Fast Turnaround CD & DVD Duplication-Replication Specialists

DVD / CD Format & production questions answered

  1. What are Business Card CD’s and Mini CD’s?
  2. What are CD-R or CDR's?
  3. What are CD-ROMs?
  4. What is CD Duplication and CD Replication?
  5. CD / DVD Replication Methods explained.
  6. What is mastering?
  7. What does CD customization mean?

  1. What are Business Card CD’s and Mini CD’s?

    Business Card CD’s are rectangular CD’s the size of a Credit card or Business card; which play in any normal CD player; and weigh only around 10gms. They have big visual impact in a small package. Mini CD’s, called CD singles, 8cm discs, baby discs etc. are 8 cm discs instead of the standard 12 cm.

    There are 2 basic shapes of Business Card CD’s:
    1. CD’s that are oblong with pins or molded rings that hold the disc in position by running within the inner 8cm tray of the CD player, called eCards, Business Card discs.
    2. Card discs. - CD’s that are rounded at the corners that fit into the inner 8 cm recess in the tray, sometimes called ‘hockey rink’ shaped card discs or rounded card discs.
    Back to questions

  2. What are CD-R or CDR's?

    CD-R is an acronym Compact Disc-Recordable. This term is used to describe the technology of recordable CD as well as the equipment; software; media and technology, which is used to make recordable discs. The reduction of prices for this hardware and software and their ease of use have helped the growth of CD-ROM production in-house and by disc duplicating services.

    CD-R [Disc] is a type of media used in recordable CD systems that allows you to record digital information using a special recorder (CD Recorder) together with pre-mastering software with a computer or even a stand-alone recording system that includes these elements in one unit.

    CD-Recordable technology allows production of CD-ROMs on the desktop ('one-offs'). It usually requires a PC, (there are also stand-alone systems) a CD-R recorder or drive, appropriate software, and 'recordable' media. The 'one-off' disc is very different from the mass reproduced or 'hot-pressed' CD’s. It is sold pre-grooved in 63, 74, 80, 90 and 100-minute capacities of 120mm diameter, as well as in different shapes, with a sensitive chemical recording layer; of aluminum or gold reflective material. Once recorded the CD-R disc (one-off) performs in the same way as the replicated CD’s.

    These discs are made of a polycarbonate substrate, a layer of organic dye, a metallic reflective layer and a protective lacquer coating. Some discs also have an additional protective coating over the metallic layer; and some discs have a printable surface silk-screened on them.     Back to questions

  3. What are CD-ROMs?

    CD-ROM - The Compact Disc-Read Only Memory is a standard for compact disc to be used as a digital memory medium for personal computers, a version of the compact disc for computer data, multimedia and games applications, instead of digital audio, is the standard 12cm CD formatted according to ISO 9660. Although the physical characteristics and track structure of a CD-ROM are the same as that of CD-Audio, a CD-ROM is used to store computer data, text and graphics. It also involves additional error detection and correction as specified in the Yellow Book. The logical volume and file structure of CD-ROM; specified in the ISO 9660 allows it to be used in the computer arena. Therefore, a CD with computer data that is not structured according to the ISO 9660 such as a 80 minute discs is not a standard CD-ROM. The music CD player cannot play CD-ROM discs; but CD-ROM drive can play music discs. CD-ROMs can contain up to 650MB of data and although the specification does not include them, most CD-R discs are now 700MB, (though they often contain a lot less). CD-ROMs have become a favorite medium for installing programs; the term CD-ROM refers to the technology or the discs, but not to the hardware that plays the discs, which is a CD-ROM drive. Back to questions

  4. What is CD Duplication and CD Replication?

    Duplication - The reproduction of media. Generally refers to producing discs in relatively small quantities, using recordable media, as opposed to large-scale replication.

    Replication - The reproduction of media such as optical discs by stamping/pressing (contrast with duplication). Used for large production runs.     Back to questions

  5. CD / DVD Replication Methods explained.

    Pressing - A process for replication of CD’s wherein molten plastic is injected into the cavity of a mold under pressure, stamped by stamper, cooled and removed as a solid; clear plastic disc. The data information is transferred to the plastic in this process from the "stamper." The mastering and replication plants require costly equipment and highly clean environments.

    Injection Molding - This is a common industrial process to produce plastic products of all shapes.
    A manufacturing method, where molten material is forced into a mold, usually under high pressure, and then cooled so the material takes on the shape of the mirror image of the mold.

    Manufacturing - The process of creating the physical discs from the gold master; consisting of creating the glass master; making stampers; molding the polycarbonate discs; electroplating the discs; printing the labels; and packaging the discs for the customer.     Back to questions

  6. What is mastering?

    Mastering - In CD-ROM; the final recording of the desired CD-ROM image to be used as a source for mastering; this may be on tape; magnetic disc; optical disc (M-O or W-O); etc.

    Technically mastering this refers to the process of creating a glass master from which compact discs is reproduced in quantity, or the process of replicating optical discs by injecting liquid plastic into a mold containing a master.

    The process of encoding input data; created during pre-mastering to the compact disc standards and recording this information as a series of pits in a light-sensitive layer on a glass substrate.

    Mastering is the process of creating a stamper or set of stampers to be used in the injection molding stage of manufacturing compact discs. During this process a digital signal from a computer is used to guide a laser beam which etches a pattern of "pits and lands" (in the case of CD’s) or a continuous groove (for CD-R’s) onto a highly polished glass disc coated with photo-resistive layer. This "glass master" is then cured (developed) with ultraviolet light and rinsed off; and a metal (nickel or silver) mold is electroformed on top of it. This mold is removed and then electroplated with a nickel alloy to create one or more stampers to be used in the injection molding machine to press the data into the polycarbonate substrate of CD’s; or the guiding groove into the substrate of CD-R’s. media or "blanks".     Back to questions

  7. What does CD customization mean?

    Customization in the CD industry usually means each disc is different, either in data content or labeling. Serialization is the most common requirement. Back to questions