cameltoe Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Hi, We have finished 5 songs for an upcoming EP, and now need to convert the finished mixes into a final product. Can basschatters recommend anywhere suitable to upload our WAV's and artwork and receive it all back in CD format? We are looking at an order of around 100. Cost is obviously a factor, but it doesn't need to be cheapest option available. We've gone cheap before and it didn't work out well. We'd prefer proper CD cases opposed to plastic wallets, and the quality of the printing and the paper they use for the inserts must be of decent quality. If they are astute enough to notice/adjust any obvious differences in volume this would be useful too, as the songs were recorded in two studios and mixed by two separate engineers. Thanks in advance, Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 For small runs (under 500) you are going to get CDRs and not properly manufactured glass-masterd CDs. This means that they won't have the same lifespan as a real CD. If you are OK with that I suggest that you get in contact with [url=http://www.discwizards.com]Disc Wizards[/url] who I have used in the past and been impressed with the speed and quality of their service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameltoe Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444218302' post='2881196'] For small runs (under 500) you are going to get CDRs and not properly manufactured glass-masterd CDs. This means that they won't have the same lifespan as a real CD. If you are OK with that I suggest that you get in contact with [url=http://www.discwizards.com]Disc Wizards[/url] who I have used in the past and been impressed with the speed and quality of their service. [/quote] That's interesting, never knew that. Can you recommend a place for orders above 500? We don't want or need that many CD's, but we'd like them to be half decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1444219678' post='2881224'] That's interesting, never knew that. Can you recommend a place for orders above 500? We don't want or need that many CD's, but we'd like them to be half decent. [/quote] Disc Wizards is still a good choice. Glass mastering is expensive (a couple of hundred pounds IIRC) but after that the CDs are cheap and don't get significantly cheaper unless you order tens of thousands of CDs. On the other hand CDRs are a lot more expensive per unit, but there's no glass mastering to take into account. The actual cross-over point comes at about 350 units when it become cheaper to have 500 glass mastered CDs manufactured rather than having CDRs. However it might be worth getting in touch with [url=http://www.mobineko.com]Mobineko[/url] who specialise in short runs. I've just done an on-line quote for 100 and 250 units and the prices looks more in line with CD manufacturing rather than CDR duplication, but I would ask the question before placing an order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) [quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1444215893' post='2881155'] If they are astute enough to notice/adjust any obvious differences in volume this would be useful too, as the songs were recorded in two studios and mixed by two separate engineers. [/quote] To get the best sounding CD you really ought to have your recordings properly mastered before sending them off to have the CDs made. This will also help to make the EP sound like a whole and not a bunch of different sounding recordings. I would recommend [url=http://mastering.ninja]Formation Audio[/url] who have done an excellent job on the Dick Venom & The Terrortones releases including our forthcoming long player. Edited October 7, 2015 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 Really good reading here guys, Out of interest what kind of rate are you talking for mastering with Formation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1444224366' post='2881309'] Out of interest what kind of rate are you talking for mastering with Formation? [/quote] IIRC mastering for the album cost around £400. That included 3 revisions to masters (including 3 extra tracks that we didn't eventually use) and different versions for cutting the vinyl and downloads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lw. Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444224142' post='2881305'] To get the best sounding CD you really ought to have your recordings properly mastered before sending them off to have the CDs made. This will also help to make the EP sound like a whole and not a bunch of different sounding recordings. [/quote] This. I can't remember who my band uses but I doubt any of them are that much; I think we paid about £35/40 a track (more if you want a faster turn around than a few days). The difference proper mastering makes is huge yet ironically so subtle it's hard to pin point what's changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameltoe Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 Mastering to the tracks individually has been done, but I'm concerned there may be a slight difference in volume as three tracks were recorded at Cube studios in Cornwall, the other two at Sawmills. No problems when taking tracks on individual merit, but I'm thinking there may be a difference when listened to in sequence. Would re-mastering then solve this issue if there is one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 (edited) Not used them personally but I do some writing for R2 magazine and they use FairPlay Replication for the cover mount CD which always seems really well done. I think FairPlay may have a part stake in the mag. Their website is... http://www.fairplayreplication.co.uk/cd-in-digipack/cd-in-digipack.html They're currently quoting... 500 CDs in Digipacks £1.37 each 300 CDs in Digipacks £1.98 each Fully replicated 3 colour CD into full-colour gloss or matt Digipack. Prices exclude VAT. Free UK delivery excluding Highlands & Islands. Specifications Compact Disc to be screen printed with up to 3 colours; 4 panel Digipack, printed full colour CMYK, with the option of a gloss or matt finish; Glass mastering included. Edited October 7, 2015 by TrevorR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 [quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1444245965' post='2881594'] No problems when taking tracks on individual merit, but I'm thinking there may be a difference when listened to in sequence. Would re-mastering then solve this issue if there is one? [/quote] And a producer chum who is a good guy, can provide remastering and other services and has really good ears... https://www.facebook.com/darrenpoolemusic?ref=ts&fref=ts http://abandonmusic.tumblr.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 [quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1444245965' post='2881594'] Mastering to the tracks individually has been done, but I'm concerned there may be a slight difference in volume as three tracks were recorded at Cube studios in Cornwall, the other two at Sawmills. No problems when taking tracks on individual merit, but I'm thinking there may be a difference when listened to in sequence. Would re-mastering then solve this issue if there is one? [/quote] Getting your individual recordings to sound right in sequence is one of the main points of having the recordings mastered in the first place. What you need to do is get the original un-mastered mixes and supply them your mastering house of choice along with a running order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameltoe Posted October 8, 2015 Author Share Posted October 8, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444307595' post='2882086'] Getting your individual recordings to sound right in sequence is one of the main points of having the recordings mastered in the first place. What you need to do is get the original un-mastered mixes and supply them your mastering house of choice along with a running order. [/quote] Brilliant info, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444307595' post='2882086'] Getting your individual recordings to sound right in sequence is one of the main points of having the recordings mastered in the first place. What you need to do is get the original un-mastered mixes and supply them your mastering house of choice along with a running order. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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