Guide to making a cd

I. What to expect from a recording studio:
A. Good quality recording at the highest possible standards.
1. Digital quality.
2. Copies of technical specifications, and a music copy ready to take
to the next level.
B. Professionalism and honesty.
1. An engineer who explains the process.
2. An engineer who does not mislead.
C. An understanding of recording and engineering.
1. Your music should sound as good as live.
2. Your music should sound like you.
D. Creativity in capturing sounds, and making use of the equipment.
1. Having trouble capturing the essence of a sound?
The engineer should find an answer.
2. Should be able to capture sound without incessant background noise.

II. What NOT to expect from a recording studio:
A. Finished product.
1. There are types of studios.
a. Recording studios.
1. The recording studio is where the musician goes to record.
2. The recording studio makes a copy of the musician's work
in high quality audio.
b. Mastering studios.
1. This studio sweetens the sound, makes it fuller.
2. Enhance the engineer's work with a different
set of ears and equipment.
3. Equalize and sequence the sound for the best conditions
of the listener.
4. Many recording studios try to work at mastering, but it takes
specialized equipment, and a specialized acoustical background to
understand sound dynamics. Don't be fooled!
B. Zillion of CD's
1. Replication is the process where a cd is actually created
from nothing, and the information is added to the cd
when it is created. The graphics and everything are done at the time of
creation.
a. Replication is costly.
b. Replication is the highest quality product.
2. Duplication is a process where a pre-made cd has information copied
onto it, and graphics are either shrinkwrapped, painted, or pasted to the
pre-made cd.
a. Duplication is easier.
b. Duplication costs less with a sacrifice in quality.

III. Some studios will offer mastering and duplication services.
A. One of the major problems with being taken by these companies is that
they do not have the best equipment to do the job, or the ability to do it
properly.
1. This may not matter if you are making copies for mass-production of
low-audio quality church sermons, or;
2. If you make a demo recording to get your music heard by a label, then it
does not hurt to get a sweetened sound, as long as it captures the
essence of what you sound like.
B. If these companies do not explain the other concepts involved, they offer a
disservice in not doing so.
1. Every musician goes into his work to offer his talent the best that he can.
2. The studios should try to make every arrangement to help the musician
achieve the best that he can.

Some companies that are available for mastering and/or replication.

Duplication
1.
CD Duplication - 50 CDs, $49 in 48 Hours!

Replication
1. Europadisk Disk replication, 500 CD's $996. Offering Mastering and post-production. Europadisk is one of the most widely used replicators for music production. Artists include: Madonna, Bruce Springsteen.
2. DIGX disk replication.

Mastering
1. Masterdisk Mastering. Produced thousands of albums that have gone gold, won grammy's.
2. Gateway Mastering. Also produced many of the best albums.