CD Duplication - Is it the right choice for me?
CD duplication is simply a method of copying CD's (also know as 'burning') onto pre-made discs such as CD-R or CD-RW media. The term burning comes from the laser that is used to write the data to the disc. Typically the maximum amount of time for an audio CD-R is 74 minutes. However several manufacturers have designed 80 minute CD's. The obvious difference between the 74 and 80 minutes CD's is there storage capacity. This small difference in useable space is achieved by tightening the coils of the pregroove allowing for a larger recordable area. See the article on CD-R technology for more information. On a rare occasion you can find 90 and 99 minute CD's (which have to be burned by using an 'overburn' option you may find in your CD recording software). More importantly the manufacturers of various media players allow for the extended times by upgrading their firmware.
With today's technology almost anyone can duplicate a CD at home as long as they have a computer outfitted with a CD-R or CD-RW recorder and appropriate software. This approach is adequate for the beginner who plans on duplicating only a few copies of a CD. Be aware that there are many various and specific disc formats available. If you have a fairly large project or plan on duplicating several hundred discs, then you should definitely consider using a professional duplication company. There are many companies to choose from. However if you want one that is reliable, fair priced, fast, and very friendly then look into Discmasters. They have been in business for over 20 years, are very knowledgeable, and professional. There are additional services that Discmasters offers for your CD or DVD project such as CD design, various packaging options and cd mastering services to name a few.
CD duplication is cost effective, produces a high quality product, and has a very quick turn around time. Keep in mind that CD duplication is usually used for small run projects (quantities of 500 or less). For larger projects replication is the best choice!