CDs

• clear plastic wallets (often used for magazine cover mounts),
• digipak (a plastic tray with a cardboard cover),
• printed cardboard sleeves,
• tin boxes (often embossed),
• 'sierra' boxes (over sized boxes often used for CDRom),
• CShell (a one piece shatterproof plastic moulding shaped like a clam shell,
• EJector cases (an elegant enclosed transparent shatterproof case with an ejection mechanism!)
• For other forms of packaging, please visit our Packaging page.

Various forms of specialised CDs are also available, including:

• picture discs (printed with full colour discs),
• litho printed picture discs (full colour but with the best resolution, akin to print on paper)
• holographic discs, gold plated discs,
• shaped discs (because CDs play from the inside to the outside, it is possible to shape the outside of the disc, but playing time is lost),
• small mask discs (the disc is only silvered in the data area, leaving the rest clear. Can look stunning with the right print!).

Chart Rules

If you think that your single might enter the charts there are various rules you need to comply with, including featuring no more than 3 tracks, and not exceeding 20 minutes in playing time. Other rules also apply, so see links page for more information on who to contact.

Bar Codes

If you think that your products will be distributed by a commercial distribution company, or will be stocked by a 'large' retailer, you should consider using a bar code. Bar codes are often used in conjunction with ISRC codes for automatic royalty payments by radio stations. Bar code numbers are controlled in the UK by gs1. Visit their web site at www.gs1uk.org or for more contact information see our links page.

Each bar code number consists of three parts:

• the company prefix (which also identifies the country of the producer),
• the reference item number (which identifies the particular item) and
• the check digit.

In order to use a bar code number you must be a member of gs1 who will allocate you a company prefix to which you add a reference item number. Only members of gs1 can use bar codes. It is illegal to use bar codes if you are not a member of gs1! Companies offering to sell or give you a bar code risk prosecution of themselves and you. In addition, it is quite possible that your royalties and revenue from sales could end up being paid to other bands sharing the same company prefix as you. Finally, don't be persuaded to stick the bar code off a chocolate bar, etc. on your CD - it could lead to mass confusion in Woolies.

ISRC Codes

International Standard Recording Codes (ISRC) are codes which can be embedded into the data on an audio CD to identify the owner of each track. They consist of a series of numbers which are allocated by the BPI in the UK, and regulated worldwide by the IFPI. ISRCs can be used by radio stations, etc., to automatically log play out of your material for royalty payments. Visit their web site or for more contact information see our links page.

MCPS

The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society administer the mechanical copyright of the vast majority of music in the UK on behalf of songwriters and publishers. If you are going to use someone else's material, you will almost always have to pay a royalty. In order to progress your manufacture, you will need to fill in an Application For License form (available from us or MCPS by post, or as a download in PDF format here), regardless of whether you are recording your own or someone else's songs. Once the form is completed and returned to MCPS they will let you know how much you will owe (if anything) in royalty payments, and then once this is paid, they issue a License To Manufacture. Other than for runs of less than 500 units, we (along with all other reputable duplication facilities) will require a license before we can commence manufacture. Visit their web site or for more contact information see our links page.

CDR | DVD |  Card CD | Packaging

Disc Comparison Page

CD Prices From March 2007

We use various factories for CD manufacture, offering the best combinations of quality, price and turnaround time. In order to calculate the cost of your CDs you will need the following:

1. Pre-master (DDPi or DDP Exabyte for audio CDs, CDR for data CDs)
2. Glass master
3. Discs (normally with cases and print)

We include full assembly, cellowrapping of jewel cases and delivery to one mainland UK address as standard. Please read the 'small print' at the bottom of the page for final details!

Please note that 8cm CDs are only available on our Standard Service.

CDR | DVD | Card CD | Packaging

Disc Comparison Page

Standard Service
New Lower Prices From March 2007 And The Best Quality Available Anywhere
Pre-Mastering	Glass masters	Other options
Unit Cost Of CDs	CDs with rollfold booklets	CDs with stapled booklets

Prices apply to either 12cm discs or 8cm (1000 units+), although jewel cases, slimline single cases, booklets, tray cards and J cards are only available for 12cm discs. Please check the comparison chart for more details.

 

Pre-Mastering
Creation of DDP master, including transfer from original source (DAT, audio CD, computer files, etc) with error correction, full audio check, PQ coding (including start, end and index marks, ISRCs, barcode and CD Text), transfer of DDP files to DVD-R or Exabyte tape, data verification and PQ sheet.
Up to 25 minutes	from £90.00
Over 25 minutes	from £120.00
Mastering time
First hour of mastering time, as a supplement to a DDP master	£45.00
Additional mastering time	£30.00 per half hour

 

Glass Mastering (Audio from DDP files on DVD-R or Exabyte, ROM from gold disc)
500 - 999 units	£150.00
1000 units +	Free of charge

 

Example Unit Costs - For quantities over 20000 or other type of packaging, please contact us for a quote
CDs With Basic Packaging	500+	1000+	2000+	3000+	5000+	10000+
CD only (2 colour silk screen printed)	£0.32	£0.31	£0.27	£0.23	£0.20	£0.18
CD / Jewel case	£0.46	£0.43	£0.39	£0.35	£0.32	£0.30
CD / Jewel case / 4 page booklet (4+1) / tray card (4+0)	£0.57	£0.52	£0.46	£0.41	£0.38	£0.35
CD / Jewel case / 4 page booklet (4+4) / tray card (4+4)	£0.60	£0.57	£0.49	£0.44	£0.40	£0.36
CDs With Fold Booklets
CD / Jewel case / 6 page booklet (4+1) / tray card (4+0)	£0.62	£0.57	£0.49	£0.44	£0.40	£0.37
CD / Jewel case / 6 page booklet (4+4) / tray card (4+4)	£0.68	£0.64	£0.54	£0.48	£0.43	£0.39
CD / Jewel case / 8 page booklet (4+1) / tray card (4+0)	£0.66	£0.57	£0.50	£0.45	£0.41	£0.37
CD / Jewel case / 8 page booklet (4+4) / tray card (4+4)	£0.74	£0.66	£0.55	£0.49	£0.45	£0.39
CD / Jewel case / 10 or 12 page booklet (4+1) / tray card (4+0)	£0.76	£0.60	£0.53	£0.47	£0.43	£0.39
CD / Jewel case / 10 or 12 page booklet (4+4) / tray card (4+4)	£0.84	£0.72	£0.59	£0.52	£0.47	£0.41
CDs With Stapled Booklets
CD / Jewel case / 8 page booklet (4+1) / tray card (4+0)	£0.62	£0.57	£0.49	£0.44	£0.40	£0.37
CD / Jewel case / 8 page booklet (4+4) / tray card (4+4)	£0.68	£0.64	£0.54	£0.48	£0.43	£0.39
CD / Jewel case / 12 page booklet (4+1) / tray card (4+0)	£0.62	£0.57	£0.50	£0.45	£0.41	£0.37
CD / Jewel case / 12 page booklet (4+4) / tray card (4+4)	£0.69	£0.66	£0.55	£0.49	£0.45	£0.39
CD / Jewel case / 16 page booklet (4+1) / tray card (4+0)	£0.71	£0.60	£0.53	£0.47	£0.43	£0.39
CD / Jewel case / 16 page booklet (4+4) / tray card (4+4)	£0.80	£0.72	£0.59	£0.52	£0.47	£0.41
CDs in slimline single packaging with J card (156mm printed 4+0) - no wrap
CD / Slimline single case / J card (with flap, printed 4+0)	£0.74	£0.53	£0.45	£0.41	£0.37	£0.34
Other options
Additional silk screen colours for on disc print
Extra silk screen colours on disc (per colour per unit)	£0.03	£0.03	£0.03	£0.02	£0.02	£0.02
Litho on disc print. These prices are a supplement to the basic two colour silk screen price
5 colour litho print (white plus CMYK per unit)	£0.09	£0.07	£0.07	£0.05	£0.05	£0.04
Packaging
Plastic wallets - various types available (per unit from)	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05
Paper wallets with clear circular windows (per unit)	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05	£0.05
Coloured and clear jewel case trays	Call	Call	Call	Call	Call	Call