Media Duplication
Not everyone needs thousands of discs so that's why we offer great short-run package deals starting at just 10 units. The discs in our short-run packages are duplicated with 'Grade A' recordable media - we don't waste our time with 'economy' grade media - and they are duplicated at slow speeds to ensure the best possible image is transferred to the discs from your content master. From there we inkjet your design onto the disc and print the paper inserts or packaging using state-of-the-art equipment. Assembly is the final process, which yields the professional and 'finished' end result you're looking for.
Duplicate or Replicate?
Duplication: Commonly referred to as burning, this is the process of copying the contents of one CD or DVD to another disc using a drive with write capabilities. The duplication Tower equipment etches the data onto a recordable CD or DVD disc with a laser small enough to be integrated into a normal PC drive bay. This method is best for producing limited quantities of copies–more than one, but fewer than a large commercial run. For quantities less than 500, many businesses burn their manuals, parts lists, and training videos in-house using either PCs with multiple burners or dedicated duplication machines called Towers.
Replication: This is a manufacturing process that essentially replicates or clones the original master. First, a glass master is created from the original. Then a set of molds, or stampers are made from the master. Stampers act as a blueprint for the replication process; they are mounted into an injection-mold machine, where a replica of the mold is created in the form of a 120-mm plastic disc. The formed disc is then coated with a micro-thin reflective layer of aluminum. Finally the disc is coated with a protective lacquer that is first spun onto the disc then hardened by ultraviolet light. Because replication is complicated it’s typically considered only for large runs of at least 500 copies.