California-based CD and DVD duplication companies may be in for a big surprise as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) may soon have the authority to perform warrantless searches in California to fight piracy.

California Senate Bill 550 is making its way through the state legislature, making it illegal to operate duplication or replication equipment without stamping discs with the required identifiers that separate commercial products from counterfeits. Also, the bill would make it legal for law enforcement to inspect replication plants without a warrant — a potential violation of the fourth amendment.

“The crime of illegal mass reproduction of music and movies is a serious problem,” said California Sen. Alex Padilla. “Fraudulent CDs and DVDs undermine our economy and California’s role as a global leader in music and film.”

None other than the RIAA has shown support for the bill, explaining that about 70 California-based replicator plants are responsible for up to 85 percent of counterfeit discs found in the United States. And, the organization points out, “closely regulated” industries like firearms and nursing homes are already subject to warrantless searches.

With 12x write speed and a built-in 1TB hard drive, the new DVD duplicator line from Aleratec represents a step into the next generation of disc replication.

“As the prices for Blu-ray media and equipment continue to drop due to increasing demand, our customers find Blu-ray an increasingly attractive option for data distribution,” said Perry Solomon, president and CEO of Aleratec. “In designing these products, we wanted to make sure that they would be relevant for years to come.”

The new pair of professional grade Blu-ray duplicators can burn up to three or seven Blu-ray DVD or CDs at a time, using four “Fast Keys” to command basic functionality. In addition to maximum storage and write capacity, the two units can complete laser-etched labels using LightScribe technology and avoiding inks or ribbons.

With USB 2.0 connectivity, operation is quick and easy whether burning from the hard drive or separate source disc. And there’s no sacrifice of functionality and speed when running print jobs; disc label jobs can be dragged and dropped into the duplicator while duplicator makes disc copies.

This line of Aleratec products features two models: the 1:3 Blu-ray/DVD/CD LightScribe Duplicator SA for $1,399 and the 1:7 Blu-ray/DVD/CD Tower Publisher SLS for $2,699, which are both available now for shipment through dedicated resellers and distribution partners.

It takes more than just equipment to be able to burn DVDs like a pro.

You will need a DVD ripper to compress your video into an mp3, wav, or ogg files, as well as the capability to compress audio in order to duplicate or replicate your files.

When considering speed, burners are measured in how much faster DVDs will burn than they play, but computer CPU capacity will also play a factor in how well your computer can keep up with the speed of the burner. Keep in mind that your machine will have to be able to convert burned data to DVD-r media on your hard drive. For optimal burning speeds, make sure you have at least 40GB of free space on your machine.

Now that you know the basics, here are some tips for getting the most out of your ripping equipment.

1. Use reliable media. The quality of the DVD-R disc you use will make all the difference in the quantity and the quality of your duplication project. Just keep in mind that price doesn’t always equate to quality in the duplication world, although the cheapest usually isn’t the best.

2. Review your discs. Every batch of discs will include a few faulty or unusable discs even n packs from the most reputable manufacturers. Look for scratches, cracks, spots, or blotches on the underside of every DVD-R disc; any of these physical defects will cause flaws and playback distortions.

3. Keep everything clean. Dust the outside of your DVD burner regularly and make sure to keep the area you handle and store discs clean and uncluttered free of dust, grime, or grease.

4. Research and test-drive software and hardware. When you’re starting out don’t worry about getting the top-of-the line equipment; you’ll want the most user-friendly software with a simple user interface. Also pay close attention to the customer support offered with your equipment.

5. Stay updated. No matter how expensive your equipment is, make it a priority to keep on top of all software and equipment upgrades required and available to you. Burning errors due to software bugs are not something you want to get hung up on in the middle of a job. Register each piece of new equipment to get automatic updates for your system.

6. Pay attention to compatibility. Using a Universal Disc Format (UDF) 1.02 program won’t limit the playability of your replicated discs as opposed to a UDF 1.5, which may experience playability issues on certain systems. Search your program drop-down list to select the right format.

7. Keep it simple. Avoid running other programs or software when in the middle of a burning project to maximize your system’s speed. Keep in mind that you can always slow down the burn speed to reduce the risk of errors.

CD Solutions has announced the acquisition of Innotech USA to provide expanded CD and DVD duplication services to all 50 states.

“We felt that the addition of Innotech USA would be a perfect match for our company and our current offerings,” said Jerry Warner, President of CD Solutions. “Between our two companies, the customer will have a tremendous selection of products and services with top-notch customer service and support.”

Based out of Ohio, CD Solutions has been providing recordable media services since 1993. The company is known for being one of the first to create hybrid discs. In more than 10 years, CD Solutions has not only diversified its services to offer customized duplication and printing services, it now sells duplication equipment from the likes of Epson, Rimage, Microboards Technology, and Primera Technology.

WebShop, the new online store from Rimage Corporation, makes the company’s disc publishing supplies available to customers. Traditionally, Rimage customers would have secured their CD and DVD printing and replication equipment from authorized third-party suppliers, but now these customers have a direct link to the products they have come to rely on.

The WebShop is available to U.S. customers at webshop.rimage.com and to European customers at webshop.rimage-europe.eu. Rimage believes the new site will help strengthen and simplify their partner network and help ensure their customers get the most out of their investment.

“The WebShop provides our customers with an important option that helps them keep their operation running smoothly,” said Christopher Wells, vice president of marketing and strategy for Rimage Corporation. “They can shop direct from Rimage, or from one of our authorized partners.”

Rimage customers can find print ribbons, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, print cartridges, and media kits on WebShop, but they can still get their Rimage products from their disc publishing partners.

Recycling programs have been in place in the United States since the 1970s. For the last 40 years Americans have continued to find additional outlets to recycle their electronics, including cell phones, computer batteries, and printer cartridges. And as the use of CDs gives way to MP3s, several companies, including Precision Disc Manufacturing Corp., are now providing CD and DVD recycling services.

Unwanted CDs and DVDs as well as their cases can be sent to Precision Disc Manufacturing, a British Columbia CD and DVD duplication company, to prevent discs from ending up in landfills.

Just pack your unwanted CDs and DVDs in a cardboard box marked “for recycling” and ship the box to or drop off the box at Precision Disc Manufacturing. You’ll be responsible for the cost of shipping, but you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that your unwanted discs won’t go to complete waste. Precision Disc says there’s no problem with scoring or damaging the discs if you’re concerned about information security.

Disc cases must be sent in a separate box, and all inserts should be removed.

“We’ve been putting a strong emphasis on utilizing environmentally-friendly equipment, materials and processes for quite some time, said Precision Disc Manufacturing Vice President Bruce Durnie. “We don’t just talk-the-talk when it comes to being environmentally responsible so we’re always looking for new ways to enhance what we’ve already put in place and this DVD CD recycling program is a good example of our efforts to make a difference.”

Today CDs can store up to about 700 MB of data while DVDs max out at around 4.7 GB, but media storage capacities are constantly trending upward, particularly with the rise in popularity overburn and dual-layer techniques.

Duplication and replication. The words may sound remarkable similar, but the differences between the two are important to point out. To make the most appropriate choice you want to make sure you know the difference when choosing the appropriate software and technology combo or professional organization for your next project.

Duplication

Duplication is often also referred to as CD burning. Whereas a single copy involves transferring from data one CD or DVD to another, the term duplication is used when referring to a media copy job that involves more than just one copy being made. Duplication jobs of about 1,000 discs or less can often completed at home or in-house with the use of a dedicated computer (or computers) with multiple burners or with a professional CD DVD duplicator.

The technology used in duplication is called laser etching, which transfers the data from one disc to another – a portable, convenient, and economical form of data transfer.

Replication

Instead of making a copy of data, replication essentially makes a clone of the original data. In replication, a glass master is created from the original version of the CD or DVD and then a mold (or set of molds), sometimes referred to as stampers, is created from that glass master. The process of replication allows for every disc to be a first-generation replica. The stampers act as a blueprint; they are used with high-injection molding to make a plastic disc-like molded clone. The clone is covered with a thin layer of aluminum and sealed with a layer of laquer, which is hardened by ultraviolet light.

Because of its technical nature, replication is typically used for large-scale jobs of 1,000 or more (the larger the quantity, the lower the cost) and is usually completed by a disc replication company. Replication services offered by these companies often include printing and packaging services as well, and the quality of the replicated discs is often higher than duplicated discs. The difference in price can be substantial: a job of 300 discs may cost about $2 disc, whereas a job of 1,000 can drop to about $0.50 per disc. The bulk of the additional costs for replication come from the set up fees.

If you need help with CD DVD Replication or Duplication services. Contact a Gotmedia Sales Rep at 866-409-1090