Meeting the Standards of Duplication

Monday, March 3, 2008

With every CD comes a standard that has to be approved before it gets into the public.  These standards are ones that includes a variety of formatting options, as well as industry provisions that have to be reached.  Whether you are going to someone to get a CD duplication job done or are looking into the standards for your own business, make sure that you are familiar with what the industry requires. 


The CD duplication standards begins with nine rainbow books which defines the provisions of CDs.  These books are divided according to the type of CD that is being used as well as what the technology can handle at the time.  These books began to become industry standard in 1980, when Sony and Phillips came out with The Red Book, which specified the details of audio CDs.  These were found through ratios, deviations and encoding that provided effective results with the CD. 


Within these books are standards that have to be approved before a CD can go into the public.  The first is the size and shape of the CD, including the diameter and thickness of the CD.  This was determined in order to match the standards of CD players that began to be manufactured.  The next part that is determined is the use of materials in the CD.  This includes the layers of materials as well as the type of substance that is being used for the CD.  The last part of this is the formatting of the CD.  The CD should always have a program area which leads in and out in certain ways according to the type of CD it is and what is known to work best for the CD player, manufacturer and customer. 


The book that has these specific provisions is divided according to color and CD.  For example, if it is for video CDs, than the standards will come from the white book.  These were divided because there are different materials and processes that need to be used in order to create the right standards and to allow for the production to be effective. 


If one is going into the CD duplication business, they will not only have to meet these standards by following the book that is specific to their CD duplication services.  They will also have to receive certifications in order to show that they are aware of the standards and are meeting them with their duplication services.  This is the way in which the industry ensures that all of the duplication areas are meeting the same standards, are following the book requirements and are aware of the process that has to be followed for duplicating CDs. 


These standards are not only shown in the certifications that are obtained for CD duplicators.  It is also shown through testers of the CDs from the manufacturer before they move into duplication.  Most companies who are producing these sets of products will start their process by testing the standards, making sure they are matched with measurements and specifications and will check to ensure that the duplication process follows these same standards through the tests. 


This particular concept is not only one that is used with the manufacturing process, but is also a part of quality control with each CD and the duplication process.  Every individual who is working with CDs will also have to be a part of the quality control, depending on the manufacturer, industry standards and type of production that is occurring.  These particular parts of the CD duplication process ensures that the information and data that is brought to the CD duplication process is always met with the highest standards. 


As the CD industry continues to grow and change with technology, are also new standards that are being matched within the industry.  These standards are not only allowing for new quality control and better practices within duplication, but are also creating higher quality CDs in sound, data and look of the CD.  If you want to know why your CD is why it is, all you have to do is look into the book for the industry. 

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