Audio CD Master - do-it-yourself issues

While it's great that people are becoming more empowered to take direct control over their CD project, it can lead to problems caused by inexperience.

Here's an issue I thought I would share with you - because we're beginning to see it more frequently these days: Audio masters that are not formatted properly.

Before you begin burning your Master:

1. Formatting a CD for music/audio is different than formatting a CD for data (aka: CDROM). Any reasonably good disc copying software program should ask you what type of disc you're trying to make (music or data), so be sure you check the various default settings before you create your master.

2. Make sure that your disc is finalized (ie: single session - disc at once) because supplying an 'open session' disc will lead to problems when we try to make the glass master and replication stamper from it. Again, check the default settings on your disc copying software program to make sure your disc will be finalized.

4. Only use high-quality name-brand blank CDR media. Going with a cheap 'no name' brand isn't worth it.

5. Burn your Master at the slowest possible speed to ensure the best possible image on the CDR.

6. Test your Master on all sorts of different play-back units (home stereo, car stereo, portable CD player, etc.), both old and new, just to make sure your files are formatted properly for the widest possible compatibility.

7. Make sure you listen to your Master from beginning to end - all the way through - to ensure it performs EXACTLY as intended with no errors, skips, pops, etc. Remember - the CDs that you are getting manufactured will be exact clones of your Master, so whatever is on your Master will be on the finished product.

8. Don't include any other files (like artwork) on your Master unless you actually want them on your finished product.

Hope these tips help!