CD Duplication Myths

January 7, 2011

Tags: CD duplication | CD replication

CD duplication is effective and versatile but there are few misconceptions.

CD Duplication Myth 1.
Duplicated CD-Rs don’t look as good as replicated CDs.

One of the great strengths of CD-R recordable media is it’s versatility. Discs can be created within the home or office environment. CD duplication is an effective way of reproducing many copies of a disc.

Nowadays printable CD-Rs are available from High Street stores. Printing on discs in this way is useful when frequently producing very small quantities of discs. With the right printer the quality can be very good. We even offer digitally printed discs for our customers in some instances. We do advise, however, that a digitally printed disc does not have a professional retail-quality finish.

Here at Alpha, we’re the only CD duplication company in the UK with screen and litho printing facilities in-house. This allows us to offer professional-looking discs on any volume.  We also duplicate on silver-backed media rather than the more common green coloured discs. The only difference that you will see between a duplicated and a replicated CD is a faint line on the reverse of the disc.

Take a look at our CD printing for yourself over on our disc printing gallery pages.

CD Duplication Myth 2.
Duplicated CDs have compatibility problems.

When CD players first became available in the eighties, they were designed to play replicated CDs. As a result of this, some players made before this change may have difficulty playing CD-Rs. CD players manufactured since the mid-nineties play CD-Rs just as well as pressed CDs.

CD Duplication Myth 3.
Duplicated CDs are not suitable for retail.

Although historically discs sold by retail were replicated, this is no longer necessarily the case.  With advances in compatibility and printing, the finished product is virtually the same however it is manufactured.

What is essential is that your product is professional enough for people to be willing to pay for. It also needs to live up to that expectation when they get it home.

Nowadays CD-R media is just as acceptable as pressed media in retail environments. If you are selling your discs via one of the High Street giants you will producing large volumes of discs. In these instances it would make sense to replicate rather than duplicate your CDs.  We can help you with that too.