Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for me to get CDs?
Normal turn time, after your final approval is 5 business days. Suggest you allow a few days for UPS delivery. Most of the time, we ship even quicker. We are also happy to quote special rates on rush or emergency orders if needed.

How do I know if I need to see a proof?
When we flight check your files, we'll send you an electronic proofs as your first prrof. If everything looks OK, then we'll produce an actual production sample as your final proof. This way you'll get to see how your project will look. Electronic proofs are not to be used for exact color proofing and are intended only for positioning and content proofing.

Can you help me get a barcode?
Absolutely! We provide free barcoding for all orders. Just indicate with a placeholder where you want the barcode. If you already have a barcode, just include it with your graphics and we'll print it right where you want it.

Does duplication change the sound of my master?
NO, absolutely not! We GUARANTEE that your product will be EXACTLY the same as your master!! We will check both your master AND the final product to insure that they are identical. We will also be happy to supply additional mastering services which do change the sound of your master - always for the better!

What is the difference between duplication and replication?
CD replication is the process of making a glass master from a pre-mastered image, creating stampers from the master, then pressing discs with the stamper using injection molding of raw polycarbonate plastic. CD duplication is the process that uses pre-molded CD-R's which have a laser sensitive organic dye layer embedded under the reflective layer. When it is recorded, the laser "burns" the dye so that some parts reflect light and some parts absorb the incoming light. For our CD duplication, we use only the finest diamond-back blanks. When we get done, only a trained eye will be able to tell the difference. No ears will ever be able to tell a sonic difference because there isn't one.

Is the quality of CD-R Duplication as good as Replicated CD's?
Yes it is! As far as the sound quality of the finished copy, it will be the same as your master! CD-R technology has rapidly developed into a huge market over the last 4 to 5 years. It has brought CD duplication down to reasonable prices for short run or small quantity jobs. Before CD-R, you didn't have a choice but to usually do a minimum of 1000 CD's.

Will Duplicated CD's play on all CD players?
This problem is inherent in the CD-R medium. There is nothing we can do to insure that a CD-R will play on all CD players, except to select CD players which are known not to have problems in this regard. (Among the worst: older NEC and Kenwood players.)

You probably wont see this information on many of our competitors pages but we want you to know the pluses and the minuses of CD-R Duplication. The biggest problem with CD-R Duplication is compatibility. There are a few decks out there that wont play them back properly. In fact occasionally you will find a deck that will not recognize the disc at all. A few players may play the disc but not allow you to search forward, or other minor glitches. The percentages are really quite small, we have found them to be less than 1%. but they do exist. The disc formulations have improved over the last year and we are seeing less and less playback problems. But be advised that occasionally you might encounter a customer who wants to return your disc because it wont play in their player. You will usually find that it plays just fine in your deck but not in theirs. Replacing the CD with a new one won't solve the problem. Most of your customers are aware of which of their decks don't play CD-R's and they will play it in a deck that does. As new decks replace old decks this issue gets smaller and smaller. Almost 100% of the new decks will play CD-R's with no problems.

Is the sound quality as good as replicated CD's?
The sound quality of the new CD-R's should stand up to any replicated CD. They are basically the same thing. Digital information that is played back by your CD player. As long as you have a good master your CD's should sound the same with either process. A good master is very important. Make sure it is burned using "Disc-At-Once" mode. Multi-Session or "Track-at-Once" masters tend to have more errors which translates into more problems.

How do I pay for my order?
We require a 50% deposit or full payment before we will begin manufacturing. We gladly accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Paypal, cashier's checks, money orders, and personal checks (personal checks will delay manufacturing until they clear).

How do I get started?
Basically, we need 3 things to get started: (1) your master CD (2) your final artwork and (3) payment information.

What format do you want my artwork in?
We will be happy to accept your artwork using the proper templates for major graphic programs like Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Quark, or CorelDraw. If you require templates for duplication Click Here. You can submit your art on disc, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or upload to our FTP site.

How much is shipping?
Naturally, the exact answer to this question depends upon the size of your order, where you live, and how you want your order shipped. Generally, shipping is usually in the range of $20-$80 for 1000 jewelcased CDs, and slightly less for bulk CDs using UPS Ground.

Are there any hidden costs in my National Media Services order?
No way, no how! What we quote you is what you will pay assuming there are no changes to your artwork, master, or your order. If you' live in Virginia, we will have to add sales tax UNLESS you have a state resellers license. As above, shipping is always extra but we will be happy to estimate it for you. All our printing is digital offset so you will not incur any film charges ever.

What kind of quality can I expect from National Media Services?
Only the highest quality possible, that's all! We guarantee that your copies will be exact duplicates of your original material or final mastering proof. Our state-of-the-art system checks each copy against the original and automatically rejects disc's with errors or flaws.

I have heard that the different color dyes used have an affect on quality and shelf life. What do you use?
When you look at the bottom of a CD-R, it generally appears blue, green, or gold - regardless of the color of the label area on top. The color you see is a combination of reflective material in the disc and the dye layer of the CD. CD-R recorder technology uses a high-intensity laser to create a data pattern in a layer of dye manufactured in the disc. The dye layer is usually made with one of three organic dyes - cyanine for green discs, phthalocyanine for gold discs, and azo for silver/blue discs.

In repeated tests by the Optical Storage Technology Association and CD-R manufacturers, no correlation has been found between the color of the dye used in the CD-R disc and the quality of the CD-R media. To a CD reader/writer, there is no visual difference among the three, as all are opaque to the laser at the required frequency for reading and recording. All meet the specifications for the dye layer as described in the Orange Book, Part II - the primary specification for CD-R technology, as developed and published by Sony and Philips. In fact, dye quality among all three dyes has improved in the last several years, allowing for faster recording speeds in today's CD-R burners, compared to earlier models.

So what can I expect as an approximate shelf life for my CD?
We hope your music will outlive the shelf life of your CD media, but even if it doesn't, you can be confident that your CD will probably outlive us all. Estimation of media life for any storage media is a complex process based on laboratory testing and statistical models but we can provide some information in this area.

ANSI Committee IT-9 is currently developing comprehensive guidelines for CD-ROM, CD-R, and DVD life estimation. Manufacturers of CD-R and DVD media have performed extensive media longevity studies using these industry defined tests and mathematical modeling techniques, with results claiming longevity from 70 years to more than 200 years.

To maximize your product's lifespan, follow these tips:

Handle DVD and CD-R discs only by the outer edge to prevent fingerprints and smears on the surface. Never touch the recording surface (unlabeled side) or set it down on a hard surface.
Store the disc in a protective case. Proper storage helps protect the data from damage due to scratches on the disc surface.
Store discs in a cool, dry environment away from direct light. Imation CD-R and CD-RW discs stored below 30° C (86° F) should last 100 years. Most DVD media prefers similar conditions.
Do not leave discs in direct sunlight or in a hot, humid environment. These conditions may warp and damage the disc.
Do not allow moisture to condense on your discs.
Use a soft, lint-free cloth for cleaning your discs to remove spots, dust or fingerprints. Always wipe from the center to the outer edges and never wipe in a circular motion.
Do not use abrasive or solvent cleaners on discs. They may not be safe for some media.
How many copies can you make from my master?
We can make an unlimited number of perfect copies from your master disc without any loss of quality.

What formats of CD's can you duplicate?
We can make copies of: Audio CD * Video CD * Photo CD * CD-I * CD-R * CD ROM * Multimedia CD * CD Plus (Enhanced Audio CD's)

Does my price include labels or printing on the CD itself?
Custom printing is included on every CD you order (unless otherwise stated or you don't want it, of course). You can use your own artwork or ask us to help you design something perfect. Either way, we'll custom print it directly onto your disc.

How should I ship my master disc and graphics to National Media Services for duplication?
All masters should be placed in a padded shipper or corrugated box which does not allow the contents to shift around a lot. Graphics can be submitted with your master on disc, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or upload to our FTP site.

What about my original materials? Can I get them back?
Normally, we do not return submitted materials unless specifically requested. We will gladly return your original materials to you with your order for no extra charge. Just let us know when you order.

How can I get my original material copyrighted & protected against unauthorized copying, duplication or distribution?
We actively participate in the IRMA Copyright Protection Program and will ask you to confirm your rights to the material you send us for duplication. To obtain a copyright and further protection for your work, click here to go to our Copyright Info page. It has a lot of info on taking the right steps in order to obtain and enforce a Copyright.

What is the smallest order I can place?
We accept orders for a single CD although your best pricing occurs at 150 pieces. You'll receive a full-color disc imprint at no additional costs when yoo order at least 150 discs.

What are the causes of high error rates on a CD master?
There are several important factors that need to be taken into account before, during and after CD-R mastering.

Here are suggestions for minimizing errors:

1. Keep the CD writing machine and burner in a clean environment. Dust and debris can mask the writing laser during writing and can cause permanent defects in the CD master.

2. Make sure the master is being generated from files located locally - not from a local network, CDROM or other hard drive. It's better to generate a CD from a single location. If you are grabbing the files from various locations make sure a disc image is created first.

3. Burn the master at a slower speed, typically 4x or 8x. New CD writers are capable of writing at very fast speeds and can default to 4x, 8x, or even 12x writing speed depending on the writer. Most CD writing software gives the user the option of burning at a slower speed.

4. Make sure there are no open processes in the background while creating a CD master, such as an active Internet connection or open application. Make sure that the CD writing program is the only thing open and active.

5. The media could be at fault, it is very important to use high quality media; some good examples are Kodak Gold, Verbatim Blue, Taiyo-Yuden Green, and Mitsui Silver. Check to make sure that the CD that is to be used is free of dirt, fingerprints because not even sealed CD-Rs are free from fault.

What is the maximum amount of data you can put on a disc?
Normal capacity is 654.7 Mbytes, which is 335,250 2k sectors. This is equivalent to 74 minutes 30 seconds. The amount of data on a disc is controlled by several factors: space, track pitch, speed or rotation. It is possible to record and replicate somewhat more data on a disc than the "normal" capacity and still remain within yellow book specifications, but some drives have trouble reading data from these discs.

Can you make a CD-ROM disc that will work on both PCs and MACs?
Yes, depending on the amount of data you have you can either create two partitions - one in HFS for Mac and one in ISO 9660 for DOS or you can make the entire disc an ISO 9660 disc, which is readable by both with the correct peripherals.

Which software should I use for my design?
For images, we prefer Adobe Photoshop saved as either .TIFF or .JPEG. For layout and text, we recommend Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Pagemaker, InDesign or CorelDraw. Files should be saved in EPS format and a copy saved with the fonts converted to outlines. Design templates are available for all of these programs. Be sure to check your proofs closely, and have someone else check them too. Remember that having to output new proofs will add to your turnaround time, as do any corrections that must be made.

What files do I need submit?
FONTS:
Files must include all fonts used, including any that are embedded in placed EPS files. Please be sure to include both parts of post-script fonts (screen and printer). We will gladly accept TrueType fonts but they sometimes cause unexpected errors during printing. Avoid using the "bold" and "italic" styles included as options in the layout programs. Instead use the bold and italic versions of the actual font. For instance, use "Formata Bold" as opposed to "Formata Regular" with a style of bold.

IMAGES/COLORS:
Placed images that are to print as color on your printed material MUST be converted to CMYK and should be in either EPS or TIFF format. Other guidelines for images/colors: When creating four color files, you may prefer to use a rich black if large areas of black are used. This is commonly a CMYK black made up of 100% black and 30% cyan. Please make sure that all scanned images are at least 300 dpi and are not enlarged more than 115% when placed in a final document. If these guidelines are not followed, there is good chance that pixelization will occur. Also, include all documents and photos used in the creation of your final artwork. Any and all placed PhotoShop or Illustrator files are necessary for proper output.

What else should I know when submitting files for output?
Please include folding dummies (mock-ups) of your printed piece. Keep in mind that color prints from home printers such as inkjet and bubble jet printers may not show accurate color and therefore may be misleading. The same holds true for viewing the artwork on screen, as every monitor's color varies. To help to avoid costly mistakes in your final product, we will provide you an electronic proof and a hard copy production sample to review prior to sending your files to final print. Since it is calibrated to our output system, you will have a more accurate idea of what your final printed piece will look like. If what you see is not what you expected, corrections can be made at this stage.

How should I design the disc label?
Our templates make it easy for you to create whatever you want on your CD label. You can have colorful backgrounds or patterns and font sizes down to 6 points. You may choose to print up to the mirror band only, to the knockout ring, or full coverage. Type on discs should not be smaller than 6 points or it may drop out. If the typeface is reversed, a serif font, or a delicate font, it should not be smaller than 8 points.