You need to make bulk copies of a CD or DVD. There are two ways to do this: replication and duplication. These two methods are suitable to different types of orders, and each has their benefits and drawbacks.
Replication: What Is It, and Why Use It?
Replication involves copying the information written on your original onto a "glass master." The glass master is used to make a stamper mold. This mold is used to stamp the data from the original onto injection-molded DVD-ROM or CD-ROM discs as they dry. The copies are then lacquered, metallised, and packaged. Replication costs less per disc than duplication, but it usually requires a large minimum order. It's the most common method for copying large orders of discs.
Pros:
The per-disc cost is low. Replication is the most cost-effective method to use when you need a large amount of copies. In a bulk order, the per-disc cost is much lower than it would be with duplication. That's because the process is automated and you only have to re-write your information once-onto the glass master-instead of hundreds of times onto each individual disc.
You're not using recordables. The discs that are stamped with your information are similar to CD's and DVD's you'd find in a store. They are not recordables (CDR's and DVDR's). While quality is essentially the same between duplication and replication, some players and disc drives occasionally have trouble reading recordable discs. However, the quality of both readers and discs has improved over the past few years. Most of today's players have the ability to read recordables, and compatibility is rapidly becoming less of a problem.
Cons:
You can't change any information on the disc once the stamp is made. Once the glass master is made, no information can be added, deleted, or changed in any way. If you need to make a change to a portion of your order, you need an entirely new glass master-and that can be costly.
You have to order a large minimum amount. Most recording companies will require you to make a large bulk order for replication. Companies need to require large minimums for replication projects in order to cover the cost of making the master.
Duplication: What Is It, and Why Use It?
Duplication involves copying the data on your disc onto blank recordable discs (CDR's or DVDR's) using a laser recorder. The process is usually not automated, and the discs must be burned one by one.
Pro's:
It's faster than replication. Replication often requires a larger turn-around time than duplication. If you're ordering a large number of copies but need some right away, it can be best to order a small duplication run in addition to replications.
It's more cost-effective for small orders. With duplication, you don't have the large up-front cost involved in making a master stamp. Even though the process costs more per disc, it can be less expensive for shorter orders-and many recording companies won't require a large minimum order for duplication.
Cons:
It costs more per disc than replication. Duplication requires rewriting the data on your original onto each individual copy. It's not automated, and the amount of labor involved makes the process more expensive in the long run than replication.
Older drives can have trouble reading recordable discs. There are some who believe that audio or video should only be replicated-never duplicated. This isn't true; the information on the disc itself is the same for both processes. There can be a difference, however, in the way some players read duplicated and replicated discs. Some older DVD players were made without the ability to read recordables. However, compatibility is becoming less of a problem as technology improves.
Replication and duplication are both methods used to make high-quality copies of audio, video, and other data. Both produce discs that are essentially the same in terms of quality. For most customers, the choice often comes down to cost-effectiveness. The right method for you depends on the amount of copies you need, your time constraints, and your budget. A good duplication company should be able to help you decide which method is best suited to your needs.
G Pearce works at http://www.magellanduplication.com based in Hampshire. For more information on CD & DVD duplication and replication visit http://www.magellanduplication.com/duplication-versus-replication.htm
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