UK CD & DVD Pressing - CD Replication & CD Duplication.

Audio Mastering For CD Production

The Red Book standard has a maximum capacity of 79 minutes.

You will need to compile a cd of all the tracks for your album assembled in the correct running order.

Pay particular attention to noise levels and where your tracks start and finish, you won't want any pops and clicks or long gaps at the beginning or end of tracks. I normally set the gap in between tracks at around 2 seconds.

CD MASTERING : Treating your audio.

You may need to have your audio treated (Mastered) to ensure that it is at an optimum level for CD production. This process not only sets the level but is the finishing part of your recording, adding punch and shimmer to your songs, it can make a dramatic difference to your material. This is normally done by the studio where you recorded. However if your budget doesn't extend to this, or you recorded in your own home studio, there are several plug ins that will run within your software and do a great job. I record in Cubase and master direct from Cubase using on board plug ins & effects.

Burning Your CD Audio Master: (Disc At Once Mode)

You'll need to burn your master CD to Red Book standard ready to produce the Glass Master from which your CD's will be made. Your disc should be burned in what's called "Disc At Once Mode (DAO)" (Not Track At Once or Session At Once) this can usually be selected in the preferences for your program please check that it is.
If you're using Roxio Toast for example using the menu select, edit/preferences. Here you can select
DAO (Disc At Once Mode). Please see the image below. (Taken from Toast running on a Mac G4)
Toast Preferences image

See Image below, burning a cd in Roxio Toast in DAO mode.
When the disc is burning you'll see this window and it just confirms that it is writing in DAO mode.
Jam writing in DAO mode image
The only exception I know of to this is if you intend to create a multisession disc containing audio in the first session and computer data in the second.

We suggest you use a very high grade quality CDR and burn the master at single speed, do not use RW re-writable discs. Once it's finished be very careful how you handle it. Clearly label your master cd "AUDIO MASTER" and include your Title & Cat No plus all your contact details. Make sure that you only use a pen suitable for writing on cd's, this is very important, using the wrong pen can render it useless for use as a master.

CD Mastering Programs.

There are many programs capable of burning Red Book audio cd's, I use Roxio Jam 6, it's a great program and allows me to write ISRC Codes as well as Barcode information to the disc.
If your master contains ISRC or product codes, then you must provide a PQ printout.
Please see below an image of Roxio Jam 6 showing where you place the ISRC code. (Taken from Roxio Jam 6 running on a Mac G5)
Roxio Jam image

Jam 6 will also let you add text info for the tracks to display on machines that are able to use this feature. See below for an image of the track text window.
Jam text edit window image

You can get more info on Roxio Jam 6 here: http://www.roxio.co.uk/products/toastwithjam6/index.jhtml

General Notes For Mastering.

Handle carefully, the input data media, especially CD-Rs, they are very sensitive media. The utmost care must be taken when handling these data media to protect them from damage. Place it in a protective jewel case and do not touch the playing side. As mentioned above, Clearly label your master cd "AUDIO MASTER" and include your Title & Cat No plus all your contact details.
Make sure that you only use a pen suitable for writing on cd's, this is very important, using the wrong pen can render it useless for use as a master.
Maximum Content. (79 minutes)

CD-Audio, Compact Disc Digital Audio is the normal audio CD which has a maximum capacity of 79 minutes. The standard was established by Philips and Sony in what is known as the "Red Book".

What If You Can't Produce An Audio Master Yourself.
If you haven't got the facilities don't worry, just give us a call, we'll be happy to prepare an audio master for you at the very reasonable price of only £5.00 per track + VAT,
(Only available for clients who's CD's we are pressing) or perhaps we can guide you through any problems you may be having at your end. Tel: 01553 617546

DAT Masters:
If you supply a DAT Master, It will cost you around an extra £175.00 + Vat to prepare your content ready to make the Glass Master. We would always advise you to send a CDr and this involves no extra cost.

Glass Master:
The production of a glass master precedes the replication process. In this, the information is transferred to a photo-sensitive layer on a glass disc. Metal foils are then taken from this piece of glass, using galvanising processes, and the stampers (injection moulding dies) are then created.
Production of the glass master and the extrusion dies is carried out with absolute precision and is thus subject to continuous quality control.

I hope this information has proved useful.

Mervyn J Futter

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