Pressing Cds and vinyl

[marc61]

Not sure if this is the place for it but I'm looking for tips on saving money pressing our own record. I found a place online that will press 1000 cds in full color 2 panel covers, wrapped in jewel cases for $685. That's of course without mastering. Would love to find a place that would do short run vinyl at a reasonable price.

Anyway, what other costs am I looking at? anything I'm missing here?

this is the site I found:

http://www.ultraentertainment.com/Defau ... ?tabid=136

[FretlessOnly]

You'll certainly want to get a master, Marc (if you hadn't already planned). That should be doable for about $500 or so (maybe more in NYC). The price for 1,000 CDs is pretty reasonable.

As for what you've missed, not much. You will want to have the songs copywritten, but I don't think that cost us any $$$ (or maybe they're so bad no one has even cared that we printed (c) 2006, The Road on our CDs). I'll ask about that for you, as we have another CD on the way anyway.

[marc61]

Yes, they actually mention in the site that mastering is super important, and even more so to have a back up. We had discussed making a small run of vinyl, but decided putting the money into professionally made press kits would be a better investment. If the music sells enough, we can always vinyl-ize later.

Last year my goal was to get my son on a professional stage before age 12...made it by three days . This time it's to have his first original music release before age 13. Have until the end of March.

[Danotron]

Hey Marc,

Timely post! I'm in the same place you are with this. My band just finished recording too. We are currently getting it mastered and looking at different places for duplication. Please let me know how that web site works out for you as the price seems really good to me.

I also want to do a short run of vinyl. I've always wanted to do this, so does the band, so we're talking about taking 2 of the songs and doing a 45. I'd like to do it on colored vinyl too for the extra coolness factor.

Does anyone know where you can get some vinyl pressed in a smaller run?

Thanks.

[tmossman]

I use Disc Makers.

http://www.discmakers.com/

I use them for business projects as well as personal music projects.

[billydlight]

Vinyl

http://www.rainborecords.com/quotevinyl ... 5Qody3Gkhw

these guys look neat

http://www.urpressing.com/SplitColor.php

[Danotron]

Thanks Billy,

That's what I was looking for.

[marc61]

nevermind...double post

[marc61]

Not sure if this is the place for it but I'm looking for tips on saving money pressing our own record. I found a place online that will press 1000 cds in full color 2 panel covers, wrapped in jewel cases for $685. That's of course without mastering. Would love to find a place that would do short run vinyl at a reasonable price.

Anyway, what other costs am I looking at? anything I'm missing here?

this is the site I found:

http://www.ultraentertainment.com/Defau ... ?tabid=136

Well, I learned my lesson. For 100 cds, with 4 color two panel front and back they charge $225, and they claim no hidden costs. Sounds good right? BUT, $35 for shipping, and another $35 if you want your masters back. I elected to do analog mastering(which was worth it imo) but they require 2 masters. The second master cost me $75. What that boils down to is an extra $145 that I probably would not have spent if I had the discs duplicated in NY. or $360 total. To me, that's very expensive. If we do reprint, 500 will cost us $499 plus shipping. That doesn't sound to bad, depending on how much shipping is.

I am going to call them tomorrow and complain. While I do have a deadline, it would be nice if they did SOMETHING for me...like send the masters back with the cds at their cost, or make a slight over run so I have some discs to give away.

[jdogric12]

Marc, my bandmate mastered our first CD. Let me know if you want us to do it... we'll only charge you a couple of 12-packs of beer or something I use Discmakers for the product, but know nothing about vinyl.

[marc61]

J, thanks. The record was already mastered. Got a great deal on analog mastering from Masterdisk. Definitely made a difference in the quality.

My beef is with the duplicator who required not one, but two masters. That cost me extra money. Along with the shipping etc, made it not worth it.