Preparing Your CD or DVD Disc Master
The preparation of the master for a duplication or replication project is the most important part of the process. Prepping the master correctly will eliminate any problems or delays in completing the project. The master is going to be copied exactly as it is submitted so it’s important to make sure it is what you want. This includes testing it on several different plays to assure playability by various players. Older software can create a master that only plays on the system they were burned on, so playing the master on other systems will assure it works as intended.
With so many cheap brands or media out there, it’s important to use a quality brand for the master. After all, the master is what all your other copies are going to be made from. Some of the higher quality brands are Mitsui, Maxell, and Taiyo Yuden. If you’re not sure what to use, ask the company doing the project what brand they prefer you use. This will assure you produce a quality master.
After you have completed the master, it’s important that you clearly mark it with either a label or marker that is approved for writing on the surface of a disc. Duplication houses work with many different customers that send master on a daily basis. It’s important your master is clearly marked to avoid a delay or worse some sort of mix up with another project.
Testing is probably the most crucial step. After you have burned your master, you need to test it in several different types of target players and not just on the system that produced the burned disc. Make sure the disc loads and plays as intended. Also listen to the sound quality. If you hear pops and hisses on the master, then you’re going to hear them on the duplicated or replicated discs. Many older burners produce discs that can not be played on newer players so again, make sure you have tested your master on as many players as possible before you send it in. Remember, your going to get an exact copy of what you send in so if it does not play well, neither will the copies.
Following the very basic steps of the producing your master will assure your project goes smoothly. Vendors want to complete your job on time and right so that you will refer more business to them and use them again when you need their services. Take a few extra moments to follow these steps and your project will get done much quicker.

