What Are ISRC Codes?
April 14, 2010 by brent · Leave a Comment
Recently, I’ve been getting some questions about ISRC codes. It’s surprising to me how under used this technology is and how few people know about it.
The summary of ISRC codes straight from their website looks like this:
The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) provides a means of uniquely identifying sound recordings and music videos internationally. For the purposes of this handbook, a music video recording is defined as a short form music video initially produced to support the release of a track.
It is stressed that ISRC identifies sound recordings and music video recordings and not physical products (‘carriers’) and that there is no conflict with existing product catalogue numbering systems with which it co-exists. Neither does ISRC identify a digitally distributed package, although sound and music video recordings included in such a package should be identified with an ISRC.
The ISRC system is constructed so that any entity creating sound recordings can obtain the means to issue ISRCs regardless of their membership, of or standing with, industry associations and other bodies.
To summarize the summary, ISRC codes are a special digital sort of fingerprint that goes with your music where ever it goes so it can be tracked. This plays into sales, royalties, and promotions.
To read more about the ISRC codes, click here to go to the website.
Check CD Duplication Prices
To Duplicate or Replicate
April 9, 2010 by brent · Leave a Comment
The differences between duplication and replication can be confusing. This short article clears up a lot of the ambiguity.
If you’re not familiar with the difference between “duplication” and “replication,” here it goes… duplication utilizes CD-R technology and it has a standard turn time of one to two days (at DF Dub’s Green Room, Inc). That means an artist can have 50, 100, 300 or 1,000 retail ready CDs in just two days.
Replication is the process where CDs are pressed from a glass master. This process has a standard turn time of eight days and a minimum of 1,000 CDs. Many companies offer lower quantities, but if you check the prices, you find that there is a very small difference between the price on 1,000 units and 300 units.
The printing of the paper and the cases that hold the discs are identical. At DF Dub’s Green Room, you can have retail-ready CDs in as little as one day. Actually, we can have them for you today, but a small rush fee would be incurred.
So why choose one over the other? The main reasons are going to be cost and the quantity of CDs you know you’ll sell in a short time and cash flow as well as the amount of time the artist can wait to receive the final product. I always ask customers how long they want to have how much money in their closet and for what period of time. Or another way to think about it is to ask, “how many CDs will you sell over the next week? Four weeks?” What I’m trying to suggest is that cash flow and a delivery timeline are huge factors when determining which process to use. Usually, CD-Rs are a good choice up until 300 or 400 units (withstanding a rush situation such as a case where you could hit a home run if you had a thousand CDs tomorrow). If you have the time to wait, it generally becomes more cost effective to use the replication process and get a pressed CD if you’re wanting more than 400 discs. If you don’t have time to wait, (your show is two or three days from now), you’re going to do better to order CD-Rs.
Another factor is color. Pressed discs come standard with three colors and CD-Rs are most cost effective with a black imprint — adding color to a CD-R is .85/disc. When doing color CD-Rs, it usually starts making sense to convert to a pressed CD after 250 to 300 units. Again, turn time is always an important factor.
So to sum up, an artist needs to really think about what quantity best fits his or her budget, cashflow and disc graphics as well as consider the time line he or she has to work with. At DF Dub’s Green Room, Inc., we can work with any of these situations and help you find a solution that works great for you.
What would you like to do next?
- Look at Duplication Prices
- Look at Replication Prices
- Look at Flyer Prices
- Look at Poster Prices
- Contact a Customer Representative via Email
