CD Mastering

AS STANDARD WE “COPY” DATA FROM SUPPLIED MEDIA 1 : 1

The source contains all of the data in the required format of the CD ordered that is directly usable for the production of stamper. We never access the supplied data or modify them in any way whatsoever before or during the production.

Each source must be clearly labelled identically with the delivered order with a catalogue number or the title. The description of the source must also include the format of the data that are stored on the carrier (e.g. CD Audio DDP image, Iso image, …).

We recommend sending two identical copies of the source. If the source happens to be illegible, we can use a backup copy to avoid any possible waiting for a new source.

THE SOURCES SUPPLIED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE MATRICES ARE IN NO EVEN CONTROLLED, OR THEIR CONTENT REVIEWED, I.E. THE CARRIER IS NOT PLAYED BACK ON ANY RELEVANT PLAYER (E.G. CD AUDIO IS NOT CHECKED BY LISTENING, CD-ROM NOT RUN OR INSTALLED ON A COMPUTER AND HENCE ITS FUNCTIONALITY MONITORED, ETC.).

The source supplied by the customer and the manufactured stamper are controlled solely in terms of the technical parameters. This means that the data supplied are checked in terms of the compliance of the format with the order and its seamless readability and compatibility for the transfer to the mastering system.
Furthermore, all stamper formats are checked for all the important parameters of a digital recording, which are specified by the relevant technical standards (Red Book, Yellow Book), the compliance with which is necessary for seamless replication and subsequent readability of the carrier on all compatible players.

Good source – the first step to our express service

Each source should be reviewed by the customer before sending. CD-Audio- the whole record is first listened to in a desktop CD player, the correct sequence of tracks and display of CD-text checked, if present in the source. CD-Rom are checked for the antivirus programme, the functionality tested as well as playing back of the sources on different computers or devices that the CD is intended for (e.g. desktop player or CD player in the car for audio CD-MP3).

  • The maximum recording time is 79:59 minutes / 700 MB
  • Writing must be performed in the DAO (Disc At Once) or SAO (Session At Once) mode.
  • DO NOT USE TAO (Track At Once) writing mode
  • The use of CD-R, the recording of which was made on a desktop CD player/recorder is not recommended for the production of stamper. Nor is appropriate to burn data on a computer to a CD-R using the write data feature in Windows.
  • In CD-MP3 audio, a UDF file system that is not supported by desktop or car players should not be set when creating the base. A disc prepared like that is unplayable in those devices. In that case it is necessary to select the ISO file system.
  • CD-Text, ISRC codes may be included in the source / data (CD/CD-R, DDP image, disc image) delivered. If CD-Text, ISRC codes are to be added to the source, the content of the CD-Text, ISRC codes, must be supplied in a text file (pdf, doc, txt, …). Only characters from the ISO8859-1 character set (without diacritics and other special characters) should be used in the CD-Text content to ensure the correct display of the CD-Text on all players. CD-Text should always contain the “Album name” and “Title track” information.

Formats of sources for CD mastering

1. Pressed CD or CD-R in the required format (CD-Audio, CD-ROM, CD-Extra) or DDP / CMF image on CD-R / DVD-R.

  • CD-R must contain data for a single title only. It is not possible to place data for the production of stamper together with data for CD print or data for multiple titles on a single CD-R.
  • CD, CD-R media, played as a record carrier for the production, must not be mechanically damaged or stained. It is therefore better to send media provided with a suitable packaging, preferably in the original plastic one.
  • When using CD-R as an input medium, we recommend using only brand types, exclusively from authorised distributors.
  • Writing on CD-R should be made at a speed as low as possible to avoid errors in the recording due to high speed recording.
  • CD / CD-R may not be stuck with paper stickers/labels.
  • Only the upper side of the media may be written to, and only using special markers designed to write on CD. Using an ordinary pen may damage the CD/CD-R.
    Also the type and quality of the burning mechanics may affect the quality of the transmission medium supplied by yours.

2. External hard disc, USB flash disc, SD-, SDHC-type memory card

Data on those storage media must be saved as DDP/CMF image or disc picture/image allowing direct burning of the data onto a CD-R, and thus getting the source in the required format of the disc ordered.

Sending individual audio files (mp3, wav, aif, ..) or individual files or directories to be the content of CD is NOT POSSIBLE.

Supported image formats/disc images are: nrg, iso, cue/bin (cdt), cue/wav, img

Images created on Apple computers may be only in the format of cue/bin (cdt) or DDP/CMF image.

Data directory and disc image must be labelled identically with the delivered order with a catalogue number or the name of the title so that the data can be assigned to the ordered title.

3. Electronic data sending to FTP

Data sent to an ftp server must be saved as DDP/CMF image or disc picture/image allowing direct burning of the data onto a CD-R, and thus getting the source in the required format of the disc ordered.

Sending individual audio files (mp3, wav, aif, ..) or individual files or directories to be the content of CD is NOT POSSIBLE.

Supported image formats/disc images are: nrg, iso, cue/bin (cdt), cue/wav, img

Images created on Apple computers may be only in the format of cue/bin (cdt) or DDP/CMF image.

Data directory and disc image must be labelled identically with the delivered order with a catalogue number or the name of the title so that the data can be assigned to the ordered title.

To verify and ensure the accuracy of data transfer the sources sent via ftp server must yet be complemented with a file with a check sum, or the data must be zipped using an archiving programme and sent as a single archive file.

Supported formats of archive files: zip, rar, 7z

Supported formats of check sums: MD5, CRC32, SHA1
Check sum can, for example, be created in md5summer and HashCalc applications that are free to download.

File with check sum must be uploaded along with data on the ftp server and tagged consistently with the data. File with check sum must contain totals for all files (disc image, ddp image) that are on the ftp. DO NOT CREATE a check sum onto the contents of a disc.

If the data on the ftp do not contain the check sum, the production of the title is put on hold until the customer supplies the required check sum or agrees to the use of the data without the check sum.

In that case, the customer however accepts all the risks associated with the use of the data that may be damaged or incomplete due to the transfer.

Electronic data sending to FTP

Here you can download comprehensive information on the electronic upload of data for mastering to the FTP server FERMATA, a.s.