Live Help

866-5 DUBHUB (866-538-2482)

CD/DVD Duplication vs Replication

FAST FACT: CDs which are duplicated are just as reliable as CDs that are replicated. There are inferior brands of discs saturating the market place, which can affect quality - but DUB hub uses only professional equipment and highest quality media to assure you receive the highest quality CD or DVD – every time!

As you begin your due diligence process, looking for a replication or duplication service, you have likely been asked many questions concerning your project and the type of media you need. "Aren't all burnable discs the same you may wonder to yourself", - but as you have come to find out, - there IS a difference between the media used to manufacture duplicated orders and the media used to manufacture replicated orders. We have put this page together in an effort to explain some of the differences, answer some of the questions you may have, and set aside some misconceptions about both types of mediums, or replication and duplication in general.

DVD Replication – BEST BET for quantities over 1000

Replication is the standard used to make mass quantities of CD's or DVD's. A “glass master” of your information is made which in turn producers “stampers” which are used for injection molding the information onto foil. The mastered information is then protected by layers of poly carbonate plastic. It is then lacquered, usually screened, and ultimately packaged. Because most of this process is automated, the cost per unit becomes factored in and very affordable on orders generally greater than 1000 pieces. Until recently, almost all duplication companies replicated their discs and would only offer service of larger replication runs to their customers.

DVD Duplication – an good option for lower quantites

Duplication is the standard in which smaller quantities of CD’s or DVD's are usually manufactured. CD-R and DVD-R media is loaded into burners. Your information is digitally extracted from your master source (usually a master CD-R or DVD-R) and transferred to the blank discs. Your information is typically verified and the copy then accepted or rejected. With the advent, popularity, and reduced cost of writable media, it is now possible to offer the same level of services to customers that need smaller quantity orders as well as customers which need larger quantities.


DVDs vs. Blu-Ray

  Replication Duplication
Pros
  • The unit costs are lower than duplicated discs.
  • Both offset printing and screen printing is available for replicated discs.
  • Replicated DVDs can contain 1 layer (DVD-5) of information, 2 layers on one side (DVD-9), 1 layer on each side (DVD-10) or 2 layers on each side (DVD-18).
  • DUB hub can auto assemble discs into jewel cases, paper/tyvek sleeves, amaray cases, or cardboard sleeves.
  • The standard turn-time is 2-3 business days, even for runs up to 5,000 units.
  • Digital full color printing is available with no prepress charges.
Cons
  • The standard turn-time is 7 business days, longer for runs exceeding 100,000 units. Standard duplication turn times are 2-3 business days.
  • Minimum order of 1000 units.
  • The cost per unit for duplication is higher than replication.
  • DVDs can have up to 2 layers of information on each side of the media. DVD-R duplicates can have 1 layer of information on the entire DVD.

What's the difference?

There is no data difference between a processed duplication and a glass mastered replication disc. In fact, both processes extract the information from your master source in EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. Other than the way your disc is manufactured, - the biggest noticeable difference between a replicated CD / DVD disc and a duplicated CD / DVD disc may be the way the surface is marked. This is usually due to the cost restraints associated with the method chosen to process the order.