allows you to sequence and space them as you want before burning a final.

However most mastering houses will send back a CD master ready for replication or pressing, with the gaps and fades already in place. You will want to just use that as a replication master (make several safety copies before doing that).

ORIGINAL: samhoff
5. Register CD with CD baby
6. Send copy of CD and $45 to copyright office with form SR
7. Print my covers, including the phrases “Available at CD Baby” on them (I don’t have a directory on CD Baby yet, so presumably they just search for it there), also include "(c) 2007" on everything

You can create your CD Baby account before you send them a CD. That will give you a complete URL. You will want that on your CD back if possible, e.g. "http://CDBaby.Com/myartistname"

I always use a copyright like (c) 2007 [my name or music company] ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE

ORIGINAL: samhoff
8. Burn my CD’s (side note: I was going to pay someone but just discovered my church has a 10 CD replicator (or is it duplicator) so I may just do that now with Taiyo Yudens?) (Or I may still send them off, I’m unsure, thoughts?)

I have gone both ways, but found the best, cheapest, and most reliable way in the long run is to send out for limited run replication.
You can get 50 copies in sleeves, printed and shrink-wrapped, for around $50-$75, last time I checked. If you want jewel case and inserts, around $3.00 per for 100.

Doing it yourself:
1. Depends on the quality and reliability of the replicator
2. Does it print? Then you need special media, and I have found the white printed blanks to be less reliable than the T-Yudens.
3. You still have to print your own inserts, tray backs, and that is by far the MOST expensive part of DIY. I would avoid the DIY "kits". Getting everying to line up and print correctly is a real PITA, believe me, I have tried this many times and finally gave up.

ORIGINAL: samhoff
9. Send 5 copies to CD Baby
10. Try to sell other copies locally or give them away to family and friends

I am foregoing a barcode. Perhaps my only other issue is the ISRC code, which I do not have, nor do I have CD architect. Is it worth the money to buy it for this one project?

You will need a barcode for CD Baby and for retail stores, e.g Borders. If you don't do it yourself, CD Baby will stick one on your cd cover for an extra charge. If you send out for replication the house should be able to provide a bar code for about $45 or so. It looks much more professional. Your back cover design should allow space for it. Printing guidelines available at the replication site will show how much space to leave, or provide a dummy barcode graphic to insert into the image.

You don't need ISRC for doing your own distribution, nor does CD baby require it. The only way to get them in there is to be registered as a record label, as far as I know.

ORIGINAL: samhoff
What else should I do, and in what order please? Is there another place besides CD Baby I should be involved in? (Remember it's pretty quiet, relaxing New Age piano if that helps at all).

CD Baby can get you onto I-Tunes and other online sites. There a others but I would start there. They are reasonable in terms of their cut.

Have a release party, announce it by mail with special pre-release price that is only available at the party (knock of a couple of bucks). Send out an email blast to everyone you know. I was able to sell > 50 copies of my last release to friends and coworkers just by making a special price for them and then announcing it with a nice printed post card. Give out promo copies to anyone who is connected with music and who could help you. E.g. I know several DJ's on the local community radio station who are more than willing to play tracks on the air.

Best of luck, Sam!

The information on a CD-A and a Data CD with wave files is pretty much the same as far as audio goes. Your friend probably wants 24 bit wav files that have not been dithered down to 16 bits. If your files were at any point 24 bits you should send him those and let him add dither to take the audio down to 16 bits. If your files were 16 bits to begin with and you added processing like reverb or eq, you should still export the audio to 24 bits because those processes add additional word length.

BTW. Dithering, as it is so frequently discussed, is noise added to a signal that will increase its resolution and reduce quantization distortion when reducing bit depth. It is generally agreed that you do not want to go through this process more than once because the noise might become noticable.

Ok, so tunecore looks interesting, but it appears to conflict with CD Baby. Which do I choose?

Sam

Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! CDBaby is the best thing going for musicians on the damned Internet. You don't sign a blessed thing away with them. Been using them for over a year now. They've gotten me a lot of sales I never would have had on my own, much of it through iTunes and similar digital download carriers. Derek's the man.

ORIGINAL: Joe Bravo

Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!! CDBaby is the best thing going for musicians on the damned Internet. You don't sign a blessed thing away with them. Been using them for over a year now. They've gotten me a lot of sales I never would have had on my own, much of it through iTunes and similar digital download carriers. Derek's the man.

Well, maybe you checked that little "I Agree" box without reading the fine print.

Seriously, I read this in an article in EQ magazine. It's quite enlightening, and tunecore sounds like the better deal.... check it out: http://www.eqmag.com/story.asp?sectioncode=36&storycode=15646

Man, Tunecore looks pretty damn good. I don't have much experience with this though. I checked out CD Baby, and while you can purchase directly from their site as well as the digital download stores, they continue to take proceeds sale after sale. Tunecore only charges for the initial delivery to the store - Itunes, Rhapsody and etc. But, it doesn't appear you can purchase anything directly from Tunecore - music that is.

Original: j boy

Seriously, I read this in an article in EQ magazine. It's quite enlightening, and tunecore sounds like the better deal.... check it out: http://www.eqmag.com/story.asp?sectioncode=36&storycode=15646

One thing though...the article talks about "print-on-demand" and how the publisher handles the transaction and shipping of physical CD's. That sounds great, except when I went to Tunecore's site, they appear to only be providing a low-run CD duplication service - not handling the duplication on-demand from customers.

Unless I'm missing something, I thought the idea behind "print-on-demand" was that folks could choose to purchase the CD and Tunecore would handle printing it, shipping it and taking the money. And you'd never touch the CD yourself.

Whatever the case, it does look like a great idea. And not having to sign away certain rights feels more secure to me, also.

Okay.... so you guys aren't necessarily making this any easier for me, but I just checked with my album at CD Baby (I'd already paid the $35) and it looks like you can choose to sign up/not sign up with the digital distribution. So.... I guess I don't sign up for digital distribution with them, but I do sign up for it with Tunecore. Sound like a plan?

One of my problems is how to print the covers without knowing FOR SURE what's going on. I mean, I guess I print on the covers "Find my music at CDBaby and download it at ITunes" and then I just make sure that those two things are in place before I ever sell (okay, give away, really) the first bunch. Right?

For what it's worth, this is not correct:

You can create your CD Baby account before you send them a CD. That will give you a complete URL. You will want that on your CD back if possible, e.g. "http://CDBaby.Com/myartistname"

I've looked. It's not there. I'm assuming (hoping) it doesn't get there until they have an album in hand (?).

One last question I'll ask again: Do you all bother doing the copyright step or just forego it?
Sam