Frequently Asked Questions

CD/DVD Replication

CD/DVD Replication

CD duplication (a.k.a burned CD) is the process to create the content of the CD using CD-R media. In other words, a CD duplicator is used to create or "burn" the source image to another pre-manufactured CD-R.
CD replication (a.k.a manufactured CD) creates a glass master from a pre-mastered image. Stampers are subsequently created from glass master. The stampers will then be used to press the discs with injection molding made of raw polycarbonate plastic.


What is DVD 5?
It is the most common DVD format for replication. It's a single layer disc that holds 4.7GB of content. Do not confuse it with DVD-R, which is a blank media format used for duplication only.


What is DVD 9?
It is a double layer disc that holds 8.5GB of content. The only way to create a DVD-9 format disc is mass quantity replication by creating glass masters for both layers. A DLT or a double layer DVD-R can be used as masters. Do not confuse DVD-9 with DL DVD, DL DVD is a blank media format used for duplication only.


What is DVD 10?
It is a double sided disc with a single layer of content on each side. Just picture 2 DVD-5 glue against each other, it will hold 9.4 GB of content. The only way to create a DVD-10 format disc is by replication. A DLT tape is required to produce the glass master.


What is mini DVD?
Mini DVD is shaped like a regular DVD, but holds less data. It can hold up to 1GB of data. Mini DVDs are only played in DVD players with tray sliding in.


What is business card DVD?
Business card DVD is one of the more common type of custom shaped DVDs. It is small enough to fit into one's wallet. It holds about 850MB of data. Like mini DVD, it can only played in DVD players with tray sliding in. It will not work in players where discs are slided in vertically.


What is the Red Book Standard?
It is the CD standard that you find in audio CDs. A red book disc will play on any audio CD player, it is perhaps the most popular compact disc format. The sample rate is 44.1 Khz and the bit depth is 16 bit.


What is the Orange Book Standard?
A writable or recordable media such as CD-R, CD-RW would be classified as the Orange Book, which defines where the data can be written


What is the Blue Book Standard?
It is a hybrid/enhanced disc that combines Red Book and Yellow Book. A Blue Book CD sometimes is referred as CD extra or enhanced CD.


What is the Green Book Standard?
The Green Book /Compact Disc Interactive (CD-I) standard was released by Philips in 1987 to store motion video content on a compact disc. A CD-I format will not play in a regular audio CD player, it requires a dedicated CD-I player.


What is the Yellow Book Standard?
This is the CD-Rom Standard for computer data. Sometimes it will also contain compressed audio data or video/picture data.


What is the White Book Standard?
Popular in most Asian countries, White Book CDs are sometimes known as Karaoke CD. They store a combination of full motion video and audio. White Book CDs utilized MPEG 1 and 2 compression technology in order to compress audio and video down to a usable size.


What is the turnaround time for replication?
7-14 business days after the approval of all supplied artwork.


What is the minimum order for CD/DVD replication?
There is a minimum of 1,000 CDs for all replication orders.


What is overrun?
In order to maintain the highest quality possible on each project, each disc goes through quality control when it is produced. The ones that do not pass the tests will need to be replaced. Therefore, up to 10% more discs are manufactured in the beginning to ensure that all failed discs can be replaced. The remaining overrun discs will be returned to customer and added to remaining balance. Customers will not be charged for failed discs.


What is a check disc?
A check disc is pressed from the stamper that is based on the supplied master. It will be identical to the mass order that will be produced from the same stamper. So what is the difference between a replicator and an authorer's check disc?

Most DVD authorers will burn a DVD-R to show clients an example of the work before submitting to the replicator. Menu buttons, navigation and so on can be verified.

On DVD-9 or titles that require copy protection, the master copy will be on DLT (Digital Linear Tape). In this case the authorer will most likely shrink the content onto a single DVD-R or a DVD DL. This check disc will not be a true representation of what the clients will receive from the replicator. Therefore, a check disc from the replicator is highly recommended for DVD-9 and titles with copy protection.

Creating a check disc takes time however. After a stamper is made a few discs are pressed and mailed to customers for approval. The stamper is usually taken out of production and additional setup time is required to finish the job when the check disc is approved.