Where are you getting your CDs made?

Groover · #1 02-03-2008, 06:34 PM

We're about to finish mastering two CDs and we're thinking about getting 300-500 professionally made of each CD.

So far we've found this site:

http://www.ultraentertainment.com/cd/cd.aspx

Where are you guys getting yours made? We're looking for silk-screen printing on the CDs (no paper labels), and then just the regular stuff like the booklet, and covers.

Any tips or options you can give me would be great.

Thanks!

John Wentzien · #2 02-03-2008, 06:43 PM

You aint gonna need CD before too long. 8 track, LP cassette, etc.
Digital is coming up fast to bite us all in the A**!!!!
Don't get stuck sitting on a bunch of CD's!!!!
I've been doin' this for 35 years --- CD's are only good for storing info...
Do what you want though---
Don't say I didn't warn you!

corradoc · #3 02-03-2008, 10:08 PM

www.discmakers.com. solid prices, good turn around time, and fairly helpful folks through the whole process

Dave Muscato · #4 02-04-2008, 12:53 AM

Slightly off-topic, but... Why 300-500? Why silk-screen printing?

Do a little market research before you commit to a media. Ask your fans what they want - Do they want a CD with artwork in a jewel case for $10, or a burned CD-R in a paper-sleeve for $5, or do they want to pay $1 ea. for digital downloads? In my humble opinion, unless you have a big following and are putting these CDs on store shelves and touring, you probably don't need to spend the extra money for duplication (as opposed to CD-Rs), and if it's your first pressing, you might think about selling them super-cheap in exchange for getting your name out there (like $5/disc).

If you still want to go ahead with traditional silk-screened, duplicated CDs in jewel cases with full booklets, I like Discmakers.

There's a really cool company called Kunaki that does one-off CDs in jewel cases. You can get 1 copy for $1.75 with no other costs (except shipping) if you only want 1. As they say, "No minimums, contracts, set-up fees, or hidden costs, and UPS Ground shipping is free in USA for 500+ units." Might be what you want:

http://www.kunaki.com

Inflin · #5 02-04-2008, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

[Snip]

I agree with everything this man says. Unless you know (and I mean KNOW) you're gonna need that amount of media, I'd hold back.

I don't have much experience with US factories, but I'm told that both Diskmakers (as has been mentioned) and Mixonic produce impeccable CDs, quality wise.

But really, if it's for sale, go digital! CD's are collapsing around the industry's ears. You wouldn't belive the amount of bands now that ask me for a USB flash master.

Groover · #6 02-04-2008, 09:44 AM

Thanks for the replies and links. I'm not sure we need all those CDs at this point, but I'm just doing some research for our band... I figured this would be a good place to ask.

I like the downloadable idea, say 99 cents per song... How is that done?

Geddyfleaharris · #7 02-04-2008, 11:00 AM

Our band uses our 3 song demo as a way to introduce ourselves to other industry people. It is professionally done, in a jewel case with paper insert. IMO you need to be able to hand something to the club owner whose club you want to play in. What do you think he will say when you tell him that he can go download a song for $0.99 if he wants to hear what your band is about? Same thing for radio stations. We have given away more CD's than we have sold but at this point the idea is to get the name of the band out. Not try and make money on a 3 song CD. If your CD's are full length then I guess I would want to try to recover as much of the recording costs as possible plus make a little bit.

My 2 cents.

Inflin · #8 02-04-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groover

Thanks for the replies and links. I'm not sure we need all those CDs at this point, but I'm just doing some research for our band... I figured this would be a good place to ask.

I like the downloadable idea, say 99 cents per song... How is that done?

This is the quickest way to get your stuff onto the bigger sites, but if you have IRSC codes then it's fairly quick and painless to apply directly and cut out any middle men.

If you're not into that, then go here for the lowdown on smaller sites.

hunta · #9 02-04-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

Our band uses our 3 song demo as a way to introduce ourselves to other industry people. It is professionally done, in a jewel case with paper insert. IMO you need to be able to hand something to the club owner whose club you want to play in. What do you think he will say when you tell him that he can go download a song for $0.99 if he wants to hear what your band is about?

+1. CD's are promo material these days, making them to sell is basically a losing proposition. For promo, you have to have something to give out, and you know everyone is going to be able to play a CD. I'm not going to bank on some bar owner being able to figure out how to play the songs on a USB stick or a memory card.

It's nice to have really pro looking CD's to give out, but IMO you can do that at home. Get a CD burner with lightscribe and some lightscribe blanks (google image search lightscribe, it looks pretty hot). Print up an insert yourself or get a few done at a kinko's or whatever. Make more as needed.

MakiSupaStar · #10 02-04-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inflin

This is the quickest way to get your stuff onto the bigger sites, but if you have IRSC codes then it's fairly quick and painless to apply directly and cut out any middle men.

If you're not into that, then go here for the lowdown on smaller sites.

What are IRSC codes?

IanStephenson · #11 02-04-2008, 01:46 PM

It's easy enough to run of a dozen or so, really good looking CD's at home, take them to a gig, then burn a new bunch to replace what you sold before the next gig. What's the point on sitting on inventory? Sure you'll make more cash when you actually get them all sold, but that might never happen, and you're out of pocket in the mean time.

"just-in-time production" means no up front costs, and you start making a profit from day one.

Ian

hunta · #12 02-04-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

What are IRSC codes?

He meant ISRC code. You have to get them from the RIAA on a per song basis I believe... You may also need to be a record label lol... :-\ Eww RIAA.

Inflin · #13 02-04-2008, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunta

He meant ISRC code. You have to get them from the RIAA on a per song basis I believe... You may also need to be a record label lol... :-\ Eww RIAA.

You're right, thats what I meant. It's basically a unique identification code for each song. In theory every commercially released song has one, so you know where you are with copyright, royalties, etc instantly. I thought maybe you'd have already been assigned them, which is why I suggested it. It just speeds up the itunes process by a couple of weeks, as far as I know sites still accept tracks that don't have the codes, they just need to look a bit harder to make sure your tracks are actually yours...hence it taking longer.

If you've not got them, don't worry, and don't bother. A lot of hassle IMO, and you can always assign them to your tracks much much later on. Just carry on without them, before this thread turns into an recording industry law thread

BetterBottomEnd · #14 02-04-2008, 07:32 PM

There was a thread on here a while back with a great site. I have it bookmarked at home I'll post it when I get back from school.

dreadheadbass · #15 02-04-2008, 07:41 PM

agreed with the above it will take you a long time to shift 500 cds unless your giving them away at gigs
buy a bundle of cd's a permenent marker and borrow a photocopier and just do a simple paper sleeve cd on your own pc and stick them in a plastic wallet bingo promo cds

oh and try to sell them at cost if you can any profit you get will probably be tiny so its worth cutting back on making money and gaining a few extra fans