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Dropped Z
New member
Would there be any real reason to obtain a "glass master" or "master disc" from the mastering facility? Wouldn't you just want the 16-bit WAV files with the right spacing between them?
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
A PCM data disc (.wav files burnt to a data disc) won't play on anything. Well, I suppose it'd play on a computer... But not an audio CD player.
Lexicon / Nomenclature Alert: It's not a glass master - The glass master is made in a clean room by guys in space-suits. The master disc is generally referred to as the production master or replication master. [/Lexicon Alert]
Anyway -
If you're planning on getting CD's made, you don't have much of a choice... If you're simply using digital distribution, then it's not really an issue (although I'd personally go with at least one replication master "as it's supposed to be" in case of any chance of having discs made at some point).
In any case, I can think of several reasons to have a replication master and no reasons not to have one.
That said - Probably a third of projects that come through here are two-way FTP delivery and the client is either using digital distro only (iTunes and the like) or they're "burning their own."
THAT said - I typically do a little 'snooping' to make sure they understand and have the ability to actually author a compliant disc.
Lexicon / Nomenclature Alert: It's not a glass master - The glass master is made in a clean room by guys in space-suits. The master disc is generally referred to as the production master or replication master. [/Lexicon Alert]
Anyway -
If you're planning on getting CD's made, you don't have much of a choice... If you're simply using digital distribution, then it's not really an issue (although I'd personally go with at least one replication master "as it's supposed to be" in case of any chance of having discs made at some point).
In any case, I can think of several reasons to have a replication master and no reasons not to have one.
That said - Probably a third of projects that come through here are two-way FTP delivery and the client is either using digital distro only (iTunes and the like) or they're "burning their own."
THAT said - I typically do a little 'snooping' to make sure they understand and have the ability to actually author a compliant disc.
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masteringhouse
www.masteringhouse.com
If it's for digital distribution only, or a very short run and you plan on making different complilations on your own it makes sense to get the files on a data CD. Otherwise I would go with an audio CD.
If getting the files I would also go with 24 bit or if 16 bit warn the client not to double dither if using them to make audio CDs.
Another option is a CD image that the client can download and burn.
If getting the files I would also go with 24 bit or if 16 bit warn the client not to double dither if using them to make audio CDs.
Another option is a CD image that the client can download and burn.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
When I recently had my album replicated by Diskmakers...they wanted a production master exactly as I wanted it to be when it was replicated.
Since I did my own "mastering"...I had make sure the sequence and song spacing was the way I wanted it and also that the production master was error free (or at least minimal errors so as not to be rejected during the glass master making process).
Then Diskmakers actually made the glass master from my production master.
I asked them what they did with the glass master...they said they only kept it for a short time (if I wanted to do another run in the very near future)..otherwise they tossed it/recycled it and said that glass masters didn't last for a very long time in storage (?)...that they couldn't use it again if it just lay there for a few years....
So I guess if you’re having your mastering done in a pro mastering house…either they will send the production master to your replication facility of choice…or you would need to get it from them to send it to the replication house….assuming you are getting actual CDs pressed and not just online distro.
I assume you would want to first hear the mastered disc before it goes to the replication house.
The mastering pros here can detail that whole process a lot better….I’m just giving you my own recent experience with Diskmakers.
Since I did my own "mastering"...I had make sure the sequence and song spacing was the way I wanted it and also that the production master was error free (or at least minimal errors so as not to be rejected during the glass master making process).
Then Diskmakers actually made the glass master from my production master.
I asked them what they did with the glass master...they said they only kept it for a short time (if I wanted to do another run in the very near future)..otherwise they tossed it/recycled it and said that glass masters didn't last for a very long time in storage (?)...that they couldn't use it again if it just lay there for a few years....
So I guess if you’re having your mastering done in a pro mastering house…either they will send the production master to your replication facility of choice…or you would need to get it from them to send it to the replication house….assuming you are getting actual CDs pressed and not just online distro.
I assume you would want to first hear the mastered disc before it goes to the replication house.
The mastering pros here can detail that whole process a lot better….I’m just giving you my own recent experience with Diskmakers.
masteringhouse
www.masteringhouse.com
The glass master is used to create stampers that are used to create the final disc. I won't go through the entire process, but basically the "glass master" has a coating placed on it which is then etched with a laser to produce a series of stampers. The glass is then washed and reused.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
I take then that the stampers can only be used for so long before new ones need to be made from the glass master?
Is that why they don't last or get stored for future runs...?
masteringhouse
www.masteringhouse.com
They can get dirty or compromised but the original stamper isn't always used to create the disc so this can be stored in place of the others. I'm not entirely sure of the particular process at Discmakers. Some use the "father" stamper to create other stampers used to create the discs for large runs.
This vid may help to understand the process better:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3FQzwNzUE4&feature=youtube_gdata
Even a bit of info on making cheese!
Also see:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc_manufacturing?wasRedirected=true
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D
Dropped Z
New member
Wow - great info here! Thanks to all. I am most likely doing the mastering locally, so I will probably get both a data disc and a physical CD to send to the disc manufacturer (possibly Discmakers). Thanks to all again.