Does CDForge offer a guarantee on its services?
Absolutely! We stand behind our products 100%. If we make a mistake, we will take whatever steps needed to insure that it gets fixed in a timely manner at no additional cost to you, period.
What is the Turnaround Time on a CD order?
Average estimated turnaround time is 10-12 business days starting the day AFTER you approve your proofs. This turnaround time does not included shipping. PDF proofs usually get emailed to clients within 5 business days after all materials and deposit arrived at CDForge.
Many CD orders that we receive involve critical time schedules. The most common problem in the failure to meet those time schedules is when artwork or film does not meet the specifications. Please make sure you have read over and followed all of the artwork guidelines located in the CD Packaging Guide.
When should we set our record release show?
CDForge recommends that you should not set any releases dates for your finished CD until you have the finished product in your hands.
What does 10% over/under mean? Why can't I get exactly the amount of CDs and print I order?
After your CDs are duplicated, each CD undergoes a quality control test to make sure they meet critical quality certifications. However, some discs don't pass this test with a 100% rating and these discs must be destroyed. To make sure you end up with at least the number of CDs you ordered, the CD plant will actually manufacture more discs than ordered.
Because the specifications for printed materials are so detailed and precise, the printed materials that do not conform to the measurements required by the automated machinery that loads them are destroyed. Even when booklets and tray cards are within specified tolerances, a few will usually get destroyed in the packaging process. This is why we will print up more booklets and tray cards than you order. Please be advised: You are responsible to pay for UP TO 10% overs.
How do I get a UPC Barcode and what is SoundScan?
CDForge offers Free barcodes for clients' projects that use both our Printing & CD services. If you need a UPC (barcode), you must request it BEFORE you send us your art files or film. We will email it to you as an EPS file that you can drop into your artwork. We can drop a UPC barcode into your art files for you, but this service will cost an additional $100 in graphics charges.
SoundScan is the company that tracks all retail album sales. Once you register your bar code with SoundScan, they will track your CD's sales amongst those retail outlets that report to SoundScan (all major chains and some independent stores). You can register your bar code for free; simply download the SoundScan application form (PDF).
You may also subscribe to SoundScan's reporting service, though you must subscribe directly with SoundScan for a fee. To subscribe to SoundScan, visit their web site at http://home.soundscan.com. SoundScan will send you reports showing how many of your retail CDs have sold and where.
To recap: The Bar Code is Free from CDForge. The registration of your bar code number is Free from CDForge. The SoundScan reporting service is NOT Free.
How do I get Distributors to carry my CD?
First, find distributors that stock the kind of music you release. We have a list of distributors on our Resources page. In most cases, you'll want to mail them at least two copies of your CD and include a "one-sheet" of fact-based information (band members' background, press quotes, upcoming tour dates, etc.) to help sell your CD. Good luck!
Should I listen to my cd master before I submit my order?
Yes! When we receive your order, we will check your cd-r master to make sure that it is error free and we can make a stamper from it, but we do not listen to the content of the disc. It is your responsibility to carefully listen to it at least once to make sure tracks are in the right order, it sounds good, and that there are no digital pops or anything that should not be on it. We don't listen to your cd and we will not be able to tell if a digital pop is intentional or not. We replicate a byte for byte disc from what you provide us, so what you give us...you'll get back!