How much would you pay for a CD Package at COPYCATS Media? In these challenging economic times, we decided to let the free markets decide the price. We’re auctioning off a 1000 retail-ready CD replcation package on eBay. Bid now and potentially save hundreds of dollars on your next CD project! Check it out here
Are you an independent musician who is recording and releasing a new album? Get your album professionally replicated, printed, and packaged by COPYCATS Media. Your CD copies will be pressed from a glass master, meaning they are of the highest quality. This is a full, post-production package. If you record an album, we’ll handle everything else, including audio mastering and graphic design. The entire package includes the following:
1000 replicated CDs from a glass master
Full color, off-set imprint on the disc face
4 panel, full-color printed insert with tray card
Jewel case packaging with choice of a black or clear tray
Top spine sticker and barcode
Full assembly and poly-wrap
Free ground shipping within the United States
Free graphic design
Regular retail price for this full package would be nearly $2,000! Here’s your chance to get an outstanding low price on a full CD package.
The winning bidder may redeem this service when they are ready. It does not have to be used immediately. For example, if the winner does not plan to record a new CD until next year, they can get the design and manufacturing done at that time.
The winning bidder will receive all of the services/items listed above. Other options are available (expedited shipping, larger quantity, audio mastering, etc.), but will come at an additional fee.
A significant portion of our projects here at COPYCATS Media are CD or DVD replication projects. This means that they are made from a glass master. Typically, the minimum quantity for a replication order is 1000 units. But what if you do not need 1000 copies of your CD or DVD? That’s when you order a CD or DVD duplication services.
The words duplication and replication may seem interchangeable, but they are not. As mentioned above, replication is the process of creating a glass master and pressing CDs or DVDs from scratch. Duplication is the process of taking blank, recordable media (CDRs or DVDRs) and writing the information on these discs with a laser. This is the exact process that occurs when you burn a CD or DVD on your computer.
With replicated CDs or DVDs, you have the benefit of a lower unit price and a slightly more durable disc than duplicatd CDRs and DVDRs. But there are good reasons why many customers choose the duplication process. Here are some of them:
Lower Quantities Available I mentioned earlier that replication projects often require a minimum order of 1000 units. This is because of the extensive pre-production work that takes place before the pressing begins. I won’t explain all of it here, but you can read the Wikipedia entry on CD manufacturing to learn more.With CD and DVD duplication, you don’t have all of that extensive set-up. Like I said, it’s just like burning a disc on your computer. You take a blank CDR or DVDR, place it in the drive, and click a button to begin the duplication process. This allows us to sell quantities as low as a single disc. Your print options may still be limited at lower quantities, but you’re able to get however many discs as you need.
Faster Turn Times Because duplication projects do not require the aforementioned glass mastering process, we are able to begin duplicating your discs as soon as you submit your master. CD and DVD duplication projects are generally completed a few days quicker than a replication project.This is good to know for rush projects. If you need CDs or DVDs in a matter of days (or just one day), than duplication is often the way to go, even if you are ordering 1000 units. While the replication process can be sped up to meet your deadline, it will cost you a lot more in rush fees.
Thermal Print Option While most of our CD and DVD disc faces are screen printed, you can also opt for a full-color thermal print option. This option produces vibrant, photo-quality images on the disc. We don’t typically offer this print option for replication projects, because this printer takes a lot longer than screen printing.
Those are just a few of the reasons to go with the duplication instead of replication. If you need a price quote for either, feel free to contact us.
Preparing art files can be a difficult step in completing your CD replication project. If you choose to do it on your own without any significant graphic design experience, you may run into problems during the prepress stage of the project. Here are the most common mistakes made when submitting art files to COPYCATS Media:
Not in Templates Most problems arise from art files not being set up in our templates. We have templates of our most common packaging options at our website. You can download them for free. If you need a template for something that is not our website, please contact us and we’ll e-mail it to you.
No Bleeds
Your art files need to be set up with bleeds to allow for slight shifting when the print materials are cut. If you don’t have bleeds, then your printed inserts could have thin, unprinted white strips around the edges. Bleeding the image at least 1/8 of an inch over the cut line will prevent this from happening.
Wrong Color Mode
Print files need to be set up in CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) mode, but often are submitted in RGB (red, green, and blue). RGB is the color mode used for television screens and computer monitors. Because they generate colors from light, they can make much brighter colors than CMYK inks. If you print RGB colors on paper, they will appear much more dull.
Low Resolution
Resolution needs to be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) for print. If it’s lower, the images will appear pixelated when they are printed. Often, our customers will use an image file they pull off a website, but most web images are at 72 dpi. Make sure you always use high resolution images for print.
Missing Fonts It’s best to include the font files you use in your design, or just outline the fonts. There are many different types of fonts for Windows and MAC OS, and there could be slight variations from one system to another, even if they have the same name.
Follow these five pieces of advice, and your art files should be ready when you first submit them. Remember, you can always contact us if you have questions or would like to inquire about our affordable graphic design services.
If you are an upcoming band in the Twin Cities area, you should think about signing up for Battle of the Bands 3. You can enter by filling out the form at their website.
The stakes are high for this competition, as the grand prize package is valued over $65,000 with items including but not limited to: a recording session at Masters Recording Institute, a year worth of Pizza Hut pizza, a prize package from Twin Town Guitars, and a retail ready CD package from your favorite CD replication company.
Here is a full description of what COPYCATS Media will be adding to 1st place prize package:
1000 Retail-Ready CDs
Glass-mastered, replicated CDs with full color imprint on the disc
6 panel insert and traycard printed 4/4 (full color on both sides)
Packaged into jewel cases with your choice of black or clear tray
Polywrap, barcode, and topspine sticker all included
500 Full Color Posters 11″x17″ posters printed 4/0 (full color, CMYK print on one side)
Graphic Design Services Our design team will bring your ideas and concepts to life
Professional Audio Mastering Services We’ll give your album that extra pop to make it sound its best
Free reference master sent for your approval before replication
We’re also contributing a prize for the runner up package, too. Here’s what you’ll get along with a $500 Taco Bell certificate from Border Foods:
500 Digital Download Cards Cards are printed 4/1 (full color on the front; black and white on the back)
Each card has a unique code to redeem for your music, video, and artwork online
You can distribute however you want: sell them or give them away for free
There are plenty of other 2nd and 3rd place prizes from other sponsors. Click here for a full list of prizes and rules. We hope to see you at the Fine Line Music Cafe on August 6th!
We’ve been selling digital download cards at COPYCATS Media for over a year now, and there are many practical and innovative ways to use them. Picture this scenario:
You released an album a couple years ago and it has sold pretty well. You ordered a thousand or maybe two thousand copies and are nearing the bottom of the barrel. There are literally only a couple CDs left in your inventory.
Naturally, you’d think to order more. However, you’re releasing a new CD in the next month and sales of the old album have really slowed down. It wouldn’t make much sense to order another batch of 1000 replicated CDs or even 100 duplicated CDRs of the old album if you have a new one coming out soon. But if there’s a demand for the old CD, no matter how small or infrequent, you feel obligated to supply it. What do you do?
Order download cards
Digital download cards can be used to sell MP3 downloads of your album. We host the data for free; all you have to do is sell or distribute the uniquely coded cards to your fans. They are incredibly inexpensive, and you can order as little as 100 units. This would be a perfect way to supply customers with your old album without having to invest in another production run of replicated CDs.
You can sell the cards as a stand-alone item or package them with your new CD to build value. Bundle it with the new album for a few dollars more. You could even bundle the download card with the new album for free. This would give fans two albums for the price of one!
If you decide to give the download card free with your new album, make sure you ask your fans if they want it. If a fan already has your old album, they would have little use for the download card. Sure, they may give it to a friend and help spread some buzz about your band, but more than likely it will just end up sitting in their wallet/desk drawer/trash can and go unused. The cards are cheap enough that you can afford for that to happen, but why waste one if you don’t have to?
That’s just one the advantageous ways you can use download cards to help sell your music. If you’d like a price quote for these cards, feel free to contact us at COPYCATS Media.
Justin Kristal put together a video describing some different packaging options for a CD replication project:
Jewel Case with 4 Panel Insert - This is a pretty standard packaging option for CD albums. You get a full sized jewel case with 4 panels of print on your insert. Plus, you also have a tray card that can be printed on both sides. This gives you 6 panels of print space total. You can let your graphic designer go wild with their creativity and still have plenty of room for your credits, track listings, and even lyrics.
4 Panel Digipak - This is a popular choice these days for independent musicians. The digipak is made of cardboard stock that is printed in full color. The cardboard is then folded together to make a sturdy case. Finally, a plastic tray is glued inside to hold the CD or DVD in place. If you opt for a clear case, you’ll have 4 panels of print space. But if you opt for a colored case, you’ll have just 3 panels since the tray will be glued over the top of one.
Slim Jewel Case with 2 Panel Insert - This is similar to the jewel case, but it has one key difference: the slim jewel case has no room for a tray card. This makes it only half as thick as a standard jewel case. Slim cases are compact, lightweight, and great for protecting your disc during distribution. However, because there is no spine on these cases, they aren’t ideal for storage and organization.
Just got home from Aubrey’s CD fund raiser party! $418 donated for production and mastering! yoo hoo! Thanks everyone!!
My amateur internet stalking skills were unable to get any more information as to who this Aubrey person is, but I soon didn’t care much to find out. I was more interested in the concept of having fundraisers to finance an album release.
I tried to outline a plan that I would attempt to execute if I actually had a band, recorded music, and performed live. Here it is:
Fund Raising Parties
Hold fund raising parties where you can invite friends, family, and existing fans. Use these parties to mingle with your supporters, pitch your plan, and perform. Look to play outside of the normal concert venues. Instead of playing at some bar or club where your fans will have to pay a cover, pay for parking, buy drinks, etc., have a fund-raising party in a cheap rented space or host it at your own place if possible. Imagine a backyard barbecue where your only expense would be some hot dogs, buns, and a keg of cheap beer. Just make sure to play an acoustic set so you don’t upset the neighbors.
Donation = Preorder
Remember watching those PBS telethon fundraisers where you’d get a cool Sesame Street backpack or umbrella for donating a certain amount? Do the same with your album project. Set a dontation level at about $10-$15 and include a free copy of the new CD to those who donate at least that amount. If you get just 100 people to donate that amount, that will add up to $1000-$1500 in revenue. That would be more than enough to cover a CD replication run of 1000 units. You could also think of other benefits to include for donors who give even larger amounts.
Grant Exclusive Access
Get the contact info of all the fans who donate and send them bonus materials why you are producing the album. Record video logs and send them exclusively to your donors. When designing your album, get their input. If you have a couple different photos you are torn over using for the album cover, send them out to those fans and have them vote on it. Keep them involved during the process and make sure it’s exclusive to only them so it entices others to donate and be a part of the club.
Open Up The Books
Just like a business that goes public, you should share your financial information with your donors/investors. Let them know how much money you’ve raised for the project and update them monthly with any funds being deposited or withdrawn. Make sure you mention how much money you and your band mates are contributing each month, too. Finally, share the cost information, like how much you are spending on recording, mastering, design, printing, etc., so they know where their money is going.
There’s my rough plan. To any actual working musicians out there, would this seem feasible? Or is it completely unrealistic? Let me know if you’ve tried something similar
Last week, we announced new low prices for our printed cardboard sleeve packages. With the sun shining, temperatures rising, and snow melting in Minnesota, we start to feel pretty good. So good, in fact, that we’re going to lower prices on other packages, too.
This week, we’ve got new pricing for our wallet packages. They are now at $1390 for 1000 CDs. So what’s all included in this package? Here’s the rundown:
Replicated CDs- Commercially pressed replicated CDs with a 1-3 color imprint. You’ll have the highest quality replicated CDs pressed from a glass master. On top of that, you’ll get a 1-3 color screen imprint on the disc face. Upgrade to a full color, CMYK imprint for a small fee.
4 panel cardboard wallets- Made from recycled materials and containing no plastic, this packaging option is better for the environment. They fold over once and a folded pouch holds the CD in the wallet. This packaging also includes a spine, making it easy for consumers and retailers to display and organize your CDs.
Full assembly with poly-wrap - We always assemble your discs into the packaging and seal them with poly-wrap at no extra charge. This important feature is always included in our package pricing.
Free bar code- We also give you the option of including a bar code on your product at no extra cost. You can use that unique bar code to track sales through Soundscan.
If you have questions about this product or anything else at COPYCATS Media, feel free to contact us.
Andy from local Minneapolis band Speed’s The Name recently picked up their CDs from our office. The design and packaging looks sharp and we hope they’re satisfied with them. The big CD release show is at The Hexagon on May 30th. You can check out their MySpace page to hear some tracks and check out some other shows they are playing soon (including tonight at The Nomad).
Good news for all past, present, and future COPYCATS Media customers: we’ve got some lowered prices. It invokes memories of that delightful whistling smiley face that used to float around and lower prices on the Wal-Mart commercials. Alas, we have no floating smiley face here, so I figured I’d just blog about it.
1000 replicated CDs in printed cardboard sleeves used to run at $990. We’re now offering that very same package for $890. That extra $100 you save can go towards whatever you want: gas money, promo items (posters, t-shirts, stickers), one incredible night at Chuck E. Cheese, etc. The list is endless.
Just to recap, here’s what you get with this package:
Replicated CDs- These are the commercially pressed CDs that are sold in stores and made from a glass master. We typically offer this product at 1000 units, and the unit price only gets better with the higher quantities you order (request a quote for 2000 and find out how low they get).
Full-Color, Custom Printed Cardboard Sleeves- These are similar to the jackets that vinyl LPs come in, except they are only 5″x5″ in size. They are light and compact, which makes them easy to haul to shows, distribute at other events, and send through the mail. Made without plastic, they are an environmentally friendly option for your CD packaging.
1-3 Color Screen Print on Disc- You can get up to 3 colors printed on the disc face. There’s a lot your designer can do with three colors. If you want to upgrade to a full color CMYK imprint, the cost is just $100 more. You can’t go wrong with either choice.
Poly-wrap Included - The poly-wrap will prevent your discs from falling out of the sleeve. Your package will have a more professional appearance, and you won’t have a bunch of damaged or missing discs. If you see a CD duplication company that offers a lower price for this package, ask if they include poly-wrap. Most likely, they do not. If you want it included, they’ll charge you a fee that makes their package cost the same if not more than our price.
Free Bar Code- We also include an optional free bar code with all our CD packages. This will give your album a unique identifying mark to help you track sales. If you sell your CD in retail stores or if you track your sales through Soundscan (or maybe you don’t now, but want to in the future), than the bar code is a necessity.
Standard 10 Day Turn- We can still turn these CDs out with the same speed as our other jewel case products. If you need a quicker turn time, don’t hesitate to ask your sales rep. We can kick them out faster for a minimal rush fee.
If you have any other questions about this package or others, feel free to contact us at COPYCATS Media. We’ll be glad to help with anything that you need.
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