Do you need to make ‘copies’ of your music CD for business purpose? Are you looking for a service that could handle the task? Before you choose a service for this, you need to decide on a more important question – which would you prefer – duplication or replication? Here is a handy guide to help you reach a decision.
How does the duplication process work? If you have ever ‘burned’ a CD on your personal computer, you would have an idea about this process. Similar to what you do at home/office, the duplicator extracts the data from the master disc and ‘writes’ it on to the blank disc.
However, at a facility, several trays of blank discs in a number of linked towers simultaneously duplicate data from the master disc. After this, there is verification of the data with the master disc, and the process is complete.
Pros – good for short runs, fast turnaround, digital full color printing possible, no minimum quantity
Cons – cost per unit is higher, not compatible to all drives
How does the replication process work? Part of the CD manufacturing process, replication involves various important steps. 1)    Creating a Glass Master from the master disc 2)    Making a set of ‘stampers’ (molds) from the Glass Master 3)    Mounting these stampers into an injection mold machine 4)    Creating a replica of the mold in the form of a plastic disc 5)    Coating this disc with a reflective layer of aluminum (micro-thin) 6)    Applying a protective lacquer and 7)    Using UV light to harden this protective coat Pros – cost per unit is lower, good for
large runs, better quality, compatible with all drives, offset and screen-printing possible
Cons – time-consuming, therefore, longer turn-time, not good for small quantities
What are the key factors to consider? Before you decide on which method to choose, you need to know the right factors to consider. Here is a quick guide.
Emphasis on quality – while duplication ‘copies’ from the master disc, replication makes ‘clones’ of the original; the quality is sure to be better with the latter.
Volumes you need – if you have a need for smaller quantities, duplication is a better option. Replication requires a minimum order of 1,000 discs for most services.
Time you have – replication requires more time than duplication. If there is a time constraint, you had better opt for duplicating the CDs.
Fitting your budget – if you have a need for making 1 to 500 discs, duplication offers the right pricing but if it is for more than 1,000 discs, replication is the right option.
For the right look – if you want the CDs to have a professional look and feel, it is better to choose replication process instead of duplication.
The conclusion is simple – your needs and budget dictate your choice of the process. Whichever you choose to use, you need to find a company that offers quality service at reasonable costs. Check out the options you have, get quotes for your requirements, and opt for the one that you think would be better at handling the task.

Author Bio: Daniel Smith, a CD manufacturing expert, offers helpful tips for choosing duplication or replication of the CDs. Whichever process you want to utilize, he suggests you check out the services available from http://www.nationwidedisc.com/