FAQ
There are a number of differences between the duplication and replication processes and the client should decide which best suits their needs. The final product from both processes result in a bit for bit copy that is identical to the original master. The decision to choose one process over the other is a function of time, quantity, playability and price.
Price - Duplication jobs by their very nature require lower up front fees because set up time is negligible. Replication on the other hand requires a glass master or stamper to be produced, incurring time and money. These charges typically are amortized in the per unit price of the discs once a certain minimum quantity is ordered. So replication becomes more feasible as the number of units ordered increases.
Time - Industry standard turn times for duplication orders is 1 to 5 days, depending on the quantity ordered. Replication requires 7 to 14 business days from approval. Standard turn times for Imperial Media are 24 to 48 hours for duplication and 72 hours for retail ready duplication jobs. Imperial's replication jobs require 5 to 10 business days to ship. Rush charges may be incurred for shorter guaranteed turn times.
Quantity - Replication, due to its industrial nature, requires a minimum of one 1,000 units to be economically feasible. Duplication is better suited for shorter runs accommodating as few as 10 units. Duplication runs in the thousands become feasible as time constraints become more urgent or pressing.
Playability - Playability differences between duplication and replication have everything to do with the quality of the blank media when talking about duplication and age of the equipment used to play the disc. Duplicated discs will play on almost all stereos and computers manufactured in the last few years. Replication ensures playability on 99% of all players presently on the market.
Duplication is a purely digital process, meaning that it is entirely done through a computer interface. A pre-manufactured write once CD-R or DVD-R is placed into a CD/DVD recorder. The Master is placed into Imperial's computer and transferred to a hard drive. Then, the data residing on the hard drive is 'burned', meaning it is transferred bit for bit to a write once disc. Imperial Media burns the disc then closes the session and data can no longer be added. This process takes approximately 3 to 7 minutes. The disc is now ready to be printed.
Replication is an industrial process. CDs and DVDs are produced in 2 steps:
Step one is mastering. A glass master is created from a digital file. The glass master is used to create a metal stamper, which contains the digital information.
Step two is the injection molding of the discs from the metal stamper. Molten plastic is injected into the target mold containing the stamper. Seconds later a clear disc containing the digital information is ejected. The clear disc then has a reflective and a lacquer layer applied. This process takes approximately 3 to 5 seconds per disc and the disc is then ready for printing.
At Imperial Media, we have the fastest turn times in the business. From the point of artwork approval, we can have your duplication project ready for pick up or shipping in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
Industry standard turn times are normally 10 to 15 business days. Imperial Media can have your replication job done in 7 to 10 business days. With a rush order, the time can even be reduced to 3 to 5 business days.
Over runs and under runs are only applicable to replication orders. Due to the industrial nature of the replication process and our high quality control standards, replicating the precise number of the order is not always possible. Hence, we maintain a 10% over run and under run cushion. But no matter whether it is an over run or an under run, you pay only for the number of discs actually delivered.
There are many variations on the DVD theme. Discs come in two physical sizes: 12 cm (4.7 inches) and 8 cm (3.1 inches), both 1.2 mm thick, made of two 0.6mm substrates glued together. These are the same form factors as a CD. A DVD can be single-sided or double-sided. Each side can have one or two layers of data. The amount of video a disc can hold depends on how much audio accompanies it and how heavily the video and audio are compressed. The oft-quoted figure of 133 minutes is apocryphal: a DVD with only one audio track easily holds over 160 minutes, and a single layer can actually hold up to 9 hours of video and audio if it's compressed to VHS quality.
DVD-5 - 4.7 Gigabytes capacity. It is single layer and single sided with up to 133 minutes of video.
DVD-9 - 8.54 Gigabytes capacity. It is dual layer and single sided with up to 240 minutes of video.
DVD-10 - 9.4 Gigabytes capacity. It is single layer and two sided. Conventional DVD printing is not an option for DVD-10s because both sides of the disc must be readable. This means only printing on the hub of the disc is available.
The number of discs in a set will depend upon the disc chosen for your project. If the file size of a project is larger than the capacity of a single disc, then two or more discs may be necessary. DVDs can have multiple disc sets depending upon whether using DVD-5, DVD-9, or DVD-10 and the megabytes of the project.
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