Whether you want to distribute a family history or other important research project, or you need to ensure that your videos of those crucial first years of your child's life last forever, there's nothing as safe as a physical copy. Many people feel mistrustful of purely digital storage methods and cloud hosting and, when it comes to treasured memories or years of work, your best bet is storing this valuable data on a CD. But do you need to duplicate or replicate? And what on earth is the difference anyway?
On the surface, CD duplication is very similar to replication. Both processes store important information in the physical form of a CD and both allow you to play or view this content later. But, surprisingly, the similarities end there, and understanding the important differences between the two methods will help you make the best choice for your project.
In short, CD duplication involves burning your data onto a blank CD. If your data is used to create a new disc during manufacturing, the process is termed CD replication.
Professional CD duplication is similar to the process used when you burn a CD at home using your own computer. Data is copied from an original CD or another digital source, and transferred onto the disc. Professionals also carry out this process using equipment that allows the burning of hundreds of stacked CDs at once. Regardless of whether you're carrying out the duplication at home or a professional CD duplicator is handling the process, the final step in duplication involves verifying the information copied to the new CD matches that on the master. After that, the job is complete.
CD replication occurs during the manufacturing process itself, and the resulting disc is actually created as the information is transferred to it. CD replication is a highly technical process that begins with a thorough assessment of the state of the master copy, to ensure the original data is free from corruption. A glass master disc is created first, and only when a truly accurate copy can be guaranteed does the replication process begin. Rather than burning the data, cd replication stamps your data onto the newly created disc.
Aside from the differences that occur during manufacturing, the end result will also vary depending on the method you choose. A duplicated CD will result in a CD-R, while a replicated CD will render a CD-ROM, short for Read Only Memory. CD duplication is fast. It can generally be turned around within three business days, and is best for smaller runs of upto 5000 CDs. As a result, CD duplication has a higher cost per unit than replication, and replicators usually require a higher minimum order, usually around 1000 units.
For the user, these end-of-the-line differences are crucial. So take your time to consider the nature of your project and your ultimate goals in safeguarding your data in the form of the CD. You'll be glad you did.
Share1 February 2018
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