Copying CDs

[John Harvey]

After months of slaving over a hot VF80 I have finally produced a reasonable CD of my band. I would like to get a few decent copies made with some simple artwork - not to sell but just to give to a few friends. Can anyone recommend how I go about doing this? Are there companies out there that will make just a few copies at a reasonable cost?

[Nils K]

If you want to make below, say, 20 copies, use a domestic CD-burner for that... - Many CD production facilities offer small runs, but the starting costs (glass master, silkscreening, packaging, etc.) may be prohibitively high when you just want a small quantity. Check the Yellow Pages in your area for CD manufacturing plants, tell them what you want and get them to give you an offer.

regards, Nils

[glynb]

Depends what you mean by 'a few'.

Like the other poster said, if it's less than 50 or so, you may as well do them yourself, print off the artwork yourself on a home printer, etc., will only cost you some time and a few print cartridges and blank CDs.

I am planning to do 500 copies of my album early next year, which i consider to be a 'small' number. that is the minimum i can get a glass master produced for included in the price of the copies and get the whole product to look and feel professional with the disk actualy printed, not a paper label etc.

I figure by the time i have given away a copy to all my friends and anyone i meet socialy from now on, then sent off a copy to every media outlet, every radio station , including internet radio, sell the odd one at local gigs, plus send one to all reviewers and anyone who visits my website and requests a free copy, i should be able to get rid of 500 over the course of a year or so. It's not a money making project for me, just a hobby & a way of getting my music heard and some feedback on it.

If you want professional reproduction plants there are lots listed in the links section of this discussion board. get a variety of quotes.

[John Harvey]

Thanks for the info and comments. I would really like to get the CDs printed with track listings, band name etc... I'm not too bothered about the cover so, yeah, a few hours on the PC should sort that out.
Thanks again

John Harvey

[dave in toledo]

when you ready for a bigger run, check out dismakers.com, you will get an idea of the quantity needed and the different packaging.....

they also take your cd, make suggestions, and send it back for you to improve, then the mastering they do for the price is unprecedented....

[kdgospel]

An easy to use program for designing and printing your own CDs is Surething CD Labeler. It is easy to learn to use and you can end up with some very good looking results. I've used it for our demos and people thought that a company did them.

[dave in toledo]

also at diskmakers.com, they have templates to fit cd's with different folds and fronts and backs, just need a decent graphics program for them to work.... they are free

[mawtangent]

Musican's Friend offers to make 50 CDs for $59

http://www.diskfaktory.com/enter/009...akPage=FastPak

[John Harvey]

Many thanks to all of you for the helpful comments. I will investigate further!

John Harvey