FAQ and Information

Your audio masters for vinyl pressing can be supplied as zipped WAV files via our ftp upload site (contact us for details), by wetransfer, dropbox or via CD-R/retail-ready CD along with a full tracklist, timings and side splits.

The standard bit rate for vinyl audio masters is 24 bit/44.1KHz. The master should be fully edited and as you want it to sound, with all tracks in the correct order and with your desired gaps between each track.

We need a complete track list supplied with every record pressing master. The list should contain the names of all the tracks, each track’s duration and the side splits for correct separation into side A and side B. These are mandatory requirements.

The quality of vinyl audio is directly affected by the distance between the record grooves and therefore the playing time of the record. Exceeding the maximum recommended playing lengths below can compromise the audio quality of the record, with bass heavy recordings particularly problematic.

At 33 rpm:

• 12" - 19 mins per side
• 10" - 14 mins per side

At 45 rpm:

• 7" - 5 mins per side
• 10" - 10 mins per side
• 12" - 15 mins per side

When pressing vinyl with hidden tracks or any unusual features this should be clearly communicated to us at the ordering stage. Provide the track number, name and time and details of your special requirements. Examples include long gaps between tracks, very quiet passages or deliberate use of electronic buzz, distortion etc.

Once your vinyl record masters and order are received, we cut the audio to either lacquer or direct to copper plates (DMM) depending on various factors. Both lacquers and DMMs are created on a special lathe which looks like a large record player and works rather like a record player's phonograph pick-up in reverse, where the audio is converted to mechanical motion. The cutting stylus, mounted in the head, cuts a precise spiral groove across the plate spinning at an exact speed of 33 & 1/3 or 45rpm, and vibrates to transfer the recording. Once the cut has taken place, lacquers are processed, firstly to a negative using nickel and an electroplating process, then again to create a positive. These are then plated once more to form the stampers (negatives again), which are then used to press the final records. Coppers are processed directly to stampers.

Yes TPs are supplied for you to check that the A and B sides are correct and the tracks are in the right order. It is too late to change levels and EQ at this stage. Breed Media are unable to further your order until you have approved your test pressings.

Your records are hand packed. Some vinyl record pressing plants pack directly into a ‘bag’ (a sleeve without a spine), but as vinyl manufacturing is old fashioned most factories pack by hand. As a result most record manufacturing runs will include a hand packing charge. Stickers and inserts are normally hand packed too. We require an accurate description of the where you want a sticker positioned. You should always consider where any shop placed pricing stickers may appear (usually top right). Hand packing is charged per movement.

Please supply a DDP file that contains an MD5 checksum. Alternatively a Red Book CD-R along with a tracklisting. Remember the final CD you receive will be an exact replica of the one you supplied. Always keep a back-up copy of your CD master and your artwork.

Yes. It is important to give your master a catalogue number; you can make this up yourself. This number should be unique and will be applied to your CD label and printed parts so that all the parts come together for the final product.

CD text can be written in to your DDP or CD-R master and then displayed on players that show CD Text such as car CD players. CD text does not affect iTunes or Windows Media etc. To populate listings on iTunes and Windows Media you need to contact Gracenote.

The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) system is the international system for the identification of recorded music and music videos. Each ISRC is a unique identifier that can be permanently encoded into a recording or music video. Encoded ISRCs automatically identify recordings for PPL payments for radio plays.

PPL is the appointed sole agency for ISRCs in the UK. You should request an ISRC 'stem' (or first registrant code) when you become a PPL recording rightholder member. This stem is three letters allocated in sequence from PPL's database that are specific to each recording rightholder member.

Breed Media is unable to generate ISRCs but can add the codes you obtain from the PPL on to your CD master for a small fee.

A glass master, used for CD replication, consists of glass, optically ground and polished, then coated with photoresist. A laser exposes a pattern of pits – the digitised sound information – into the photoresist coating. Exposed pits are etched away (developed) to generate the final pit structure. This is then coated in silver to form the glass master. Electroforming replicates the master layer in a nickel-plating bath, forming a negative (father). Multiple positives (mothers) are made in order to produce negatives (sons/daughters) which are used as stampers in the moulding process.

No. Within the prices quoted and charged, we are offering the service of providing a glass master as a means to press CDs or DVDs. The Glass Master remains the property of the pressing plant and cannot be released to you to store or press elsewhere.

Stampers made from Glass Masters are used to replicate CDs in an injection moulding process. Hot polycarbonate is forced under high pressure into a circular mould containing the stamper and then cooled so the polycarbonate takes on the mirror image of the mould. A thin metal reflective layer is added to one side of the disc. This reflective layer allows the laser to read the digital data that is created by the pits. Finally, a lacquer coating is added to protect the replicated CDs. Each machine makes about 100 CDs per hour.

Pressed CDs are then moved to a printing machine where, using the label artwork with your catalogue number, silk screen or litho onbody printing is applied. From there the discs are moved to the packing area and depending on the packaging are either machine or hand packed.

Find out more about how to supply artwork for CD labels.

Booklets, inlays and wallets are usually all machine packable, but some formats such as digipaks and extras like stickering are done by hand and a charge is made per hand movement.

CD duplication is the process whereby blank discs are copied for low quantity manufacture. For quantities smaller than 500 (the minimum for CD replication), Breed Media offers a CD duplication service. This service provides a cost effective, yet high quality alternative for small runs and fast turnaround.

Supply a DLT (Digital Linear Tape) or a DVD-R for DVD replication. If you require CSS encryption please ensure we are aware before you master so we can advise on how it is applied. Please keep a back-up copy of your DVD master and your artwork.

The standard DVD has a capacity of 4.7GB in a single layer, single-sided form known as DVD-5. This is over seven times the capacity of a CD and allows full color printing on one side of the disc. Greater capacity can be achieved using DVD-9 (8.5GB) and DVD-10 (9.4GB) formats.

A glass master consists of glass, optically ground and polished, then coated with photoresist. A laser exposes a pattern of pits - the digitised sound information - into the photoresist coating. Exposed pits are etched away (developed) to generate the final pit structure. This is then coated in silver to form the master. Electroforming replicates the master layer in a nickel-plating bath, forming a negative (father). Multiple positives (mothers) are made in order to produce negatives (sons) which are used as stampers in the DVD replication moulding process.

Unfortunatel not. Within the prices quoted and charged, we are offering the service of providing a glass master as a means to press  DVDs. The glass master itself however remains the property of the pressing plant and cannot be released to you to archive or press elsewhere.

The stampers are used to replicate DVDs in an injection moulding process. Hot polycarbonate is forced under high pressure into a circular mould containing the stamper and then cooled so the polycarbonate takes on the mirror image of the mould. A thin metal "reflective layer" is added to one side of the disc. This reflective layer allows the laser to read the digital data that is created by the pits. Finally a lacquer coating is added to protect the disc. This process makes about 100 DVDs per hour.

After the DVDs are replicated they are moved to a printing machine where, using the label artwork with your catalogue number, silk screen or litho onbody printing is applied. After printing the discs are sent to the packing area where they are either machine or hand packed.

DVD Duplication is the process whereby blank DVDs are copied for low quantity manufacture. For quantities smaller than 500, Breed Media offers a DVD duplication service. This service provides a cost effective yet high quality alternative for small runs and fast turnaround.

Delivery will normally take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm.

Large orders will be delivered via a pallet service or direct courier without any tracking information provided.

If tracking information is available, we will be happy to pass this on so that you can manage your delivery. Although we try to be as accurate as possible with the delivery information we provide, sometimes delays can occur in transit that are completely out of our control and we cannot accept any responsibility for any losses or inconvenience that occur as a result of any delays.

If we have provided tracking information the easiest way to change delivery details is to contact the courier and manage your delivery directly with them. For vinyl orders that are sent on a pallet service, it may be possible for us to redirect delivery if we are notified within 1 working day of sending your dispatch confirmation. Please note that a surcharge will apply for any amendments to deliveries once they have been dispatched, or unsuccessful deliveries to be reattempted.

In practice, this means that Breed Media performs extra checks on copyright information on audio, data and artwork. We will require you to confirm that you own these copyrights and if not, it will require us to send label copy and licensing documentation together with your parts and/or data to the CD/DVD/Blu-Ray replication plant or vinyl pressing plant. Licensing documentation indicates that full rights are obtained for producing the specific audio and/or information data.

Visit CDSA to find detailed information about the program.

The program is designed to protect the rights of the owner of the sound recording and/or content and therefore differs from the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) who protect the rights of the writer and publisher. Therefore a valid MCPS license or indication of no claim from MCPS is required, but is not proof that you have the right to manufacture the sound recording or data.

1. Purchase Order
2. Track listing/label copy with artist and song title or data.
3. Covering letter on headed paper saying artist is signed to your record label and the label owns the copyright.
4. If possible, a web address displaying details of your label and the artists.

1. Purchase Order
2. Track listing/label copy with artist and song title or data.
3. First page of license displaying whom the license is between, valid dates, schedule of the license showing which tracks or data are licensed and signatures.

1. Purchase Order
2. Track listing with artist and song title.
3. Letter explaining that the songs are yours and that you are releasing them yourself.
4. If possible, a web address displaying details of you and your songs.
5. Other proof (not MCPS) that you have the rights to manufacture CDs.

1. Purchase Order
2. List identifying content (and track listing if enhanced CD) or letter indicating you are the copyright owner.
3. Valid licenses covering usage of programs such as QuickTime and Acrobat.
4. QuickTime Licence available form Apple.
5. Acrobat Licence from Adobe.

The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) now known as PRS for Music collect mechanical rights royalties on behalf of their members.

Mechanical rights entitle you to earn money whenever a song or composition that you have written is reproduced. This includes when your works are recorded onto a physical product (such as a CD or audio-visual product), or listened to or downloaded off the internet.

Breed Media are PRS for Music recognised manufacturers and will not proceed with manufacturing unless we are fully satisfied that you have obtained a license, or have at least contacted PRS for Music to acquire a license. We, along with all recognised manufacturers, send monthly reports to PRS for Music for all discs manufactured on our behalf.