CD Duplication FAQ
What is the best way to give you my master?
For CD duplication please provide a physical CD-R to be duplicated as provided.
We also accept uploads in the following disc image formats:
- DDP Image (Recommended)
- Toast Image (.sd2)
- Disc Image File (.dmg)
How long does CD Duplication take?
CD Duplication turnaround time is approximately 5 working days including delivery time after approval of your final artwork and master.
What is the delivery cost for CD Duplication?
All orders include standard UK mainland delivery. For all other destinations and services please request a quotation.
General
What are ISRC Codes? How do I get them?
An ISRC is the internationally recognised royalty code. A 10 digit code to identify your specific recording and country of origin on playback. It is important for ensuring royallties from radio play. We recommend all clients use ISRC.
The code will be embedded in both your Audio Reference CD and your DDP Image (CD Replication Master). Please note that it is not possible to embed an ISRC code into a WAV file. ISRC is embedded is your DDP Image and Red Book Audio Reference CD.
It is free to get ISRC codes from PPL and can be arranged very quickly and easily. Click on the appropriate link below to get your ISRC Codes.
Australia - ARIA, PO Box Q20, QVB Post Office, Sydney, NSW 1230, Australia. Tel: +61 2 8569 1144. Email: isrc@aria.com.au. www.aria.com.au
Ireland - PPI Ltd, PPI House, 1 Corrig Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Tel: +353 1 280 5977. Email: isrc@ppiltd.com. www.ppiltd.com
France - SCPP, 14 Boulevard du Général Leclerc, 92527 Neuilly-sur-Seine Cedex. Tel: +33 (0)1 41 43 03 03. Email: contact@scpp.fr www.isrcfrance.fr
Germany - Bundesverband Musikindustrie e.V.(IFPI Germany), Reinhardtstraße 29, D-10117 Berlin. Tel.: +49 30 590 0380, Email: lueerssen@musikindustrie.de. Website: www.musikindustrie.de
United Kingdom - PPL, 1 Upper James Street, London W1F 9DE. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7534 1331. Email: repertoire@ppluk.com www.ppluk.com/
USA - RIAA, 1025 F Street NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20004. Tel: +1 202 857 9626. Email: isrc@riaa.com. www.usisrc.org
Click here for a full listing of national ISRC agencies.
What is a DDP Image & do I need one?
DDP: Disc Description Protocol, also referred to as DDPi (DDP Image) or DDP File Set. An error-protected delivery format that has become industry standard for reliable CD & DVD replication.
Advantages of DDP include:
Integrity Of The Recordings. DDP files are not subject to manipulation and end up exactly as the artist intended. An audio CDR, for example, can influence the sound of a recording when used as a master due to errors and other effects of different dyes used in the disc itself.
Delivery Speed. DDP can be transferred using any medium including over the internet which speeds up the production process. Many organisations now only accept DDP, as they are faster and more reliable to work with.
Replication Errors. Using a DDP Image with MD5 Checksum will ensure accurate replication unlike an audio CDR.
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Unlike audio CDs, DDPs can be checked to ensure that the data is 100% accurate. For this we insert a code known as an 'MD5 Checksum'. The MD5 is created at source and is based on an analysis of the DDP Image data. When the code or is opened by the end user the data is analysed once again and a comparison is made to the existing code. Any difference whatsoever will result in a rejected DDP master. Audio CDRs do not provide this level of assurance from errors. Many CD players will also execute error-correction on playback of your audio CDR and may mask any issues with your disc. These errors may therefore not be identifiable until you hear them on your final disc run!
A DDP Image is recommended for all customers who are replicating CDs of their project.
How do I get CD track names on my computer?
Open iTunes and place your CD into your CD ROM Drive. (Click No when asked to import.)
Click into a track name and select Get Info.
On the Info tab, type in track name, artist name, album name, select a genre and year of release. The next button will take you to the next track. Continue until all tracks are titled.
Go to Advanced and click Submit CD Track Names.
Wait two or three days, place the CD back in the CD ROM drive, go to Advanced and click Get CD Track Names. This is a re-query button that clears your local cache, to show your CD’s information now comes from their service. Questions? Write to support@gracenote.com.
What is CD Text?
Prior to the use of Gracenote and similar databases, where data is serviced from an online source when a disc is inserted and read by an application such as iTunes, track information was customarily embedded in the disc itself. This would then display on scrolling screens such as those sometimes still found in car stereos or HiFis. This is know as ‘CD Text’. Although no longer widely used we can embed on request (with any order for a physical master disc set or DDP Image download) a number of details such as: Album Artist, Album Title & Track Titles.
CD Text has been know to cause a variety of issues with some players in rare circumstances. We thoroughly test on our systems that are comparable with industry standard players but we cannot guarantee that CD Text will be 100% accurate or display at all on all systems.
Please note that this information is embedded in a separate portion of the disc known an the ‘Q Channel’ and is not embedded within the audio itself. Any CD Text information will not be copied unless the entire disc image is replicated or duplicated. This is also the case with ISRC Codes.
How do I get the track info on car stereo or HiFi?
This is know as ‘CD Text’. Although no longer widely used we can embed a number of details such as Album Artist, Album Title & Track Title into the disc itself. Please note that this information is embedded in a separate portion of the disc known an the ‘Q Channel’ and is not embedded within the audio itself. Any CD Text information will not be copied unless the entire disc image is replicated or duplicated. This is also applies to ISRC Codes.
I have heard that CD Text can cause problems, is this true?
CD Text has been know to cause a variety of issues with some players in rare circumstances. We thoroughly test on our systems that are comparable with industry standard players but we cannot guarantee that CD Text will be 100% accurate or display at all on all systems.
How do I get a Barcode and how much does it cost?
Barcode numbers in the UK must be acquired from GS1. They require an annual fee of £25 + VAT for each number. A full membership can be obtained for labels and those issuing multiple releases at £99 + VAT for up 100 numbers per year. Members of AIM, PPL, BPI or MMF should make GS1 aware of their existing memberships to qualify for discounts.