Cd Duplication - Best price...

  • Thread starter Thread starter jrlemonz
  • Start date Start date
J

jrlemonz

New member
My band, Inner Truth, is looking to get our demo E.P. duplicated. We're in the Northeast (north shore MA, near Boston). WE want around 100 copies, with 2 page (front and back) booklets, color. The back can be (tray card) can be Black and White, and we'd prefer on CD printing to labels, but definately black and white on the CD. CD's are preferred over CD-R's, but that depends on the price.

We're looking to spend below $300 (the lowest cost we've seen). Anyone know a place cheaper then 300? We might just do em ourselves, but we'd prefer to get duplication, just for ease of use. If we can get more then 100 for under 300 that'd be good too. We might sacrifice the on cd printing if it meant 50 more CD's, or something drastic.

Jake
 
Well, here is my 2 cents worth.......
Proper Cd manufacturing can be pricey, and im sure you want to keep it cheap, but what is the end result of this cd?... is it to shop around?... are you sellling it at gigs?......
Short runs, or "one-off's" as there called in the industry, are not created from a glass master.... Which means that there error rate is considerably higher... They are just burned off the master cd you gave them....Laymens terms?.....Have you ever burned someone a cd and it works great everywhere, but not in their car, or somewhere else.. that is because the cd has errors on it, and their finicky player doesn't want to read it...
A Glass master is pretty much totally error-free. Most plants won't do a glass master unless you are ordering 500 units...
The reason the destination of your cd has to be considered is because, If you are shopping it around, and some A&R Guy is looking for your sound, and needs a new act to add to his roster, puts the cd in, and it doesn't play.... he got one of the error inflicted cd's!!... There goes your deal, It will go in the garbage, along with all the grunge demos he receives daily.....
One-Off's are good for passing out to friends, and stuff like that... but if you want to be sure the cd is going to be flawless, you are better off going all out..... You can get great Prices, and your cd's will be pro, and probably maufactured at the same plant that does all the big names, like madonna and pearl jam.....
I see deals for $999.... and thats with color artwork, and 2 colours screenprinted on cd (very important to make your cd look pro).... Thats totally finished with your insert booklet, and plastic wrap.
Plus if your going to sell it at gigs, You don't want Irate customers coming back saying it doesn't work, or something like that.
My cd is in producton right now, so this is all fresh, and I though I would pass on the knowledge....

Joe
 
Last edited:
I doubt we'll be sending the CD to any big label A&R guys. Its a waste of our time. If they want us, they can find us, we're not in this to make a living, although it would be nice. I'm not worried about the glass master (which is a lot more expensive i have since found out from shopping). So we are looking to get CD-R's. If we are sending to A&R guys, we'll check them out in my discman (won't play anything even the littlest bit screwed up, if it works in that thing i am willing to bet it will work ANYWHERE). Thes are more to sell at gigs. And if an irate customer returns a non-working CD, we'll give em a new one. Anyone know the cheapest place to look?

Jake
 
Go balls out and get 1000 copies done. Standard price is around $590 for that these days. Of course, packaging is extra, but a c-shell is about $.20, so it won't run you too much.

If you can't sell 1000, give them away. That will help you build the hype to where you can sell 1000.

Good luck!

dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com
 
Do I need to define "under $300" for anyone?.....
 
Thank ya Gidge.

Dave: Yeah it would be nice to be able to afford like $800 for CD's (and thats in little C-Shells, we want cases and inserts), but we can't. $300-$400 is our price range, and we only want between 100-200 CD's.

Jake
 
Setup is your main cost, so it's going to be hard to find anything worthwhile at that price.

I know a bargain basement guy who can get you 100 discs on silver media for around $500. Email me and I'll get you the info. Wouldn't want Gidge to think I'm advertising or anything. You know how bent out of shape he can get.

dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com
 
Me loves Spam....Spam samiches....spam on bun, no pickles.......Spam, its whats for dinner..........
 
Nah, I'm just saying where I can get that price. I am in no way advertising for them. I've never used them and can not guarantee their quality of work.

Jake
 
jrlemonz said:
I know a place where I can get for $344 100 CD's, color insert and bw tray, on cd printing and shrink wrap. I'm looking for something possibly cheaper then that. http://www.mastermindaudio.com

Jake
Click to expand...

Jake... Do it then!... Thats obviously your best deal.... Our suggestions are a little above your price range, and clearly your on a budget, so I would say do it at Mastermind......(No I don't work there, and this ain't spam, im just quoting Jakes upper post...)

Just watch out, and make sure your an informed buyer, cause what may seem like an awesome deal might be a rip off.... Instead of getting a real industry standard, color booklet....(glossy), It might be some cheap ass laser printed on regular printer paper....(yes I have seen this happen), so just make sure you ask, if the booklet is "industry standard"....

Remember the old saying "You get what you pay for".... be informed bud.

Joe:)
 
Ask for samples. If its a legit business, they should be more than willing to prove themselves to a prospective client.

If they want an exchange of money before you get your hands on anything they've produced....well--you should know better.
 
Jake,

that wasnt directed at you,bro....it was directed at David, and Im just poking fun.....a couple of months ago I saw an old skit from Monty Python(anyone remember them) about Spam and now I cant get it out of my mind..........
 
I'll ask for a sample, and I have heard good things. I once used a studio that was affiliated with them, and I saw some stuff they had done. It was before they had the on-cd printing, and I never saw the CD, but the books weren't on computer paper, they were decent. Thanks guys.

Jake
 
I have never seen shortrun books that look really slick. For the glossy stuff, you're probably going to have to at least do 1000.

But, things are getting better all the time. I think you'll be ok for 100 of them. The price is definitely good if what they say is correct.

dave @ kathode ray
www.indiebiz.com
 
Gidge said:
Me loves Spam....Spam samiches....spam on bun, no pickles.......Spam, its whats for dinner..........
Click to expand...

Up in Canada, all we have is "KAM".... boy you yanks are livin' it lucky!.....:D

Monty Python eh?..... That show was definately "different"!...

I used to watch Benny Hill, But now the only Benny I see on tv, is that kook Benny Hinn..(with the comb-over)


Just rambling on, and on, let me know when I get annoying:)

Joe
 
Try lonelyrecords.com

www.lonelyrecords.com

$560 for 1000 bulk b&w silk-screened CDs (real CDs, not CDR)

or

$990 for 1000 retail-ready silk-screened CDs with b&w inserts (I think 2-panel), traycards.


More for color and more for extra panels.

They can work from film or from your files.

mJ
 
EVERY BODY HAS TO DIE

EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN BUT NO ONE WANTS TO DIE. If you want a product that looks decent you are going to have to pay. You work hard to perfect your skills as a musician. You wouldn't take peanuts to play a gig because your worth is more than that. Don't underestimate the next mans worth. Don't get me wrong do some comparison shopping. You can expect a more professional job from someone if you lay out what you want and look at what it cost from a realistic standpoint. You are asking for a lot for 300 dollars.

"WE want around 100 copies, with 2 page (front and back) booklets, color. The back can be (tray card) can be Black and White, and we'd prefer on CD printing to labels, but definately black and white on the CD. CD's are preferred over CD-R's"

I don't mean to sound rude. That isn't my intention and I apoligize if i do. I just hate to see musicians do business with "Come ON BRO. Productions"
Go the extra mile in the end you'll be happier
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top