Archive for the ‘learning’ Category
Monday, March 20th, 2023
Audio Files:
Unlike the disc image formats above, these are just individual audio files used by computers. They require ‘Authoring’ to a disc. Authoring a CD means taking the audio (in any of the formats) and writing it into a format and structure a simple CD player can understand and play
WAV
These are high quality audio files, very similar to standard CD-Audio. This is a very common format used in recording studios .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
AIFF
AIFF is practically identical to WAV, but this format was developed by Apple in the late 80’s. Another very common format in recording studios.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Interchange_File_Format
MP3
This is a digital music format created for sending audio over the internet. The great attraction of the MP3 format is its ability to compress files, allowing them to use much less space. Technically lower quality than the above audio formats, but not really in any noticeable way
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
FLAC
The Free Lossless Audio Codec. This is a newer format which is able to compress audio to take up space just like an MP3, but does so in a ‘lossless’ way. This means the audio quality should not be degraded in any way, but the file size will be noticeably smaller. A useful format that has only seen uptake in technical and audiophile community.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC
Video Files:
This section may appear a bit short, but I had to draw the line somewhere. There are a very large number of video formats that have existed over the years, far too many to discuss here. In practice there are 2 very common ones.
All video formats will require ‘Authoring’ to make a standard DVD-Video disc (OR a Blu-Ray-Video disc) to be player in a standard player. Simply burning a video file on a disc will not necessarily allow it to play in a standard player.
MP4
A modern high quality video format widely used in consumer and professional markets.
MOV
Another modern high quality video format widely used in consumer and professional markets. Developed by Apple.
Tags: advice, CD Duplication, DVD Duplication, Helpful HInts, Music, Technical
Posted in advice, communication, general information, Interest, learning, technical, terminology | Comments Off on Understanding the Terminology in Duplication: Part 2: Audio & Video Files:20th March 2023
Tuesday, October 25th, 2022
Once you have decided on the cases or wallets that you are going to use for your discs, you will need to design the artwork.
In addition to needing disc artwork ( we call it onbody art) you will need art for the card/paper parts that we will be printing for you.
As well as all the templates in our artwork section on the Website , we have a free artwork creation tool that you can download.
The templates are free and available to download as PDF’s or to use in Photoshop and you will be able to upload these directly to us once you have placed your order.
Everything that you send us is checked to make sure that it meets our print requirements( we don’t proof read however so you need to spell check before you send it to us !!!)
If you have any questions about producing your artwork we are happy to chat on the phone ( 01702 530354) or you can email us : support@duplicationcentre.co.uk
Dont worry if your questions seems small …we are happy to help.
Tags: advice, artwork, design, Design Tips, Disc design, DVD Artwork, help, Helpful HInts, printing
Posted in advice, Artwork, Design, general information, helping you, learning, printing | Comments Off on Our Templates: 25th October 2022
Tuesday, May 11th, 2021
We often have customers ask about what to do if their PC or MAC doesn’t have a disc drive OR what can they tell their fans who want to buy their CD or DVD but dont have a disc drive.
Here is the answer:
For around £20 on Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/External-Portable-Rewriter-Superdrive-Windows/dp/B08C9P4BXP/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cd%2Fdvd+drive+for+PC&qid=1619683536&sr=8-1
You can buy a CD/DVD drive to hook up to a PC or Mac for under £20
Tags: advice, CD, CD Duplication, customers, Helpful HInts, Music, Technical, technology
Posted in advice, communication, Customers, general information, helping you, Helping You Decide, learning, Secrets to selling | Comments Off on Solving the problem of Pc’s or Macs with no disc drive? 11th May 2021
Thursday, January 21st, 2021
We have found over the last few years that the demand for hard copy CD’s,DVD’s and Blu-Ray has reduced a little,but that even in our modern digitalised world there is still very much a place for them.
In this vein I read a very interesting article contributed to by best selling music artists….its well worth a read.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-55056338
We still produce professional CD’s DVD’s and Blu-Ray ; either duplcaited or replicated depending on your requirements.
Tags: advice, CD Duplication, customers, DVD Duplication, Helpful HInts, publish, selling, Technical Discussion, technology
Posted in communication, Customers, general information, Helping You Decide, Interest, learning, music, Selling Your Music | Comments Off on Streaming threatens the future of music: 21st January 2021
Thursday, August 27th, 2020
Gracenote CD Database and CD-TEXT
We live in an age where all things exist on the cloud, but this is only partly true for the text information’s we see when playing CD-Audio disc.
There are in fact two ways to add track text info to a disc:
In the beginning, not long after CDs were released in the 80s, an update was made so small amounts of text could be added to a CD. This text lives in sub channels of the disc so it won’t effect playback, but a CD-TEXT enabled player can read and display the information. Nowadays these players are less common, but still used in most car stereos unless you’re driving one of a few higher end vehicles.
A common assumption is that most computers read CD text, however this is not the case; iTunes, Windows Media Player etc. do not use CD-Text at all. They use a more modern system, the GraceNote – Compact Disc Data Base (CDDB). With this system none of the text used is actually stored on the disc, but all saved on the internet.
When you insert a CD and view through iTunes for example, the computer identifies the disc and then looks it up on the web. If it cannot find a match it will not display the text information, or may display a close match (from another artist!). So even if you have a CD which has CD text, but is not registered with the CDDB, its unlikely the text will show up on a computer at all.
We have customers who have experienced this problem and fortunately its very easy to correct.
We recommend using iTunes as it’s one of the easiest ways to upload your CD information.
The below link will show you how to do this in just a few minutes:
http://support.gracenote.com/support/pkb_Home?l=en_US&c=Public%3AArtists_Labels_Publishers
Once submitted it can take a couple of days to update but that’s all you need to do.
Tags: advice, CD Duplication, cd text, gracenote, Helpful HInts, technology
Posted in communication, Customers, helping you, Interest, learning | Comments Off on Gracenote CD Database & CD Text: August 27th 2020
Thursday, August 20th, 2020
We take your calls directly here at our office and production rooms.
This means you can speak to experienced and knowledgeable staff straight away .
We have found this more hands on approach in the company has led to us getting to know our customers needs and requirements more, and so provide an even faster response when you most need help .
We love to advise and help with new customer enquiries, sharing our wealth of experience to help you get the right product.
Call us on 01702 530 354
We can also help via live chat or email:
una@duplicationcentre.co.uk
We also provide answers to some of the most frequestly asked questions in our FAQ here:
https://www.duplicationcentre.co.uk/faq.html
Tags: advice, artwork, CD Duplication, customers, DVD Duplication, help, Helpful HInts, Music, packaging, posting, printing, selling, Technical
Posted in Artwork, Design, helping you, Helping You Decide, How To...!, learning, music, New Technology, Selling Your Music | Comments Off on Call us: 20th August 2020
Friday, May 29th, 2020
In the duplication process we have to use a hard copy disc master to work from, and in the past our customers have largley sent these to us by post…..and many still do!
We have however found it particularly helpful during the lockdown period that we are able to accept customers masters digitally and create a hard copy master to work from here. With queues at the Post Offices because of social distancing and less staff working it has been a really helpful.
We can create masters from your files if you have an electronic image in ISO, JMG, NRG, DDP or BIN /CUE or you can send us audio or video files which need authoring.
If you need any more information about this the FAQ’s on the website can help you or you can call us on 01702-530 354 and ask any questions.
https://www.duplicationcentre.co.uk/faq.html
Tags: advice, CD Duplication, DVD Duplication, help, Helpful HInts, Technical, technology
Posted in How To...!, learning, New Technology, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Ordering Online: May 29th 2020
Friday, April 24th, 2020
A standard CD Audio will hold 80 minutes of sound…hope this helps when you decide how many tracks to put on your album.
https://e
n.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_disc
Tags: advice, CD, CD Duplication, cds, customers, help, Helpful HInts, Music, Sound Quality, Technical
Posted in Customers, Helping You Decide, How To...!, learning, music | Comments Off on CD Audio Time Capacity: 24th April 2020
Thursday, February 20th, 2020
As part of our ongoing search to find worthwhile causes to recycle our discs we are collecting over-runs or “spoilt” discs to send to Holborough Lakes Special Resource Provision at Valley Invicta Primary School; working with children who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs.
https://www.holboroughlakes.viat.org.uk/2329/news/post/75/project-salus-donation-request
The discs are going to be used for projects in their sensory garden and we look forward to sharing pictures of this when it is complete.
Tags: CD, charity, customers, discs, eco friendly, Environment, Recycling
Posted in Charity, communication, Customers, learning, The Environment | Comments Off on Recycling Discs: 20st February 2020
