Your Disc and Tape Duplication & Replication FAQs
Here are several questions we often hear from our prospects and customers – and our answers. If you don’t find your answer below please call us at 1-888-271-DISC (3472) or 615-244-4236 or email us at discs@wemaketapes.com. Click on any category below to read the FAQ’s.
Our Disc & Tape Duplication/Replication Process
Our Business
Q. Why should I choose We Make Tapes & Discs?
A. We know the business and this is our 29th year, we have great prices, we get the job done when promised (or before!), and we actually respond to your phone inquiries real time – no phone menus, messages or operators in a distant land. But don’t take our word for it. Hear what our customers have to say and why, once they find us, they stick with us.
Q. Who and where are your customers?
A. We have hundreds of clients in and out of the Nashville, TN area where we are located – including XX states in 2007. We duplicate discs and tapes -- audio, video, software, and data – for clients across many industries: music, film, self-help/education, ministries, advertising & marketing agencies, and a spectrum of other businesses. See several of our samples.
Q. Where are you located?
A. We Make Tapes & Discs is located in the heart of Music City (Nashville, TN) right on Music Row: 118 16th Avenue South, Suite 1. We're right behind Off Broadway Shoes and just across the street from our old location (use the same parking lot). See directions.
Q. How do your prices compare to other CD and DVD duplication and replication companies?
A. We think you’ll find our pricing very favorable, and we have several CD & DVD Deals as well. See how we compare:
CD Duplication Pricing
CD Replication Pricing
DVD Duplication Pricing
DVD Replication Pricing
and Packaging Options
Insert Pricing
Cardboard Sleeve Pricing
Digipak Pricing
More Packaging Pricing
Back to topOrdering
Q. How do I place my order?
A. Take a look at our 6 Get Started Steps which will show you how easy it is – or simply call us at 1-888-271-DISC (3472) or 615-244-4236 or send us an e-mail at discs@wemaketapes.com. A Customer Service Representative will lead you through the ordering process and make sure that we receive everything that we need for your order.
Q. How do I pay for services, and when is my payment due?
A. We gladly accept cash, check, money order, bank wire, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover. For order of $250 or more, we require a deposit of one-half the subtotal with the balance (plus sales tax, freight, and overages, if applicable) due prior to pick-up or shipment.
Q. Do I have to pay sales tax in TN?
A. Orders delivered or picked up in Tennessee are subject to Tennessee state sales tax of 9.25%, unless we are furnished a valid Tennessee Sales Tax Exempt Number.
Q. What is the fewest number of tapes or discs I can get?
A. At WMTD there are no minimums or maximum.
Q. What is your turnaround time?
A. Our turn-around time will vary from order to order depending on the master type and print needs. As a general guideline, our turn-around time for CD Duplication is 1-6 days. CD Replication is 3-4 weeks. DVD Duplication is 1 day to 2 weeks and DVD Replication is 3.5-4 weeks.
Q. What if I am in a hurry and need a quicker turn-around time?
A. We do offer Rush services for our standard packages. For example, on a Short-Run CD Package, the rush fee is $50 (you jump to the front of the line). $200 is the Rush fee for the CD Deal of 1,000 CDs. The Rush fee for the 1,000 DVD Deal is $250.
Q: Do you offer same day service?
A. Absolutely! Bring your CD master in to us by 10 am and we can duplicate up to 100 for you by 4 pm at $4.95 each. Want to duplicate DVDs? Get us your master by 10 am and we can duplicate up to 50 for you by 4 pm at $5.95 each. Please note that same day service is only for black text orders. Color will require more time.
Q. How does WMTD ship my completed CDs/DVDs?
A. We utilize DHL ground as standard shipment. We will ship next-day morning, next-day afternoon, or two-day air at your request (additional charges will apply.)
Our Disc & Tape Duplication/Replication Process
Q. What is the difference between Replication and Duplication?
A. During Replication a glass master is created at the outset of the production process and the information is “pressed” or stamped during the manufacturing process, resulting in a CD-ROM. The artwork is applied via an offset printing process onto the CD. During Duplication the content of your master is encoded onto the disc by burning microscopic holes into the dye layer of a recordable CD or DVD. The art is printed onto the face of the CD via an inkjet printing process.
Replicated discs are the standard for major commercial releases; however, duplicated discs have lots of advantages, too. While Replication is the most effective avenue for quantities of 1,000 or more, Duplication is the most cost effective for orders of quantities fewer than 1,000 and can be turned-around significantly faster than Replication.
Q What type or kind of blank media do you use when you duplicate?
A. We use only top of the line blank media including Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs, Taiyo Yuden Watershield CD-Rs, Verbatim DVD-Rs and Taiyo Yuden Watershield DVD-Rs.
Q Can you transfer that old time film to DVD?
A. Absolutely! See our section on Film to DVD Transfer.
Q. Will my disc copies be as good as the original?
A. Yes. There is NO difference. Think of it as an identical clone. It will be exactly the same!
Q. Are the CD-R’s that you use compatible with all players?
A. The discs we duplicate for you are 100% compliant with the specifications set forth for data or audio disc creation. Some players that are especially dated may have difficulty reading CD-R discs. We use the highest quality discs for your duplication to ensure the compatibility of your discs to the most playback devices possible. There may be instances when a duplicated CD-R will not play back on one device but will on another. This is unavoidable under any condition, but with good quality discs such as what we use it can be minimized.
Q. What are overages and underages? What does + or – 10% mean?
A. We try to deliver as close to the exact number of units ordered as possible, but it’s important that you allow for as much as 10% over or under that number. The reason for overruns and under runs is this: all CD plants manufacture a bit more than you order, then discard any copies that don’t meet quality standards. If there are more discards than we expect, you’ll receive fewer copies than you ordered; if there aren’t many discards, you’ll receive somewhat more. You will only be charged for the exact number of CDs or DVDs you receive and you receive your overages at a discounted rate.
Q. What is a glass master?
A. Glass mastering is the first step toward the replication of your CDs or DVDs. In this stage, pre-mastered audio is transferred via a Laser Beam Recorder (LBR) to a glass substrate over an extremely thin layer of photoresist (i.e. film) on the surface. The LBR copies your information onto the glass by exposing small portions of the film. These exposed surfaces on the film represent data bits, which are easily read by CD players. When the glass master is completed, it is run through an electroforming process where a more durable representation of your data is created onto metal (the stamper). Stampers go on to press or mold your audio disc into polycarbonate (plastic).
Q: What if I need a different order other than my master?
A. A: Maybe you need the tracks on your CD rearranged or maybe you have several CDs and you’d like to combine them to make one new CD. We can easily do this for you! It’s called Resequencing. Our Resequencing Fee is $15.
Q. What is the difference between Chrome and SP cassettes?
A. Chrome Tape is High Bias and is best for music. It is generally preferred by musicians that have a lot of instrumentals. Super Premium Tapes is Normal Bias and it is a standard tape, often used for music (with less going on…a solo, for instance, rather than a whole band) or vocals. We do not have a Low Bias tape.
Graphics
Q. Do I have to do my own graphics first?
A. Almost every project calls for graphics and we want to help as much or as little as you need. Graphic Setup is included with each order. We'll need your artwork provided for us via electronic file (disc, e-mail or FTP upload.) We'll check alignment to our required template, and you'll have a proof/correction opportunity. If you or your graphic designer need our graphic specifications, you may download them We offer in-house Graphic Design services. Graphic Design prices begin at $80.00 per project. The final cost would depend on the size and complexity of the desired artwork.
Q. What is and isn’t included in Graphics Review?
A. Graphic Review is included with each order at WMTD. We need your information provided to us via electronic file (disc, email or FTP upload.) We’ll check alignment to our required template and you’ll have an opportunity to proof your artwork. We offer in-house Graphic Design services, however, that is not included in Graphics Review.
Q. Can you handle all of our graphics?
A. Yes, we can! Almost every project calls for graphics and we want to help as much or as little as you need. We offer in-house Graphic Design services. Graphic Design prices begin at $80.00 for short runs and $95 for long runs. The final cost would depend on the size and complexity of the desired artwork.
Q. If I am doing my own graphic design, how do I make sure that I (or my graphic designer) do things the way We Make Tapes & Discs needs them?
A. We offer full-sized downloadable electronic templates Please call your Customer Service Representative at 1-888-271-DISC (3472) or 615-244-4236 if you have any specific questions.
Q. How do the templates work?
A. Our templates for Books, Trays and Digipaks have three lines on each. The yellow line is our trim line (where your project will be cut.) The black line is the safety zone (where all text should be placed to ensure that it is not trimmed off when your project is cut.) The grey line is our bleed line.
For all CD/DVD Label templates there are two circles. All images and text need to be placed inside the outer circle and outside the inner circle. Because your artwork will be printed directly onto the surface of the disc, there is no need for bleed. Please do not knock out (make white) the center circle. We will do that for you.
Q. What formats of artwork do you accept?
A.We accept Adobe Indesign CS3, Quark Express 6.0, Adobe Illustrator 10.0 and Adobe Photoshop CS2. We can also accept PDF, JPEG, TIFF and EPS files.
Q: Do I get a proof before you go to print?
A. Yes, absolutely! A few days after we receive all your information we'll email you a proof. You have the final word and the project doesn't move until you're happy.
Q. What is bleed?
A. Essentially, bleed is extending the color, photo or design of your artwork past the trim zone. Bleed is needed because when your project is cut, it is cut in stacks and does not get cut precisely on the trim lines. To prevent small white gaps at the edge of your print once your print is cut down to size, we require that any images on the edge of the page extend at least 1/8" past the crop lines.
Q. What are crop marks?
A. Due to layout requirements such as bleed, the templates for your layout will always be larger than the actual image. When the presses have stopped, your print pieces must be cut down to size. Thus, it is important that the printer knows exactly where the boundaries are for each panel of your print. This is where crop marks come in. Crop marks are a tool that shows us exactly where to cut your print. They are small lines that mark where you would like your project cut. They need to be placed on all 4 corners of you project. Be sure to follow all of our specs and do not modify the crop marks.
Q. What is the difference between 4/1 and 4/4 color?
A. 4/1 means that there is full color or 4 colors on the outside pages and 1 color (black) on the inside pages. 4/4 means that there is full color or 4 colors on both the inside and outside pages.
Q. What is an IPR Form?
A. IPR stands for Intellectual Property Rights Form. Due to special laws governing large quantity disc duplication/replication requests, it is necessary that the Intellectual Property Rights Form (IPR) to be completed in it's entirety in order for us to produce your requested order. Please download the attachment PDF file, fill out the form, and fax it to 615-256-4423.
Q. Do I need a barcode? Can I get one from you?
A. To sell your product in stores, you’ll need a barcode. (Link to updated bar code page that we’ll get to you). To buy one yourself would cost a significant amount of money and could take several weeks. WMTD can provide you with a unique barcode for a flat fee of $35.
Packaging
Q. What are my packaging options?
A. You have a wide range of packaging options exist to give your project that extra unique look. We have the standard jewel case and slimline case, as well as cardboard sleeves, digipaks, paper or plastic—ask us for a sample — we’ll help you develop the best option.
Q. Is shrink wrap always included?
A. No. Shrink wrap is included in the pricing of our package specials, otherwise, it is priced separately.
Q. What defines a 2-page or 4-page or 6- page booklet?
A. A 2-page booklet is essentially 2 panels (front and back) with no folds, while a 4 page has 4 panels with 1 fold… and so on. See packaging examples.
Q. What is reverse board printing? (for Digipaks)
A. When printing most Digipaks, the entire design is printed on one side of the board and then converted or folded down and glued to create a double walled package. In the conversion process there are gaps or knockouts to the unprinted side of the board (usually along the inside of the package’s spines) that will show up on the inside as the color of the stock (usually white.) Some clients prefer an uninterrupted image on the inside of their printed material. WMTD now offers Reverse Board Printing to “fill in the gaps.” This allows you to have a continuous image, eliminating the white spines. See an example.
Jeff Little
Jamestown, NC
www.jefflittle.net
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