Your Disc and Tape Duplication & Replication FAQs

If you don’t find your answer below please call us at 1-888-271-DISC (3472) or 615-244-4236 or email us. Click on any category below to read the FAQ’s.

Our Business

Ordering

Our Disc & Tape Duplication/Replication Process

Graphics

Packaging

Our Business

Q. Why should I choose We Make Tapes & Discs?

A. We know the business and have been an ongoing business in Nashville since 1979. We have affordable prices and great looking CD & DVD packages, we get the job done when promised (or before!), and we actually respond to your phone inquiries real time during business hours 9:30-4:30 CDT, Mon-Thu). Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Please read more why you should choose We Make Tapes & Discs for your next CD or DVD duplication project.

Q. Who and where are your customers?

A. In 2012, we served over 1,500 clients in 40 states. Being located in the center of the country (Nashville, TN) typically allows us to ship product economically, anywhere in the United State, in 2-4 days. We duplicate audio, video, software, and data content on CDs or DVDs - for clients across many industries: music, film, education/self-help, ministries, advertising & marketing agencies, and a spectrum of other businesses. Besides providing a lot of their content online, digitally, an increasing number of businesses are selling and distributing software and information products, product training materials, and promoting their own products and services using the convenience of CD's and DVD's. See several of our samples.

Q. Where are you located?

A. We Make Tapes & Discs is located in Music City, Nashville, TN: 711 Spence Lane. See directions.

Q. How do your prices compare to other CD and DVD duplication and replication companies?

A. We know that we have to be price competitive, and we are. We think you’ll find our pricing very favorable, and we have several CD & DVD Deals. Get a tailored quote.

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Ordering

Q. How do I place my order?

A. Fill out the easy form and we'll send a reply by email OR call 1-888-271-3472 (DISC) and tell us about your project. We'll give you a quote by phone 8:30-4:30 CDT Mon-Thu & answer all of your questions. You will never get a voicemail ever during business hours.

Q. How do I pay for services, and when is my payment due?

A. We gladly accept cash, check, money order, bank wire, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover. For order of $250 or more, we require a deposit of one-half the subtotal with the balance (plus sales tax, freight, and overages, if applicable) due prior to pick-up or shipment.

Q. Do I have to pay sales tax in TN?

A. Orders delivered or picked up in Tennessee are subject to Tennessee state sales tax of 9.25%, unless we are furnished a valid Tennessee Sales Tax Exempt Number or a blanket resale certificate. Orders shipped are not subject to Tennessee sales tax.

Q. What is the fewest number of tapes or discs I can get?

A. One! At WMTD there is no minimum or maximum.

Q. What is your turnaround time?

A. Our turnaround time will vary from order to order depending on the master type, quantity, and print needs. As a general guideline, our turnaround time for CD Duplication is 1-6 business days. CD Replication is 2-3½ weeks. DVD Duplication is 1 business day to 2 weeks and DVD Replication is 3-3½ weeks.

Q. What if I am in a hurry and need a quicker turnaround time?

A. Call us and let us know your turnaround timeline. We will do everything we can to make it happen. We do offer rush services for our standard packages. Please call us at 1-888-271-DISC (3472) or 615-244-4236 or send us an e-mail at csr@wemaketapes.com.

Q. How does WMTD ship my completed CDs/DVDs?

A. We utilize UPS ground as standard shipment. We will ship next-day morning, next-day afternoon, or two-day air at your request (additional charges will apply.)

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Our Disc & Tape Duplication/Replication Process

Q. What is the difference between Replication and Duplication?

A. During Replication a glass master is created at the outset of the production process and the information is “pressed” or stamped during the manufacturing process, resulting in a CD-ROM. The artwork is applied via an offset printing process onto the CD. During Duplication the content of your master is encoded onto the disc by burning microscopic holes into the dye layer of a recordable CD or DVD. The art is printed onto the face of the CD via an inkjet printing process.

Replicated discs are the standard for major commercial releases; however, duplicated discs have lots of advantages, too. While Replication is the most effective avenue for quantities of 1,000 or more, Duplication is the most cost effective for orders of quantities fewer than 1,000 and can be turnedaround significantly faster than Replication.

Q. What format should I use for the master of my audio CD?

A. We need a playable digital audio CD master or redbook standard master. While the .mp3 format is very popular, they will not play in many older CD players. This is a common problem some face when sending .mp3 masters to radio stations.

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Q What type or kind of blank media do you use when you duplicate?

A. We use only top of the line blank media, Falcon Media, thier top of the line CD-Rs, DVD-Rs, Watershiled CD-Rs and DVD-s have a very low error rate.

Q Can you transfer that old time film to DVD?

A. Absolutely! See our section on Film to DVD Transfer.

Q. Will my disc copies be as good as the original?

A. Yes. There is NO difference. Think of it as an identical clone. It will be exactly the same!

Q. Are the CD-Rs that you use compatible with all players?

A. The discs we duplicate for you are 100% compliant with the specifications set forth for data or audio disc creation. Some very old players may have difficulty reading CD-R discs. We use the highest quality discs for your duplication to ensure the compatibility of your discs to the most playback devices possible. There may be instances when a duplicated CD-R will not play back on one device but will on another. This is unavoidable under any condition, but with good quality discs such as what we use it can be minimized.

Q. What are overages and underages? What does + or – 10% mean?

A. We try to deliver as close to the exact number of units ordered as possible, but it’s important that you allow for as much as 10% over or under that number. The reason for overruns and under runs is this: all CD plants manufacture a bit more than you order, then discard any copies that don’t meet quality standards. If there are more discards than we expect, you’ll receive fewer copies than you ordered; if there aren’t many discards, you’ll receive somewhat more. You will only be charged for the exact number of CDs or DVDs you receive.

Q. What is a glass master?

A. Glass mastering is the first step toward the replication of your CDs or DVDs. In this stage, pre-mastered audio is transferred via a Laser Beam Recorder (LBR) to a glass substrate over an extremely thin layer of photoresist (i.e. film) on the surface. The LBR copies your information onto the glass by exposing small portions of the film. These exposed surfaces on the film represent data bits, which are easily read by CD players. When the glass master is completed, it is run through an electroforming process where a more durable representation of your data is created onto metal (the stamper). Stampers go on to press or mold your audio disc into polycarbonate (plastic).

Q: What if I need my tracks in a different order than my master?

A. Maybe you need the tracks on your CD rearranged or maybe you have several CDs and you’d like to combine them to make one new CD. We can easily do this for you! It’s called Resequencing. Our Resequencing Fee is $15.

Q. What is the difference between Chrome and SP cassettes?

A. Chrome Tape is High Bias and is best for music. It is generally best when your project has a lot of instrumentals. Super Premium Tapes is Normal Bias and it is a standard tape, often used for music (with less going on…a solo, for instance, rather than a whole band) or vocals. We do not have a Low Bias tape.

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Graphics

Q. Do I have to do my own graphics first?

A. Almost every project calls for graphics and we can help as much or as little as you need. A template check is included with each order. We'll need your artwork provided for us via electronic file (disc, e-mail or FTP upload.) We'll check alignment to our required template, and you'll have one proof/correction opportunity. If you or your graphic designer need our graphic specifications, you may download them We also offer in-house Graphic Design services.

Q. What is and isn’t included in Template Check?

A. Template Check is included with each order at WMTD. We need your information provided to us via electronic file (disc, email or FTP upload.) We'll check alignment to our required template and you'll have one opportunity to proof your artwork. We offer in-house Graphic Design services, however, that is not included in Template Check.

Q. Can you handle all of our graphics?

A. Yes, we can! Almost every project calls for graphics and we can help as much or as little as you need. We offer professional in-house graphic design servies. You'll receive a personal design consultation with our graphic designer, typesetting, photo enhancement, and as many electronic proofs as needed until you are satisfied.

Q. If I am doing my own graphic design, how do I make sure that I (or my graphic designer) do things the way We Make Tapes & Discs needs them?

A. We offer full-sized downloadable electronic templates. Please call your Customer Service Representative at 1-888-271-DISC (3472) or 615-244-4236 if you have any specific questions.

Q. How do the templates work?

A. Our templates for Books, Trays, Sleeves, Wallets, and Digipaks have three lines on each. The blue line is our trim line (where your project will be cut.) The orange line is the safety zone (where all text should be placed to ensure that it is not trimmed off when your project is cut.) The black line is our bleed line.

For all CD/DVD Label templates there are two circles. All images and text need to be placed inside the outer circle and outside the inner circle. Because your artwork will be printed directly onto the surface of the disc, there is no need for bleed. Please do not knock out (make white) the center circle. We will do that for you.

Q. What formats of artwork do you accept?

A.We accept Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Quark Express 8.1. We can also accept PDF, JPEG, TIFF and EPS files.

Q: Do I get a proof before you go to print?

A. Yes, absolutely! A few days after we receive all your information we'll email you a proof. You have the final word and the project doesn't move until you're happy. Email proofs are for spelling and positioning of all text and photos. They are not color correct. Please contact us for information on color matching.

Q. What is bleed?

A. Essentially, bleed is extending the color, photo or design of your artwork past the trim zone. Bleed is needed because when your project is cut, it is cut in stacks and does not get cut precisely on the trim lines. To prevent small white gaps at the edge of your print once your print is cut down to size, we require that any images or color on the edge of the page extend at least 1/8" past the crop lines.

Q. What are crop marks?

A. Due to layout requirements such as bleed, the templates for your layout will always be larger than the actual image. When the presses have stopped, your print pieces must be cut down to size. Thus, it is important that the printer knows exactly where the boundaries are for each panel of your print. This is where crop marks come in. Crop marks are a tool that shows us exactly where to cut your print. They are small lines that mark where you would like your project cut. They need to be placed on all 4 corners of you project. Be sure to follow all of our specs and do not modify the crop marks.

Q. What is the difference between 4/1 and 4/4 color?

A. 4/1 means that there is full color or 4 colors on the outside pages and 1 color (black) on the inside pages. 4/4 means that there is full color or 4 colors on both the inside and outside pages.

Q. What is an IPR Form?

A. IPR stands for Intellectual Property Rights Form. Due to special laws governing large quantity disc duplication/replication requests, it is necessary that the Intellectual Property Rights Form (IPR) to be completed in it's entirety in order for us to produce your requested order. Please download the attachment PDF file, fill out the form, and fax it to 615-256-4423.

Q. Do I need a barcode? Can I get one from you?

A. To sell your product in stores, you’ll need a barcode. To buy one yourself would cost a significant amount of money and could take several weeks. WMTD can provide you with a unique barcode for a flat fee of $27.50.

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Packaging

Q. What are my packaging options?

A. We offer wide range of CD and DVD disc packaging options exist to give your project that extra unique look: the popular digipaks, sleeves and wallets, but also amaray cases, the standard jewel cases and other alternative CD & DVD packages. You can request a sample - and w'll help you develop the best option.

Q. Is shrink wrap always included?

A. No. Shrink wrap is included in the pricing of our package specials, otherwise, it is priced separately.

Q. What defines a 2-page or 4-page or 6- page booklet?

A. A 2-page booklet is essentially 2 panels (front and back) with no folds, while a 4 page has 4 panels with 1 fold… and so on. See packaging examples.

Q. What is reverse board printing? (for wallets and digipacks)

A. When printing most Wallets and Digipaks, the entire design is printed on one side of the board and then converted or folded down and glued to create a double walled package. In the conversion process there are gaps or knockouts to the unprinted side of the board (usually along the inside of the package’s spines) that will show up on the inside as the color of the stock (usually white.) Some clients prefer an uninterrupted image on the inside of their printed material. WMTD now offers Reverse Board Printing to “fill in the gaps.” This allows you to have a continuous image, eliminating the white spines.

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