Every musician craves to have a master created for their new album. All of them need some duplicated CDs that they can send to the various music houses as well as send to their friends and families.

The first step in CD duplication as well as DVD duplication is in preparing the master, before taking it to a CD duplication service or a DVD duplication service. To ensure that the DVD duplication service can read the DVD master, the individual first needs to create a DVDR/RW or Mini DVDR master. Usually, a pair of DVD masters is created so there is a backup copy of the CD or DVD to be duplicated.

A CD duplication service as well as a DVD duplication service can help the band create artwork for the outside of the case. Most CD and DVD duplication companies usually have templates that can be used for designing art work that goes on the disc label and the insert of the CD or DVD.

A band needs to ensure that its artwork is unique so that it will be noticed by a music house. At this stage, the individual or band also needs to decide whether the CD or DVD will be sold privately or through retailers, and this determines if a bar code needs to be added to the artwork. This is also the time to decide on outside protective wrapping for the finished CD or DVD, which is referred to as poly, cigarette, or shrink-wrap.

There are several CD duplication services as well as DVD duplication services available in every city. A search on the Internet as well as the yellow pages should reveal the CD duplication and DVD duplication services available in every city.

A band should look at the sample work and the prices of the different CD and DVD duplication services before choosing one. Some CD and DVD duplication services charge setup fees and mastering fees. In addition, some of them charge extra for offset-printed discs, 3-color and 5-color artwork. Customers need to decide what they are looking for in a CD duplication service and select the provider accordingly. Some companies have flexible payment options.

Customers should always see proofs of artwork before they go into production. A customer could also order a hard copy proof of the artwork for the CD or DVD. This way, the customer will be assured of the quality of the CD duplication service.