Tuesday, November 2, 2010

KBA 74 Karat Eco-Friendly Printer

CDwest.ca is the audio division of Precision Disc Manufacturing Corp., and we are pleased to announce the purchase of a KBA 74 Karat 29” waterless digitally integrated offset press.

The KBA 74 Karat is considered to be one of the ‘greenest’ print presses on the planet and, while we definitely require an environmentally-friendly printer for our product line of DVD and CD eco-packaging solutions, the KBA 74 Karat also delivers very high quality print reproduction for our discerning clientele.

“We’re delighted to have been able to purchase this particular press.” states company president Paul Durnie, “It fits perfectly into our mandate for environmentally responsible technology and processes, and it’s the perfect fit for growing our print division and new ‘green’ product offerings. The press-sheet size, quick make-ready and printer speed made the 74 Karat a must-have for us.”

For a 29” printer of this calibre, the KBA 74 Karat has a very compact footprint (12’-9” long, 7’-3” wide and 7’-0” tall) and everything about this printer is designed for efficiency and user-friendliness. For example, the machine holds two cassettes of imaging plates (sufficient to print 10 jobs) which are imaged and changed automatically within the printer.

A complete job change with automated plate change, imaging and inking only takes about 15 minutes, with a maximum of just ten make-ready sheets. That’s quite amazing for an offset printer, when you think of the waste that is prevented by such efficient operation and technology.

And speaking of efficiency, the KBA 74 Karat has a maximum production speed of 10,000 sheets per hour, with waterless offset plates that can allow print-runs of up to 100,000 copies.

This press does away with paper waste, ink sludge, toxic cleaners and chemical developers that are typically associated with offset printing. Through its use of soy based inks, completely waterless printing technology, and inline aqueous coating, the KBA 74 Karat provides the highest quality eco-friendly print solutions you’ll find anywhere without sacrificing print quality one bit!

When combined with Precision Disc’s existing Indigo printers, not only does the KBA 74 Karat enhance our print production capacity and speed, the 29” press sheet also increases the number of products we can provide.

Printer features and highlights:

• Waterless offset – brilliant colour, sharp dots
• Soft reproduction of the finest gradients
• No ghosting
• Superb solids
• In-line water based (aqueous) finishing.
• Solid densities and tone reproduction to ISO 12647-1/2/3
• Make-ready: 10 sheets
• Press dimensions (L x W x H): 12’-9” x 7’-3” x 7’-0”
• Weight: 26,500 pounds
• Power: 65kVA
• Max sheet size: 29.125” x 20.5”
• Max speed: 10,000 sph (job dependent)
• Resolution: 100 dots/mm = 2,540 dpi
• RIP: Creo Brisque

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication along with a full range of eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.

A family-owned and locally-owned company, CDwest.ca offices and replication plant are located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) where they serve clientele throughout Canada.

November Special - CS200 style Eco-Friendly CD Sleeves

November is here and it's time for a new VIP Special so we've picked one of our mega-popular CD Sleeves to offer up with a special low low price.

So yes, all you have to do is join our VIP Program (it's absolutely free to join and it's very easy to sign-up), then place your order with CDwest.ca in November to get our special rate on CDs in CS200 eco-sleeve. This is a fully-packaged offering so you don't have to worry about being nickel-and-dimed:
  • Full colour on-disc print included
  • Duplication or replication included - see below for details
  • CS200 eco-sleeve printed CMYK (4/0) included
  • All set-ups included
  • Pre-press and one round of .pdf proofs included
  • Assembly and shrinkwrap included
  • Barcode included (if required)
Applicable tax and shipping extra.

Orders of 100 and 200 units are supplied with duplicated CDR media and full colour CMYK inkjet print.

Orders of 300+ units are supplied with replicated CD media with your choice of full colour CMYK offset print or up to 5 colour silkscreen print.

If you'd like to take advantage of this special offer but aren't quite ready yet, submit your order forms and downpayment in November and we'll hold the pricing for you until your production assets are ready!

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

Choose CDwest.ca as your factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication partner right here in Canada. We're a family-owned and locally-owned company located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver), and ship daily to client throughout the country.

Monday, October 4, 2010

CD Manufacturing Special Offer - Order 500 and Get 1,000

Two months before Christmas,
Now is the time to prepare,
And get your CDs done,
With time to spare.

We've got a great deal,
In this we don't jest,
Buy 500 and get 1000,
From your friends at CDwest.

Order 500 units and receive 1,000

- Applicable to standard products as provided on our website web-quote system.
- Order and downpayment must be submitted before end of business day Friday October 15th (4:30pm Pacific Time).
- Applicable tax extra.
- Shipping extra (based on 1000 unit quantity).
- No rush orders - standard turn-times apply.
- This special is offers 'as is' - no discounts or substitutions and cannot be claimed in conjunction with other special, offer or discount.

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD manufacturing, CD replication, CD duplication services complete with a wide range of the most popular eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.

With offices and replication plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver), CDwest.ca is the only replication plant in Western Canada and ships daily to clients throughout the country.
.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Happy CD Manufacturing Customers

Here are some more recent testimonials from happy CD manufacturing and CD duplication clients!

"I want to thank you all for doing such a wonderful job on my CD! I received them yesterday. Its like Christmas!"  Colleen E. in British Columbia (B.C.)

"I have never been so pleased with an album, it was done perfectly. I'm gunna spread you guys around Calgary! Thank you so much!"  Daniel B. in Calgary, Alberta (AB)

"Thank you Alicia for all of your assistance! With your assistance the completion of our project was that much easier. Again, thank you."  Joanne L. in British Columbia (B.C.)

"I would like to pass on many thanks to yourself and your team. You were all amazing throughout every step of the way. I'd also like to say a big big thank you for getting the product to us on time, for the EP release party. Kristen is very happy with the finished product. And I will definitely be coming back again with MORE TIME to spare! :)"  Disa C. in British Columbia (B.C.)

"Thanks for all your hard work on my last project. I've featured your company on my website, which is designed to help artists save money so they can continue to make art."  Punam in Alberta (AB)

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

Choose CDwest.ca for factory-direct CD replication and CD duplication services along with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. As Western Canada's only actual CD/DVD replication facility, we ship to clients throughout Canada and each business day.
.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Shorter Turn-Time for CD Sleeves and CD Digipak

Effective immediately, CDwest.ca is shortening the turn-time for all new CD Sleeve and CD Digipak orders from *15 business days to *12 business days.

*Turn-times are based on regular business days (Monday through Friday excluding Canadian holidays) with the production time-line beginning after we have received all required production assets and have received written approval of proofs.

Important: The 12 day turn-time is based on CDwest.ca standard styles as promoted on the www.CDwest.ca website. Turn-times for non-standard styles will be based on the details and requirements of the specific job.

Please contact us with any questions or comments you may have!

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

Choose CDwest.ca as your factory-direct source for CD replication and CD duplication with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.  As the only replication plant in Western Canada, CDwest.ca provides the best combination of selection, quality, service and environmental friendliness in the market today.
.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

CD Digipak Special Offer for September

What? September already? That means a new school year is starting, autumn is coming, and time for a new VIP Special offer! So, this month we're happy to offer up a sweet deal on our ever-popular CD Digipak products.

Place your order in September for any of our standard 4 panel CD Digipak styles and upgrade to one of our standard 6 panel CD Digipak styles at NO EXTRA CHARGE!

Get an online quote right now!
  • Upgrade our 4 panel CS1000 Digipak to our 6 panel CS1020
  • Upgrade our 4 panel CS1005 Digipak to our 6 panel CS1026
  • Upgrade our 4 panel CS1015 Digipak to our 6 panel CS1025
When you work with CDwest.ca you are actually dealing with the people who manufacture, print and package your CDs... in fact we're the only replication facility in Western Canada.

Top Quality: One of the biggest concerns about printed cardboard packaging styles is how rigid and durable they will be. At CDwest.ca we use 15pt boardstock to provide a quality, rigid and durable product. Do not settle for flimsy materials that other suppliers will provide.

Eco-Friendly: At CDwest.ca we have chosen the right tools, materials and procedures to provide the most environmentally friendly and sustainable products possible. Not only do we use 100% recycled and FSC certified boardstock for our Digipaks, we also use waterless printing technology that requires virtually zero make-ready materials.

Recycling Program: Another reason we're a front-runner with eco-friendly solutions - did you know that we also provide a CD recycling program for your unwanted discs and plastic cases?

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

Choose CDwest.ca for factory-direct CD manufacturing, CD duplication along with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. As the only replication plant in Western Canada, CDwest.ca ships daily to clients throughout the country from our facilities in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver).
.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

CD Duplication, Intellectual Property and Copyright

In the CD duplication and CD manufacturing world, we pay a lot of attention to Intellectual Property and Copyright because we produce countless CDs (and DVDs) each business day. While personal views on copyright and 'ownership' can vary wildly from person to person, that must be put aside because, for the good of our clients and our business, it's important that we operate within the laws of the land.

So first of all, what is "Intellectual Property"? The following definition is provided by Wikipedia:

“Intellectual property (IP) is a term referring to distinct types of ‘creations of the mind’ for which property rights are recognised – and the corresponding fields of law. Under intellectual property law, owners are granted certain exclusive rights to a variety of intangible assets, such as musical, literary, and artistic works; discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Common types of intellectual property include copyrights, trademarks, patents, industrial design rights and trade secrets in some jurisdictions.”

This is very important to note because, due to the legal aspects, you can violate copyright laws with your CD duplication or CD manufacturing order if you are not the intellectual property rights owner of all content on your master. Violation of these copyright laws is generally referred to as ‘piracy’ and can be punishable in a court of law.

If you don’t own all of the intellectual property on your CD or DVD master you will need to get licensing for all un-owned content and then provide proof of licensing to the company doing the CD duplication or CD manufacturing of your order.

Obtaining Licensing for Audio/Music Content

If all the songs on your CD are your own original compositions and you're not using audio samples or sound bytes that you took from somewhere (or someone) else, then you shouldn't have any licensing concerns.

The most common licensing requirement for an audio CD is if you're performing a 'cover' version of someone else's song. If this is the case you require Mechanical Licensing - which is essentially a royalty for each CD that is made featuring the song. Separate licensing agreements must be made for each individual cover song.

[READ MORE]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca for factory direct CD manufacturing as well as CD duplication with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. With offices located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship daily to our clients throughout Canada.
.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Eco-Friendly Digital Printing for CD Duplication

At CDwest.ca we recognize our responsibility as a good corporate citizen and global citizen, so we have invested in the equipment, processes and materials to provide sustainable and environmentally-friendly printing solutions for our clientele.

Digital Printing Technology

The evolution of digital printing has made fundamental changes in the printing process. Printing is an industrial process but digital printing is a computerized process which is, by its very nature, less demanding of resources and less wasteful than conventional print.

Digital printing has eliminated many stages of traditional printing that were time, energy and resource-consuming, and were accompanied by liquid and solid waste and fumes, some of which require specialist treatment for disposal. The use of chemistry for film and plate processing is eliminated with digital print, as is the substantial waste of materials used in the 'make ready' stage of offset printing.

Digital printing enables shorter run lengths and turnaround times which leads to less consumption and waste - it is estimated that prior to the advent of digital printing as much as 56% of all print was thrown away unused.

Dealing With Sources of Printer Related Waste

▪ Imaging Oil: The imaging oil used in conjunction with the Indigo's ElektroInk can be disposed of using normal means - it does not require special handling for disposal. To cut down on the consumption of imaging oil in the printing process the Indigo Printer recycles its own oil and, as an added enhancement to that feature, at CDwest.ca we clean and re-use our imaging oil to further extend its life.

▪ Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): During the printing process, volatile organic compounds are released from inks. None of the Indigo inks or other supplies used in the Indigo printing process contain substances that are listed on the US Federal list of Hazardous Air Pollutants as established by the Federal Clean Air Act, or the European Union's VOC Directive.

▪ Ozone Exposure: Ozone exposure levels in the workplace are subject to control and regulation across the world. The Indigo Printer produces ozone at low levels, generated by the scorotron and charge roller that charges the photoreceptor. In regular operation, ozone peak levels are found to be well below the international occupational health standard of 100ppb for an eight-hour exposure level.

Additional sources of waste include empty ink cartridges, used imaging blankets, Binary Ink Developer (BID) and cleaning rags. Under U.S. Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria, none of these waste products are classified as hazardous waste and so they can be disposed of by normal means.

The Inks We Use For Digital Printing

▪ The "ElektroInk" used by the Indigo Printer is the single most recognizable difference between the Indigo and all other forms of digital printing. Most digital printers use dry toner, but because the Indigo uses liquid ink it is much more able to reproduce the quality "look and feel" of offset print than other forms of digital print.

[READ MORE]
 
* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *
 
Choose CDwest.ca for factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication services along with the best in eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.
 
With offices and replication facility located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada daily.
.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

August VIP Special - Printed Promotional Materials

Place your CD replication order (minimum order of 300 units) to take advantage of our August 2010 VIP Special offer for printed promotional materials.
  • 100 Printed Posters - 12" x 18" printed CMYK 4/0 with 1/2" white border on all sides.
  • 100 Printed Stickers - 2" x 2" printed CMYK 4/0, bleed to edge (not for outdoor use).
  • 100 Printed Postcards - 4" x 6" printed CMYK 4/1, bleed to edge.
This month's Special Offer is applicable to replication orders only (minimum order of 300 units). Graphic designs must be supplied by the client in final form AT THE TIME OF ORDER and on CDwest.ca graphic design templates. This special is offered as is - with no discounts or substitutions and cannot be claimed in conjunction with other special, offer or discount. Standard turn-time orders only - no rush orders.

Can't take advantage of this month's VIP Special right now? If you make a 50% downpayment we'll hold the special until you're ready to deliver your production assets!

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *      * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca for factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication services along with a wide range eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.

With offices and replication facilities located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver), CDwest.ca ships to clients throughout Canada daily.
.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Online Order Forms Added To Website

Well, we've just updated the CDwest.ca website with online order forms, replacing the .PDF order forms we have been using since the website was launched.

We're hoping that the new online forms provide a more streamlined experience for our clients:
* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca for factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication services with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.

With offices and replication plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver), CDwest.ca ships to clients throughout Canada daily.
.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

CD Duplication Explained by CDwest.ca

People are much more familiar with the phrase "CD duplication" (as opposed to "CD replication") because it just happens to be the same process you perform on your home computer. Duplication is also commonly referred to as 'burning' or 'copying' but it is definitely not the same as 'replication'.

To put it simply, the duplication software on your computer automatically copies your selected content onto a pre-manufactured CDR (the 'R' stands for 'recordable'). This is very simple and convenient to do and makes a lot of sense when you only require a small number of discs.

The Benefits of CD Duplication
  • Because you don't require any specialized equipment or training you can duplicate discs on your personal computer.
  • The lack of set-up costs, lack of set-up time, and low cost of blank CDR media means duplication is very cost-effective for small quantities of discs.
  • Modern computers and CDR media are better quality than they used to be, so the quality of duplicated discs is generally higher now than in years past.
  • The only downside to duplicating discs on your home computer is that it's not particularly speedy, so companies such as CDwest.ca use duplication towers that can burn a large number of discs at the same time.
  • At CDwest.ca we provide the most popular packaging alternatives for our duplicated disc products including short-run printed CD Digipak, CD Sleeves and CD Jackets.
Is CD Duplication Inferior?

CD replication is the professional standard for CD production but there are minimum order requirements involved with replication that might not suit your needs (at CDwest.ca our minimum order requirements for CD replication is only 300 units).

When you require a smaller number of discs or you need discs faster than replication will allow, CD duplication is the obvious choice. The quality of our duplicated discs is very good because we don't use cheap economy-grade media and we 'burn' the content onto the discs using state-of-the-art multi-disc duplication towers at slow speed to ensure the best quality disc image possible.

[READ MORE]
 
* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *
 
CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD replication manufacturing and CD duplication services along with an excellent line of eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. With offices and manufacturing plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship daily to clients throughout Canada.
.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

CD Replication Explained by CDwest.ca

There tends to be a lot of confusion between the two types of technologies used in the CD production industry. There is CD replication, and then there is CD duplication - this article will explain the difference between the two processes.

But First... CD Duplication Explained

People tend to be more familiar with the phrase CD duplication because it's the process that you are able to perform on your own home computer.

In short, you use a program on your computer to automatically copy your selected content onto a pre-manufactured CDR (the 'R' stands for 'recordable'). This is very simple and convenient to do when you only require a small number of discs.

The Benefits of CD Duplication
  • Does not require specialized equipment or training - can be done on a personal computer.
  • Cost-effective for small quantities of discs.
  • Can produce small quantities of discs relatively quickly.
  • CD Replication Explained
CD Replication: Glass Master and Stamper

The first step in the CD replication process is creation of the 'stamper'. While this process is highly specialized and technical, the following explanation is intended to be very basic:
  • A piece of highly polished glass is laser-etched with the digital data from the client's content master. Note: The data from the client's content master is not altered or changed in any way, it's strictly a transfer of data.
  • The laser-etching creates pits and lands in the glass in a tightly grouped spiral pattern emanating from the center and progressing outwards.
  • The Glass Master is then metalized, but it is far too fragile to be used to replicate discs so the data must now be transferred to another material that is resilient enough to handle the replication process.
  • The metalized Glass Master is electroformed with nickel to produce a "father" master which is a 'negative' image as it has bumps instead of pits.
  • The father master is then electroformed with nickel to produce "mother" masters which are used as 'stampers' in the injection molding process.
CD Replication: Injection Molding

Now that the 'stamper' has been made the replication of the CDs or DVDs can begin. Again, the process is highly specialized and technical, so the following explanation is intended to be basic.

  • Optical grade clear polycarbonate pellets are fed into an injection-molder which creates a clear CD/DVD disc in its finished size and shape.
  • During the creation of the clear disc, the injection-mold forces the molten polycarbonate up against the 'stamper' which embeds the pits and lands into the clear plastic.
  • An automated process using robotic arms with vacuum suction cups transfer the clear discs onto a conveyor line where they cool.
[ READ MORE ]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca for factory-direct CD replication manufacturing as well as CD duplication with a full line of eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. Located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada daily.
.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

CDwest.ca Sponsors RAWK Wednesdays

CDwest.ca is sponsoring "RAWK" Wednesdays at the Redroom Ultrabar in Vancouver during the month of July.

Each Wednesday night features:
  • FOUR live bands
  • DJ Ant1hero
  • $3.50 pints
Performing on July 7th:
  • The British Empire
  • The Drew Camp Band
  • The Robots
  • The Some X6
Performing on July 14th:
  • Underlion
  • Moniker
  • Bell Tower Dreams
  • Skytrain
Performing on July 21st:
  • Far Beyond Driven
  • Gynosaurus X
  • Excruciating Pain
  • Sick Logic
Performing on July 28th:
  • Culture Def
  • Winter Of Freedom
  • My Moist Moustache
  • Vinl Theory
+ + + + +     + + + + +     + + + + +

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication services along with environmentally friendly print and packaging solutions.

With offices and replication plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada daily.
.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

CDwest.ca CD Digipak Prize Awarded to Sidney York


CDwest.ca and our parent-company Precision Disc Manufacturing Corp. are pleased to announce the winner of our Prize Giveaway to members of the Alberta Music Industry Association.

We are pleased to present the prize to Sidney York!

It’s certainly fitting that the world was first introduced to the multi-faceted musical charms of Sidney York on Feb. 29, 2008. That’s a special leap year day, and since that public debut at a Edmonton benefit, York’s career has progressed in rapid leaps and bounds.

With a well-received self-titled EP already under her belt, Sidney is now ready to release her full-length self-titled debut album, one destined to grab the Canadian music industry by its collective ear.

Sidney York may be a new name on the scene, but she’s far from a musical novice. You see, she’s the creative alter-ego of Brandi Sidoryk (the choice of name is a clever near-anagram), a highly accomplished musician and teacher in the classical realm. She has a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Toronto and a Master of Music from the University of Melbourne, and remains active as a classical music performer and teacher. She took a principal role in the opera medley “Children Of War” in Melbourne and played the role of The Leader in Kurt Weill’s “Down In The Valley” in Calgary.

The seeds for Sidney York’s creation were sown while Sidoryk was studying in Melbourne. Inspired by that city’s fertile music scene, she began writing her own songs, something she quickly discovered was “a really good expressive outlet for me.” This material drew upon a wide range of musical influences and styles, and her healthy eclecticism is vividly showcased on Sidney York .

Trying to define the Sidney York sound is about as tricky as riding a bucking bronco. ”I do not have a nifty phrase for it,” Brandi admits. “It is just so me, in so many aspects. There are country influences from the music my parents listened to as I was growing up in Saskatchewan and Alberta, there are jazz influences, and many of my vocal techniques come from the classical side. I still teach classical and musical theatre and perform classical music, I sing jazz every now and again with the military, and I’m a French horn player. I don’t fit into a category so I don’t expect my music to.”

To learn more about Sidney and her music please visit her website at http://www.sidneyyork.com/


* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca for your factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication partner. With offices and replication plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver), CDwest.ca provides their discs with an excellent range of eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.

Looking for quality DVD duplication or DVD manufacturing? Visit DVDwest.ca
.

CD DVD Special For July 2010

CDwest.ca VIP Special for July 2010... WE PAY THE TAX!

Yes that's right. You pick the CD duplication or CD manufacturing product from our website and you pay the regular retail price, but CDwest.ca covers the tax on the goods AND the shipping!

If you were thinking that the timing of this special is a bit conspicuous... being that the HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) was just implemented in British Columbia... well, you may just be right!

Let's face it, taxes are never popular and this is especially true when new taxes are introduced (even "harmonized" ones) or, heaven forbid, when tax rates go up. So, there you have it... we'd just like to take this opportunity to ease the tax burden on our clients a little bit.

What products apply? Any of our standard products/services as published on our website:
Standard Terms and Conditions:
  • Available to CDwest.ca VIP Members (it's free to sign up).
  • The Special is offered 'as is' ... no discounts or substitutions.
  • Cannot be claimed in conjunction with other special, offer or discount.
  • Standard turn-times only, no rush orders.

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca as your factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication partner. Located in Western Canada we provide disc replication and duplication along with an excellent selection of eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.

Looking for quality DVD duplication or DVD manufacturing services? Visit DVDwest.ca

CDwest.ca
116 - 19292 60th Avenue
Surrey, B.C.
Canada  V3S 3M2

Phone: 604.530.0770
Call toll free: 1.866.530.0770
Fax: 604.530.2909
.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Short Run CD Duplication To The Rescue!


When Music BC was got stiffed by a competing CD duplication company and needed a rush order of CDs in Jewel Cases to get them out of a bind, CDwest.ca was happy to come to the rescue!

Music BC administers the "Make A Case Against Racism" project that features music and student art from within British Columbia on behalf of the Multiculturalism and Inclusive Communities Office, Ministry of Citizens’ Services and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism and the Public Affairs Bureau.

With the official release of the project just days away (which featured both government and school dignitaries) Music BC was horrified to learn that the Vancouver based CD duplication company they contracted was unable to deliver the product.

CDwest.ca to the rescue!!

There were only a couple of days to work with so it was determined that 100 units of product would be sufficient to get all the parties involved through the press conference.

The finished package consisted of:
  • Duplicated CDR discs with full colour inkjet disc print.
  • Standard jewel cases with clear trays.
  • 3 panel (6 page) folded inserts, printed full colour.
  • Traycards, printed full colour.
  • Pre-press and .PDF proofs.
  • Assembly and wrap.
[READ MORE]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication along with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions.

With production facilities and offices located in Surrey, BC (a suburb of Vancouver), we ship daily to clients throughout Canada.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

June Special Offer for CDs in Jewel Cases

At CDwest.ca we've been spending a lot of time and attention on our eco-friendly CD packaging alternatives such as eco CD sleeves and CD digi-pack.

Despite that, there's still no shortage of demand for CDs in Jewel Cases so June's special offer is to reflect that!

Retail Ready CDs in Jewel Cases
  • Quantities of 100 and 200 units are provided with duplicated CDR media and full-colour inkjet disc print.
  • Quantities of 300 and greater are provided with replicated audio CD media and your choice of either full colour CMYK offset print or four colour silkscreen print.
  • Standard jewel cases with your choice of clear or black trays.
  • Full-colour printed paper inserts and traycards (CMYK 4/4).
  • Pre-press and one round of electronic proofs included.
  • All set-ups, assembly, barcode and wrap included.
Become A VIP Member

If you would like to take advantage of June's VIP Special offer all you have to do is become a VIP Member - it's absolutely FREE and very easy to sign up. Additionally, you can unsubscribe any time you want.

Put a "Hold" On The Pricing

If you'd like to take advantage of June's VIP Special offer but you're not quite ready with your production assets, a 50% downpayment is all you need to hold the price! 

Check out June's VIP Special Offer!

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD replication manufacturing and CD duplication with a wide variety of environmentally friendly print and packaging alternatives. CDs in eco-sleeves, digi-pack and jewel cases are a specialty!  Located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada daily.

Looking for factory-direct DVD replication manufacturing and DVD duplication? Visit DVDwest.ca
.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Security Tags for your CD Duplication Project

If you are putting your CD duplication or CD manufacturing product in a retail store there's a good chance the store will require you to provide your CDs with anti-theft security tags.

In the industry they're often referred to as Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags and at CDwest.ca we can supply and insert Sensormatic "Ultra Strip" tags into your CD packaging - be that Jewel Case or Digipak.

For the Jewel Cases and Digipak trays it is most common to place the anti-theft tag on the surface of the disc tray which is then hidden hidden under the CD when it is placed in the case.

The Ultra Strip III Low Profile tag measures just 1.76” in length x 0.4” in width x 0.047” thick, and is placed inside the CD or DVD case. The exact location of the tag is dependent on the type of case and the amount of room available. It features a lower cavity height, requiring the label to be placed on a rigid substrate.

“Sensormatic” is the worldwide leader in industry-leading EAS solutions backed by more than 1,500 patents and is utilized by the countless companies and organizations around the world to reduce product losses. Today, over 80 percent of the world’s top 200 retailers that use EAS rely on Sensormatic solutions.

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication with a wide range of eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. From our offices and manufacturing plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada each day.

Looking for professional and factory direct DVD manufacturing or DVD duplication? Visit DVDwest.ca
.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Recycling Program for CD Discs and CD Cases

In conjunction with our parent company Precision Disc Manufacturing Corp., CDwest.ca has launched a new CD disc and CD case recycling program to keep your unwanted discs and cases out of your local landfill.

With the knowledge that these items are not accepted by most community curbside recycling services, CDwest.ca will recycle these materials for you as a part of our existing in-house recycling program.

"It’s a simple yet effective program.” explains our company’s Vice President Bruce Durnie, “I’m not aware of any community-based recycling programs that accept CDs, DVDs and their plastic cases, so what are people doing when they want to get rid of them? If you throw them into the garbage they just end up in your local land-fill. To prevent that from happening you can now send those materials to us and we’ll recycle them through our existing in-house recycling program and channels.”

Recycle your unwanted CDs:
  • Put your unwanted CDs in a cardboard box, clearly mark “for recycling” on the box and either drop the box off or have it delivered to our shipping/receiving bay door. We will add your discs to our own disc recycling system and then we’ll recycle the box too.
  • If you are shipping the goods the responsibility for paying for the shipment is yours – we will not accept C.O.D. or ‘collect’ shipments.
  • If you are concerned about sensitive or personal data content on your unwanted discs it is recommended that you score or damage the data-side of the disc in a way that prevents the information from being accessed.
Recycle your unwanted CD Cases:
  • Put your unwanted CD cases in a cardboard box, clearly mark “for recycling” on the box and either drop the box off or have it delivered to our shipping/receiving bay door. We’ll add your unwanted cases to our own recycling system and then we will recycle the box too.
  • If you are shipping the goods to CDwest.ca, the responsibility for paying for the shipment is yours as we will not accept C.O.D. or ‘collect’ shipments.
  • Please ensure that all paper inserts and discs have been removed from the cases. The paper inserts can be recycled in your regular community-based program.
  • If you are sending CD and DVD cases as well as discs, please ensure that you supply the discs in a separate box.
[READ MORE]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD replication manufacturing and CD duplication along with eco-friendly print and packaging options which include CD sleeves and CD Digipak. With offices and manufacturing facilities located in Surrey, BC (a suburb of Vancouver) CDwest.ca ships to clients throughout Canada daily.

Friday, May 14, 2010

New CD Duplication Tower Added

At CDwest.ca we have recently added a brand new CD duplication tower to our short-run CD duplication department which will enhance our ability to serve the needs of our clients.

At CDwest.ca our short-run CD duplication department produces discs in quantities that are not cost-effective enough for replication. With our minimum order requirement for disc replication being just 300 units, most duplication run quantities are between 50 and 200 units.

We've got a  new eleven-drive disc duplication tower that consists of one master and ten slave drives that will increase our short-run CD duplication capacity very nicely indeed! The extra capacity that this new CD duplication tower provides us with will, in turn, increase our ability to meet quick turn-time requirements for the following products:
  • CD Audio, CD ROM
  • DVDR (single and dual layer)
  • Blu-ray (single layer)
  • Mini CDR and CDR Business Cards
We are happy to produce any quantity you require and because we produce almost all of our own custom print and packaging in-house (over 95%), we are able to provide some of our most popular eco-friendly disc packaging solutions in short-run quantities. This includes our Eco-Sleeves and Digipak for CD in quantities as low as 100 units.

[READ MORE]

* * * * *     * * * * *      * * * * * *     * * * * * *     * * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca as your factory-direct partner in Western Canada for CD manufacturing and CD duplication with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. Visit our website for an instant online quotation and directions on how to start your order!

Looking for professional DVD duplication and DVD manufacturing services? Visit DVDwest.ca

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

What Are ISRC Codes for Music CD Manufacturing?

At CDwest.ca we have seen a large increase in clients who are creating their own Master Content and Masters, and many questions arise about ISRC Codes. For example, "What are they?" "Where do I get them?" "How do I add them to my songs?" etc.

Some answers:

The ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is the international identification system for sound recordings and music video recordings.

Each ISRC is a unique and permanent identifier for a specific recording which can be permanently encoded into a product as its digital fingerprint. Encoded ISRC provide the means to automatically identify recordings for royalty payments.

The ISRC system is the key to royalty collection for recordings in the digital information age. ISRC is a unique, reliable, international identification system. ISRC provides a unique tool for the purpose of rights administration. ISRC is a useful identification tool in the electronic distribution of music. ISRC coding is compatible with standards developed in the field of consumer electronics and is readable by hardware already used in the recording industry.

ISRC is cost effective - it can be put into operation without requiring special investment in equipment or technologies. The ISRC consists of twelve characters:
  • Country (2 characters)
  • Registrant (3 characters)
  • Year of reference (2 digits)
  • Designation (5 digits)
Important: The four elements should be separated by hyphens and the letters ISRC should always precede an ISRC code.

ISRC Elements
  • The code elements appear in the following order:
  • Country Code: represented by two letters eg (CA) which identifies the country of residence of the registrant at the time the ISRC is allocated.
  • Registrant Code: represented by three digits eg (AA2) assigned in sequence from the AVLA database that are unique for each record label/master owner. This code does not change if ownership of the recording changes or if licensed to another repertoire owner.
  • Year of Reference: represented by two numbers eg (08) identifies the year in which the ISRC is allocated to the recording which will usually be the year in which the full mastering process for the recording is finalized.
  • Designation Code: five digits assigned by the producer/owner as they choose eg (00001).
[READ MORE - additional information and where to get ISRC in Canada]

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca as your factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication partner in Canada. With offices and replication plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada daily.

Looking for professional DVD duplication or DVD manufacturing? Visit DVDwest.ca
.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Designing CD Booklets in Printer Spread Format

For inexperienced designers, figuring out the correct page sequencing when designing a CD Booklet can be rather confusing. This article is intended to clarify the difference between what looks right and what is actually right. In short, Printer Spreads versus Reader Spreads.

If you’d like to add printed biographical information or song lyrics to your CD duplication or CD manufacturing project you will likely need to incorporate a CD booklet into your budget and designs.

Booklets tend to be more popular than “folders” because we’re much more accustomed to the format of a booklet. Just like a book or magazine, a booklet is folded in half and is stapled in the middle, so they are very compact and easy to browse through.

Printer Spread Page Sequencing

Designing the booklet for your CD duplication or CD manufacturing project shares many of the same design rules that apply to every other aspect of your project, but there is one commonly overlooked aspect we want to bring to your attention: Printer Spreads.

Through a whole lifetime of familiarity with books and magazines we know that ‘page 3’ comes after ‘page 2’ and then ‘page 4’ comes after ‘page 3’. This is absolutely correct after a book has been printed, cut, assembled and stitched but you actually have to design it counter-intuitively.

For the purposes of your CD duplication or CD manufacturing project your ‘booklet’ is a series of 2 panel folders that are stacked together, stapled and then folded to create the book. There is a specific page order required to assure the booklet has the correct page sequence after it has been assembled, and this sequence (or page order) is referred to as Printer Spreads.

Create A Mock-Up

The best way for you to see this is to make a Printer Spread mock-up of something simple. Here’s how you can create a Printer Spread mock-up of a 4 panel (8 page) booklet using two pieces of scrap paper:

  • Stack two pieces of paper together (face to face).
  • Fold the stack evenly in half.
  • Put a staple in the fold to keep the two pieces of paper together as to create a booklet.
  • Now number each page beginning with the front cover as ‘page 1’.
  • After you’ve finished remove the staple and take the booklet apart.
[LEARN MORE]

* * * * * * * * * *     * * * * * * * * * *     * * * * * * * * * *

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication services complete with a wide range of eco-friendly and green print and packaging solutions. With offices located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada and the U.S. daily.

Needing professional DVD manufacturing or DVD duplication? Visit DVDwest.ca

Friday, May 7, 2010

Eco-Friendly Benefits of Digital Printing

There is no question about ‘green’ being very much front-of-mind these days... and rightly so. It doesn't really matter how you refer to it... eco-friendly, carbon neutral, environmentally friendly, earth conscious, green, sustainable, or other popular catch-phrases as it all revolves around the same thing.

While the attention being put on being ‘green’ is very important and completely overdue there are many shrewd marketers and advertisers out there who will try to cash in on what they see as nothing more than the latest trend so you still need to be a discerning consumer.

● Digital printing... why not offset?

CDwest.ca recognizes the responsibility we have as a good corporate, community and global citizen so we have invested in the right equipment, processes and materials to provide the types of sustainable and environmentally-friendly printing solutions that the market wants. As a matter of fact, the bulk of the work we produce is printed digitally and for good reason.

Despite the amount of focus put on the CD duplication and CD manufacturing aspects of what we do, we're also very much a "printing company" as we produce the vast majority of our own print and packaging products ourselves.

The evolution of digital printing has revolutionized the printing industry. While traditional offset printing is considered an industrial process, digital printing is a computerized process which, by its very nature, is less wasteful and less demanding on resources compared to conventional print. Less waste and less consumption equates to a more environmentally friendly method of printing.

Digital printing has eliminated many stages of traditional printing that were time, energy and resource-consuming. This includes processes that were accompanied by liquid waste, solid waste and fumes - some of which actually require specialist treatment for disposal. Additionally, digital printing eliminates the use of chemistry for film and plate processing, as well as the substantial waste of materials used in the 'make ready' stage of offset printing.

● No ‘make ready’ = greatly reduced waste

With an offset printer you cannot simply press a button and immediately begin printing. Time is required to prepare the machine to run a specific job which includes a lot of wasteful ‘test’ printing onto paper. This isn’t simply down-time for the machine as the time and expense of the make-ready process is passed through to the client in the cost of the finished goods.

[READ MORE]
 
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
 
CDwest.ca provided clients throughout Canada with a factory-direct partner for CD duplication and CD manufacturing along with eco-friendly print and packaging. With offices and manufacturing plant located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship to clients throughout Canada daily.
 
Looking for DVD duplication or DVD manufacturing? Visit DVDwest.ca
.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

CD Digipak Special Pricing for May

CDwest.ca has another great CD Digipak price for our May VIP Special!

This month we're featuring our CS1020 style CD Digipak which is available in quantities as low as 100 units and we're sure you'll find that these are the best retail prices you'll find anywhere in Canada.

To get access to this great deal all you have to do is join our VIP Program - it's absolutely free to join and it's very easy to sign up.

Our CS1020 special is all-inclusive featuring full colour disc print, all set-ups, clear or black digipak tray, 4/0 digipak print, assembly, wrap, barcode, pre-press, one round of .pdf proofs. The disc tray can be placed in the middle or right-hand-side panel.

Now, what if you really like this special deal on CD Digipak but you're not quite ready to take advantage of it in May? Simply place a 50% downpayment anytime in May we'll be happy to hold the price for you until you're ready with your production assets.

* * * * *     * * * * *     * * * * *

Choose CDwest.ca as your factory-direct partner in Western Canada for CD manufacturing and short-run CD duplication services complete with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. Located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we're proud to be the manufacturer of choice for clients throughout Canada.
.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

CDwest.ca Sponsors CD Digipak Prize Giveaway

In combination with the Alberta Music Industry Association (AMIA), CDwest.ca is pleased to announce that we are offering a CD Digipak Prize Giveaway to AMIA members in good standing.

The prize package has a retail value of approximately $1,200.00 and consists of the following:

300 CD Digipak
Professionally replicated CDs with full colour print.
CS1000 style CD digipak, clear or black tray, full colour CMYK (4/0).
All set-ups, assembly, pre-press, barcode and wrap included.

100 Posters
11” x 17” posters, printed CMYK (4/0).

200 Stickers
3” x 3” posters, square corners.
Printed CMYK (4/0).
Not for outdoor use.

Free Shipping - free shipment to any 'regular service' courier destination in Alberta. Single destination only. For off-line or extra-charge destinations a fee may apply to cover the extra charge.

[READ MORE]

- - - - -     - - - - -      - - - - -

Make CDwest.ca your choice for factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication including eco-friendly print and packaging. Our offices and manufacturing plant are located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) and we ship product daily to clients throughout Canada and the USA.

Looking for professional DVD duplication and manufacturing in eco-friendly packaging? Visit DVDwest.ca
.

Monday, April 26, 2010

CD Text for your CD Duplication Project

In the past year we've seen quite a large increase in audio CD clients who are creating their own Masters for production use. It appears that most of these clients have an understanding of what CD Text is, but there is still a lot of confusion about [a] how to create CD Text, and [b] where you can view it.

~ What exactly is CD Text?
CD Text is a technology that is used on audio CDs which enables low bit rate information such as the song name and the name of the artist to be stored on the within the disc itself. If CD Text is included on an audio CD, specific devices and applications that are able to read and display this information will recognize this information, retrieve it and, in turn, display it to the user.

~ Is CD Text visible on all players and programs?
No - and this happens to cause a great deal of confusion and worry for clients because the client often thinks there is something wrong with their CDs because the CD Text isn't being displayed. A common culprit is Windows Media Player - it's one of the most widely used computer programs for playing music but it doesn't display CD Text unless you install a plug-in.

~ Creating CD Text
It's actually quite simple to add CD Text your audio Master for CD duplication or CD replication, but you need to be using a disc burning program (such as Toast or Nero) that allows you to enter in the appropriate data.

~ I've already made my CD Master - can I add CD Text to it?No, it is not possible to add CD Text after you've already created your audio Master. If you've already created your CD Master and you want to add CD Text after-the-fact you will have to create a new Master.

[ LEARN MORE ]

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -
 
CDwest.ca is your factory-direct source for CD manufacturing and CD duplication with eco-friendly print and pacakging solutions. Located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we ship daily to clients throughout Canada and the United States.
.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Designing A Booklet For Your CD Manufacturing Project

For inexperienced designers, figuring out the correct page sequencing when designing a CD Booklet can be rather confusing. This article is intended to clarify the difference between what looks right and what is actually right. In short, Printer Spreads versus Reader Spreads.

If you’d like to add printed biographical information or song lyrics to your CD duplication or CD manufacturing project you will likely need to incorporate a CD booklet into your budget and designs.

Booklets tend to be more popular than “folders” because we’re much more accustomed to the format of a booklet. Just like a book or magazine, a booklet is folded in half and is stapled in the middle, so they are very compact and easy to browse through.

Printer Spread Page Sequencing

Designing the booklet for your CD duplication or CD manufacturing project shares many of the same design rules that apply to every other aspect of your project, but there is one commonly overlooked aspect we want to bring to your attention: Printer Spreads.

Through a whole lifetime of familiarity with books and magazines we know that ‘page 3’ comes after ‘page 2’ and then ‘page 4’ comes after ‘page 3’. This is absolutely correct after a book has been printed, cut, assembled and stitched but you actually have to design it counter-intuitively.

For the purposes of your CD duplication or CD manufacturing project your ‘booklet’ is a series of 2 panel folders that are stacked together, stapled and then folded to create the book. There is a specific page order required to assure the booklet has the correct page sequence after it has been assembled, and this sequence (or page order) is referred to as Printer Spreads.



Create A Mock-Up

The best way for you to see this is to make a Printer Spread mock-up of something simple. Here’s how you can create a Printer Spread mock-up of a 4 panel (8 page) booklet using two pieces of scrap paper:
  • Stack two pieces of paper together (face to face).
  • Fold the stack evenly in half.
  • Put a staple in the fold to keep the two pieces of paper together as to create a booklet.
  • Now number each page beginning with the front cover as ‘page 1’.
  • After you’ve finished remove the staple and take the booklet apart.
If you’ve done this correctly you should have a total of eight pages that relate to each other as follows: [Page 8 - Page 1], [Page 2 - Page 7], [Page 6 - Page 3] and then [Page 4 - Page 5].

[READ MORE]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CDwest.ca is your factory-direct source for CD manufacturing and CD duplication with eco-friendly print and packaging options. Our offices and manufacturing facility are located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) and we ship to clients throughout Canada and the U.S. daily.
.

Monday, April 12, 2010

CD Digipak Super Special Pricing in April

CDwest.ca has a super CD Digipak price for our April VIP Special!

Our CS1000 style CD Digipak is available in quantities as low as 100 units and we're confident these are the best retail prices you'll find in Canada.

Join our VIP Program to get access to this deal - the program is absolutely free and it's very easy to sign up.

This is an all-inclusive offer featuring full colour disc print, all set-ups, clear or black digipak tray, 4/0 digipak print, assembly, wrap, barcode, pre-press, one round of .pdf proofs.

What if you really like the price but you're not quite ready to take advantage of it in April? If you place a 50% downpayment in April we'll be happy to hold the price for you until you're ready with your production assets.

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

CDwest.ca is your factory-direct partner in Western Canada for CD manufacturing and CD duplication services complete with eco-friendly print and packaging solutions. Located in Surrey, B.C. (a suburb of Vancouver) we're proud to be the manufacturer of choice for clients throughout Canada.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Featured VIP Member Jared Robinson of Nebulus Entertainment

The CDwest.ca featured VIP Member for April is Jared Robinson of Nebulus Entertainment... an award winning and extremely talented composer, musician, producer, engineer, designer, and photographer.

Jared Robinson grew up in the prairies of Canada and has always held close his love for art and music. Over the years Jared has been involved with a number of bands, some of which were nominated for some of the country's most prestigious music awards (Sweetsalt), not to exclude winning an award for "Best Independent Pop Recording" in Canada and having his music extend into the USA and beyond, earning international exposure on "Dawson's Creek" and "Party of Five" DVD series.

[ READ MORE ]

- - - - -     - - - - -     - - - - -

CDwest.ca provides factory-direct CD manufacturing and CD duplication services with a large range of eco-friendly print and packaging options including CD Sleeves and CD Digipak.

Join our VIP Member Program (it's free to join) to qualify for special offers, discounts, prize giveaways and much more!

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Your CD Duplication Project – Image Is Important

You’ve just put your heart, soul, time, money, blood, sweat and tears into recording your music. Now… how will your graphic design measure up? Will it do your music justice?

As a designer and someone who makes a living in the CD duplication industry it’s really astounding to see how much excellent music is dressed down by poor graphic design.

If you’re serious about your career and you care about professionalism, hiring the brother of the girlfriend of your bass player to design your CD duplication packaging isn’t in your best interest just because you can save some money… unless (of course) he’s really talented with a great portfolio of work.

While the old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” has a lot of merit and truth to it, reality actually dictates that your entire CD duplication project may get judged on its ‘look’ long before the music is ever heard. That is… if the music does get heard.

I know what you’re thinking, “What do you mean, if the music does get heard?” Sometimes reality truly sucks, but there are situations where the ‘look’ of your CD package may determine whether or not your music ever gets listened to. The most obvious example of this is when you send your CD to a reviewer or promoter.

Reviewers and promoters receive more CDs than they can possibly give individual attention to. According to many of them, they’ve found that the ‘look’ of the CD packaging generally reflects the quality of the music contained within. So if a CD package passes the visual ‘test’ it goes into the “A” pile for review, but if it doesn’t pass the visual test it goes into the “B” pile. And where does the “B” pile end up? It either gets thrown into the garbage or it’s handed to someone further down on the food-chain.

Now let’s haul out another old adage that can be applied to this topic: “You’ve got 15 seconds to make a good first impression.” While this adage is more commonly used in conjunction with job interviews, the notion of equating quality of ‘image’ with the quality of ‘content’ is human nature, so it would be advantageous for you to adopt the ‘quality image’ way of thinking when it comes to your CD duplication project.

There’s certainly no way it could hurt.

***** ***** *****

CDwest.ca is your source for factory-direct CD manufacturing, CD duplication, and eco-friendly print and packaging in Canada.

Join our VIP Program (it's free) for discounts, special offers, prizes and more! Be a VIP fan on Facebook.
.

Monday, March 1, 2010

CD Manufacturing - Is There A Risk Uploading Content?

Uploading your master content for CD manufacturing is very convenient when you compare it to sending a copy of your master disc via postal mail or courier… but are there any potential risks or pit-falls? The answer to that question will depend on who you ask.

From the client’s standpoint there is an expectation that, after uploading the master content, the results of the CD manufacturing will be absolutely identical to the original files. While this expectation has more likelihood of being correct than false, there is the possibility that an error or corruption could occur somewhere along the line.

Here’s an example based on a true story:

1. A client reviews his audio files on his CD player, is happy with the quality of the playback, and determines that it is ready for duplication.

2. The client rips the content from the master disc and uploads the files electronically to the CD manufacturing company.

3. The manufacturing company receives the files, burns the files to a CDR, and then uses the disc as the production source for the client’s CD duplication order.

4. Upon receiving his discs the client finds that there is a problem with the playback of his audio.

Where did the ‘error’ occur?

If you ask the client he will feel the error occurred with the manufacturer - because the audio sounded fine when he reviewed it on his player.

If you ask the CD manufacturing company, they will point out the error could have been generated in a number of different steps along the way: (a) when the client ripped his master content, or (b) during the upload/download process, or (c) when the files were burned to make the CDR master disc, or (d) during the duplication production process.

Ultimately, due to the number of variables at play it will be hard (if not impossible) to determine where the error occurred, and the CD manufacturing company won’t want to accept responsibility for anything they have no control over as noted in items “a” and “b” above.

What is the resolution?

Based on the scenario show here, the benefits of uploading are countered by the possibility of errors that cannot be readily determined, so the process itself is not perfect by any means. In order to work around the imperfection in the process the manufacturer has three options:

(1) To have the client review and sign-off on the CDR master disc that was created by the manufacturer.

While this is the proper “proofing” method for creative content it defeats the practicality of digitally uploading content. As previously mentioned, the client has an expectation that the digital upload will be error-free so, in the clients mind, the remaining responsibility for the master content is with the manufacturer.

(2) Have the client sign a ‘waiver’ which states that, if the client does not wish to review and sign-off on the master disc created by the manufacturer, the manufacturer is not responsible for any potential errors that may occur during the digital transfer of files and duplication process.

This is expedient for the client and removes liability for the manufacturer, but if there is any corruption or error that shows up on the finished product, the client is on the hook. Granted, the chances of such errors are low but they do exist none-the-less.

(3) Request the client send a hard-copy master disc to the manufacturer.

Ultimately this is the best solution for both client and CD manufacturer as long as the client has thoroughly reviewed the content on the master disc and confirms the master disc is ready for production without requirement for any modifications.

Despite the inconvenience of having to send a hard-copy master disc to the manufacturer, the client’s master disc acts as a “hard-copy proof” to measure the performance of the manufactured discs against. Should there be any discrepancy between the source and the manufactured product the defect is clearly the responsibility of the manufacturer, because the only chance for corruption or error comes from the transfer of data, and the only data transfer being done is by the manufacturer. As long as the manufacturer has a warranty that deals with manufacturing defects (and you wouldn’t want to do business with anyone who doesn’t have such a warranty) the client is protected.