Got a local artist on a real tight budget looking to have 50 cds pressed ASAP. Inbox me

8/2/2010 11:36:01 PM

you're using the term 'press' generically here right?

8/3/2010 11:49:15 AM

press the laser into the polycarbonate

I'm AstralAdvent and i approved this message.

8/3/2010 11:56:04 AM

i can burn cds on my laptop if that's what you mean

8/3/2010 12:00:45 PM

50 labeled cds. I don't think it's feasible to use a laptop for this. Anyone have a pro duplicator?

8/3/2010 12:13:54 PM

What do you mean by 50 labeled CDs? Can they be lightscribed? Are you fine with decals being printed and applied to a burned copy?

Our very first album, which was self-released, was burned CDs straight from a personal computer and we applied the labels ourselves. We made and sold probably about 350 in total and they all came from our laptops and desktops etc. so I'm not sure why you think this isn't feasible at 50. If their target is so low (50), their budget is a big concern, and they need them ASAP then I'd say something DIY is probably their best bet.

If you are wanting something professionally pressed/packaged you are probably looking at like $4 per CD at such a small print quantity. In order to get half decent prices, you really have to be ordering at least 1000 units. If you are JUST wanting a CD (no packaging or case) "professionally" pressed you are probably looking at $2 a CD at that quantity. But based on your request I have a couple questions/suggestions:

1) Why shoot so low? Do they only expect to sell 50 CDs in the next year?

2) If they only expect to possibly sell 50 CDs, I don't know that they are at the level
to care whether they are from a home computer or laptop or not. If 50 CDs is their target number, they are probably still at the level where getting people to hear a few songs for free by handing out CDRs is a better investment than charging for the music.

3) If you are still wanting to print these, my suggestion is to find someone with a CD Burner with Lightscribe or buy one yourself. You can get some nice looking burned CDs for cheaper than paying anyone to "professionally" press a CD at the quantity you are looking for.


[Edited on August 3, 2010 at 2:31 PM. Reason : ]

8/3/2010 2:22:01 PM

50 is just an estimate of an immediate need. Naturally if we can find someone to do more at a reasonable price then that's all good too. We just need something that looks presentable- not just a cd w/ sharpie writing.

8/3/2010 2:30:46 PM

Well as I said, I think CDRs with a lightscribe label might be the best way to go for you. Otherwise you can always do the peel and press labels we did as another option. Both methods look good enough for the kind of low-budget release you're trying to get going.

There may be a better way that someone else knows of, but that is the way we went with stuff for a few years until we started pressing in larger quantities. Once you get up to >1000, there are tons of options out there.

[Edited on August 3, 2010 at 2:39 PM. Reason : ]

8/3/2010 2:32:49 PM

Right... but i don't have what's necessary and lack the time to do it myself so I'm trying to find someone with the resources to do it for me.

8/3/2010 2:40:18 PM

What kinda artist?

8/3/2010 3:40:53 PM

pressing implies making a glass master and physically pressing the CDs.

you won't find anyone willing to actually do this for 50 CDs without it being quite expensive as those masters take some time/effort/raw materials to make.

8/3/2010 6:52:40 PM

meh I understand the joke behind the technicality you guys are bringing up with press vs duplication, but regardless, both are still a widely used term for both CDs and Vinyl regardless of which one is technically correct

8/3/2010 7:46:14 PM

i might know a guy, i know he makes cds for artists all the time. I'll get a quote for 50 cds, i know he usually does thousands/pallets at a time though...

8/3/2010 7:52:38 PM

I mean if someone has a minimum quantity requirement that's cool. Get me the quote. I'm not too caught up on the number 50. That was just thrown out there. However, I don't need thousands or anything like that.

8/3/2010 8:17:01 PM

I've got a 10-way duplication tower, and I have a cd printer.

I could do $2/disk for 50, and could push that down to something reasonable like $1.25/disk with quantity. Turn around probably about a week.

8/3/2010 10:33:26 PM

$2 a disk is steep. Got a quote of $65 for 100. Unless anyone here can beat that I'll go with that.

8/4/2010 10:14:39 AM

$2 a disc is not really steep for an individual. I just checked a few places that have been used by bands/friends I know in the past and that is pretty standard pricing (obviously not including shipping).

With only simple black print on the disc and absolutely no art/inserts of any kind and no sleeves (just a spindle) you'd prob get pricing for $1 per CD simply for duplication in general for a quantity this low. For full color printing and a paper sleeve, you'd be lucky to find them for $1.50 (and that is for a big company that does them, for some individual to do them, I'd say $2 is a fair price).

So, if you have a quote for $65 for 100 I'd take that and run.

[Edited on August 4, 2010 at 10:42 AM. Reason : ]

8/4/2010 10:40:19 AM

I can get a bazillion for peanuts on the internets direct from some dude in china. Hope they make it through customs and I could have it in a month

You need to get in the 250+ disk range to get any sort of decent price.

8/4/2010 3:55:23 PM

Wow... touchy are we? It's nothing personal. I just found someone who could do it for less. Locally, not in China. I appreciate the offers

8/4/2010 4:00:56 PM

not really. I got like 4 hours of sleep the last few days and I'm venting on TWW

8/4/2010 4:25:11 PM

I don't know the next thing about "pressing" CDs or mass production of CDs, but it sounds like you've gotten all kinds of experienced opinions here on TWW. Unfortunately it seems like you've not taken any of the advice/offers that were presented to you. Good luck going with the lowest bidder and throwing your money away. You sound like an arrogant bitch who doesn't know the first thing about what she's asking for but is perfectly willing to ignore well founded advice to save a few pennies.

I hope you fail miserably and the band you represent completely regrets asking you to find someone to duplicate their CD.

8/5/2010 1:01:32 AM

^LOL. Wow you have entirely too much time on your hands to actually take that much time out of your day to respond to something that you, admittedly, know nothing about. I'm far from arrogant and said I appreciated the offers I got on here but that I found someone who would do it for less than anyone offered on here. That doesn't make me a bitch. It's a cd! So while I'm sure you have humored some folks with your asinine input, I'd suggest next time you have something to get off your chest that you take that shit to Soap Box.

8/5/2010 1:18:50 AM

Quote :

"So, if you have a quote for $65 for 100 I'd take that and run."

Hopefully the dye won't start flaking off after 6 months.

8/5/2010 1:36:43 AM

I just stumbled upon this and I'm aware that it's a month old and will probably get no replies, but what's the appeal of having something "professional looking" when you're only making 50 copies? At that quantity, it'd be much cooler to do something handmade.

When you're on a label you can do cool stuff with available packaging technology, but why not take advantage of your current station and make something unique instead of trying to half-ass a "pro" look on a shoestring budget?

P.S. CDs are dead. You can do much cooler four-color stuff with a cassette tape and a download card for cheaper than you can do a slimline CD with a basic insert.

9/8/2010 4:50:04 AM