The recommended and most reliable format to supply your masters for CD Replication services.
Audio CD-Rs are for most of us the obvious method to supply a master for CD Replication, however these discs offer little protection against potential digital errors and cheap discs only make matters worse. These errors can be hard to identify as your CD player will run error correction and attempt to mask such errors as your disc plays. Even a brand new, fresh disc can contain several errors. Errors can also develop over a short period of time, even without poor handling of the disc itself. This may run a risk of your master being rejected, causing unwanted delays, or if left undetected, errors may have a remote chance of making their way to your final discs. A little known fact is that audio CD-Rs can also cause variations to the actual sound of your recording.
A DDP Image is a set of files that includes the audio, PQ (Track Timing) Information, Track Sequence, and optional ISRC Codes relating to your audio master. It can be saved on any standard physical medium (DVD-R, CD-R, USB) or transferred online. A code, known as an ‘MD5 Checksum’ is included to allow us to verify that the data is 100% as intended to avoid the pitfalls as described above..
How To Get A DDP Image For CD Replication:
A DDP Image should be requested from your mastering studio and can be sent to us by post or using the ‘Upload Audio’ on the right hand side of this page. If you haven’t mastered yet you may wish to consider Blue Pro Mastering.
If you are unable to get a DDP we can create one for you from your final WAV or AIFF files. When ordering you CD Replication select 'Create DDP Image Master' or if you are ordering a DDP Image separately please click here. You will be required send us your WAV or AIFF files together with your track listing, any requirements for gaps between your supplied files and any ISRC codes that you wish to be embedded.
As you may not have the software Blue Pro will also send you an audio reference CD created directly from the DDP Image. This is to ensure that you can accurately verify the complete disc before authorising your corresponding DDP for any replication. If you wish to download an application to open the DDP Image we recommend using Sonoris.