Are CDRs bad?

  • Thread starter Thread starter SalJustSal
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SalJustSal

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Are CDRs a no-no when it comes to making and distributing CDs. I can see them alright for small time outfits, but what if one wanted to take a step up, form a indy label, and do a larger distribution. Are they a disappointment or recognized as lower quality? Is there a stigma on CDRs or is it just me?

-Sal
 
my old band used cdr's with no writing or anything on them, they were just a plain white surface... then we used a small stamp of the letter "Z" (the bands initial)... gave it a real int htrough the out door paper bag kinda look or that pearl jam album cover you know the one
 
My band has been using cdrs and selling them to our fans for quite a few months now. I don't think there is much of a stigma attached, as long as they sound good. Good packaging helps too.

If you are starting your own label, however, you might find it just as economical to go with replicated cds. It depends on how many copies you will need. It takes a long time to burn 1000 copies on your computer.

Tucci
 
I completly agree with Tutti.

If you just use them to promote your band, or sell some copies in your direct area, CDR's are no problem. But what is indeed the most important: The packaging!!! People are really senstive concerning a nice label on the Cd and a decent booklet. Suddenly it gives people the impression that you're a por, instead of just badly labeled CDR's, who have the stigma of 'being a demo from a beginning band'.

If you really want to set up a label, I would be sure: you'd get a better deal out of ordinary Cd's instead of CDR, and it gives a better impression.
 
Thanks Brett, that's pretty much my thoughts right now.

-Sal

P.S. you just called Tucci, Tutti - no big deal I'm sure but I'm thinking... "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and then you have.... The Facts of Life." It's kind of funny. I don't know if either of you have seen the show.
 
It's not that expensive to have CD's made with nice printing. Why do you ask? In the long run it's probably cheaper and higher quality to have somebody just do it for you.
 
I hope I've got the full grip on this post, here's my thought. There isn't a diff. between a cd or a cdr. I use cdr's all the time and I love to have someone tell me they can hear the diff. I have a musicain buddy that's been playing the seen for 20 years. I took his cd that he burnt and copyed it and he couldn't tell the diff.
As far as a cover for the cd there are a lot of decent programs out there. Click'N Burn Pro for one. If you get the good glossy paper that cost more money. But anyway how many are you talking about? I usually burn my cd's at 2X. If it's my own personal cd I burn it at 1X. So fiqure out how long it will take you to burn ?????????????????? cd's. Just my thought....
 
Oops, sorry Tucci:D. I even called a pro a por I see:)

I gotta pay more attention to my typing.
 
It's not that expensive to have CD's made with nice printing. Why do you ask? In the long run it's probably cheaper and higher quality to have somebody just do it for you.
Click to expand...

I was entertaining the idea of buying a more large scale burning machine, for local musicians. CD's are pretty cheap, but only when you order them by the thousands. A lot of local bands don't have a grand to blow around here.

There isn't a diff. between a cd or a cdr.
Click to expand...

I wasn't really asking about sound quality, but more of the stigma that CDR's may have on them, as being less quality, because about anyone can burn nowadays. Also, I've heard that CDR's don't last as long as a CD. If you don't get the gold ones, they have a life expectency of 10 years max...

For example, I know I had bought some cheapies some years ago, burned some songs, and on some of those discs, the first few and last tracks no longer play. I burned these maybe 3 years ago and they are already going down the tubes. But like I said they were cheapy CDR's.

-Sal
 
Sal, still not sure what you want to do. Are you selling these a local gigs or do you want to promote a 1,000,000 of them?
 
Sal, still not sure what you want to do. Are you selling these a local gigs or do you want to promote a 1,000,000 of them?
Click to expand...

hmmm.... let's start with this....

I was entertaining the idea of buying a more large scale burning machine, for local musicians. CD's are pretty cheap, but only when you order them by the thousands. A lot of local bands don't have a grand to blow around here.
Click to expand...

never quoted myself before.

To clarify a bit more, I was thinking of (at first) doing small time burnings, like runs of 50-100, for local musicians. At the same time I wanted them to have quality too. I probably wouldn't do artwork printing, other than on the disc (this takes another expensive machine however). If the group ever wanted more, then I would have their cd on file along with artwork and make another small run.

But the more I think about it, the more I don't want to do it (at this point in my life at least).

-Sal
 
In my experience the sound quality is the same...but a CDR will scratch a lot easier! Never sell somebody a CDR if you can I would say...unless youre charging like 5 bucks
 
burn speed

a non casual listener can (with a reference) tell the difference between high speed burning and lower speeds though. My (now broken up band) used CDR's commonly and it's the demo standard here in ohio. but if you burn them faster than x2 speed you will hear audio quality loss. . . not REALLY noticable until you get to x16 speed though. . . but I'll never burn faster than x2 anymore
 
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