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THE
CD RECORDER A Newsletter Produced & Published by Octave Systems,
Inc.
Vol. V, Issue #8
August, 2002 "Octave Systems
the Intelligent Choice"
In
This Issue:
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Alert! "Mitsui media and EZ/CD Printer give away"
We want to learn more about how YOU use your CD/DVD printer. The first 300 people to take this survey will receive a FREE 10 pack of high quality Mitsui CD-R media AND a chance to win one of three EZ/CDPrint Printers! This won't take more than 5 minutes of your time, and the results will help us bring you more of the products you need to get your job done. Thank you in advance for taking part in this important research. Click here to take the survey now! (For Official Sweepstakes Rules click here.)
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A
Few Words from the President: "DVD/CD Labeling"
DVD/CD production continues to grow in popularity. The duplication options are nearly endless - 1,4 or 7 drives - Tower, Automated, Networked, and PC Enabled. We have focused this article on the labeling options available.
There are six main options for labeling DVD/CDs.
1 - inkjet
2 - Thermal
3 - Rimage's Everest
4 - Paper Label
5 - Silkscreen
6 - Offset
Inkjet DVD/CD printers are akin to regular paper inkjet printers. The printer sprays ink onto the surface of inkjet printable DVD/CDs. Prices for an inkjet printer range from $359 for the EZ/CD Printer to $1395 for the Signature Pro Printer. The printing cost per disc ranges from as low as $0.05 (25% coverage) to $0.20 per disc. It takes about 30-60 seconds to print one disc depending on color and coverage. The advantage of using an inkjet printer is that the entry cost is low. The downfall is the ink is not water or UV light proof and they require inkjet printable media.
Thermal printers use heat and pressure to transfer hot wax onto the surface of any DVD/CD. Prices start at $2,279 to $3,995.00. Printing cost per disc ranges from $0.03 to $0.05. Thermal printers are quick - producing a disc every six seconds. The labels are 100% waterproof and UV proof, and scratch resistant. The drawback is the labels are generally produced in monochrome though multi-color devices are available but the cost per disc rises dramatically.
Rimage's Everest uses a process called thermal retransfer. The process first applies heat and pressure to transfer resins from ink ribbon to a roll of transfer film. The transfer film will advance and rewind until the image is complete. The roll will then be placed against the disc and heat and pressure are used to transfer the image. Price for the printer is $8,795. The per disc cost is approximately $0.46 for full coverage/full color to monochrome at $0.11. The labels are durable, waterproof, scratch resistant, UV resistant and chemical resistant. The Rimage Everest offers 160 Lines Per Inch resolution. Magazines typically print at 150 Lines Per Inch.
Paper label printing is a low cost entry method. Adhesive labels shaped like a CD/DVD can be printed on using any standard paper printer. The kits start at $24.95 (including an applicator) and replacement labels start at $15.00 for a 100 pack. The advantage is a quick and easy way to label a CD. It is also a low cost entry. The drawbacks are the ink is not waterproof, and may peel.
Silkscreen and Offset are for production runs greater than 1,000. The cost can range from $0.05 and up; plus a setup charge.
Octave is currently running a time-limited survey. The first 300 respondents to complete the survey will receive a FREE 10 pack of high quality Mitsui CD-R media. All respondents will be entered to win one of 3 EZ/CDPrint printers. Click here to take the survey now! (For Official Sweepstakes Rules click here.)
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CD Copy Master Update: "Bustling in Brussels"
Our European assembly and sales outlet for Copy Master is up and running in Brussels, Belgium. Product has been produced and already in the hands of satisfied customers!
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Specials:
"Vivastar DVD-R media and Signature IV printer"
Vivastar DVD-R media 10 pack for $ 25.90.
Signature IV CD-R color printer - like new condition and only one
available - open box
$895.00 Only one - do not delay!
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Question
& Answer Forum:
| Q: |
We may be purchasing the CD Copy Master 40X 1 Drive CD Duplicator. After we make the master CD, we want to make copies onto CD-Rs. What is the best type of CD-Rs or CD-RWs to use with this duplicator? I only want CDs that are pure silver on both sides, and no text (totally blank, not even the letters CD-R). I am not sure how I am going to place the text (two colors and one logo) on the CD copies. I am gathering pricing for someone to do thermal printing and also inkjet, but worried about the quality and durability of inkjet. So what type of CDs are best for this? Can any type of CD have thermal or inkjet put onto them? |
| A: |
The best type of CDRs are either Mitsui or Taiyo Yuden . They are far ahead of the field.
We do sell unbranded media. If you contact our office Kim or Kristen can tell you which silver/silver media we have in stock and the costs. The number is 1 800 626 8539 M-F 8-5 Pacific.
CD-Rs are write once - that is you cannot erase them and re-write them. CD-RWs are erasable and can be re-written. However CD-RW discs are not always readable in some audio CD players. In addition they take quite a long time to erase. For every CDRW disc we sell about 400 CDR discs. So that gives you an idea.
Labels are a whole other issue. From paper labels to thermal printing you have a very wide range. Thermal printing costs an average of 45 cents a disc! And that does not cover the cost of the printer! For volume you might consider screen-printing prior to recording. This only gets feasible with 1000 and up quantities because the setup fee is the highest expense.
Thermal printing can be done on just about any CD. Inkjet requires a special CD with a surface that will accept inkjet ink. These are more expensive CDs but inkjet printing is a lot less expensive than thermal.
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| Q: |
What type of discs are required when using the Karaoke Copy Master 40/1 and where can they be purchased? |
| A: |
The Karaoke CD Copy Master uses regular CDR disks available everywhere. They do not have to be the music discs as used in home HiFi CD recorders - though they will work, they are just more expensive.
The format used by Karaoke is CD+G and it is a function of both the CD Recorder and the software/firmware that makes this format on a disk.
One of the great features of the Karaoke CD Copy Master is the ability to make compilation Karaoke disks. This means you can copy tracks and graphics from several different disks onto one disk.
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| Q: |
I am interested in Karaoke CD copy master 40/1. I know it is a stand-alone unit. I also know it has line out RCA jacks. Now are there any input jacks? I have a program that converts and copies CD+G's karaoke. However, I do not want to install a Plextor CD RW drive in my PC. I would like to output the files from the PC directly into your stand alone Plextor for burning. Do you have anything like this?
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| A: |
The Karaoke CD Copy Master is indeed a stand-alone unit. Its only purpose is to duplicate already mastered CDs (be they CD+G or otherwise). The only exception to this is with audio and CD+G where you can make compilations.There are no input ports to the device.
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| Q: |
When I download music to burn on to a CD R, it seems that although I can play the music with my portable SONY CD player, and other CD players or combination units that also have audio cassette, AM/FM my DVD/CD player will not read those CDs. It will however read a store bought CD with the symbol "COMPACT DISC DIGITAL." Is there a way to burn my CDs and have my DVD/CD player read them too?
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| A: |
Your questions are not uncommon. DVD players are a lot more sensitive with regard to reading CDR disks. It is a matter of the reflectivity of the disks and the sensitivity of the laser pickup. CDR media has a reflectivity that is about 70% of the silver store bought audio CDs. CDRW media is less than 50% and cannot be read in many CD players (especially older ones). "We suggest you use a high-quality CD-R media, like Mitsui (available on our web site), rather than CD-RW media.
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Send
any questions about the CD recording industry and its products to questions@octave.com
and we'll try to answer them here.
Please do
not send technical support questions. For technical support questions on
products purchased from Octave Systems, Inc., please visit our tech
support page or contact the manufacturer. Contact information for
the manufacturers of products sold by Octave Systems can be found at here.
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Recorder is also available in Spanish! The Spanish version is La Tostadora.
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