Everything But The Weed

Approved by:
Linda Maze, a Wedding photography Gainesville FL in Gainesville Florida

Duplication versus Replication for CD and DVD: What’s the Difference?

When you need to go out of house to get CD or DVDs copied, the difference between cd duplication and replication will require you to determine which you need – duplication or replication. A duplicated CD/DVD is  created using a different process than a replicated CD/DVD even thought they both result in a functioning disc for computer, audio player or DVD unit.

There are two methods to make a copy of a CD or DVD. Information can be copied on to a blank CD/DVD-R; this method is referred to as cd duplication. Information can also added during the CD/DVD manufacturing process using a glass master and stampers that press out the polycarbonate into a disc; this method is referred to as replication. Duplication is what we do at home which blank discs and our computer drives. Replication is never an “at home” process.

If you’re duplicating you are using CD-Rs or DVDRs as your blank discs. When replication is complete you will have what is called a DVD-5, or a DVD-9 or a DVD-10, the differences are the amount of material you need to fit on a disc.

Duplication is best suited for small quantities of discs – a small quantity is usually less than 300 pieces. Replication is for quanities 500 or more. Any commercially available disc is created through replication. Its the only way to keep costs per unit down. There is a range from 300 – 500 pieces that potentially could almost cost as much as 1000 replicated discs. So you might find yourself pressing more to save money than what you initially thought you needed.

You can expect that duplication will cost MORE per unit although less overall total dollar amount when compared to replication. Replication will cost LESS per unit, although because you need to purchase 1000 or more, the overall total dollar amount will be higher.

Why is this?

CD duplication pricing and CD  difference comes from the labor required to replicate a disc. The steps to press a CD or DVD require massive amounts of expensive, delicate and precision equipment. We’re talking currently about 10 million dollars to get set up to press the first disc. It must be completed in a dust-free environment and tested after each step to ensure complete fidelity to the master. Then screens are made so that the artwork to be printed directly to the disc can be applied at that stage.

So to press one (1) disc or one thousand (1000) discs requires the exact same steps, the same amount of time. The cost of materials is quite minimal compared to the labor and pre-production prep. You can think it the same thing you have to do when your stapler needs staples, you have to go throught the same motions to put one (1) staple or five hundred (500) into the stapler.

Timeline

Duplication can take as little as 24 hours if you don’t have any paper printing and it depends on the amount of other projects in front of you. Most duplication houses aren’t sitting there waiting for you to drop off a master, they’ve got machines running for all the jobs placed days before you called. Replication without paper printing takes at least eight (8) business days. Replication with paper printing and packaging could take anwhere from 10 – 15 business days. And it takes that long because of all the pre-production steps that are needed to be able to press the first disc.

The better informed you are – the easier it will be to have your next CD or DVD product created once you have your content determined. Waiting to very last minute will most likely incur additional fees or worse, not having your product when you need it because there wasn’t enough time to produce it and someone either accidentally or deliberately misrepresented the situation in order to get your business.

So stay in the driver’s seat, prepare your master and your artwork with plenty of time for either duplication or replication.