What is the difference between CD/DVD duplication and replication?

You can make copies of your CD/DVD two different ways, the information can be burned onto a blank CD-R or DVD-R which is called duplication or you can have the disc go through a manufacturing process which is called replication.

Knowing the difference between the two processes is important so you can determine which one is best for you.

CD AND DVD DUPLICATION
The process of duplicating a CD/DVD is similar to burning a disc on your computer.  The CD/DVD duplicator is a tower with several burners in them and is capable of making 100’s of disc per hour.  What you end up with after the duplication process is a CD-R or a DVD-R which can now be printed on and packaged.

The duplication process is great for small runs of 600 or less and has a faster turnaround time, usually 1-3 working days depending on quantity.  Once you exceed that it is more cost effective to go to replication. 

CD and DVD REPLICATION
The process of replicating a CD/DVD is done through a manufacturing process. You can submit to them a CD-R or a DVD-R master which is then turned into a glass master.  The glass master is then used to create a stamper which is loaded into an injection molding machine and will create an exact replica of the original CD or DVD.  Once this process has taken place a layer of thin aluminum is applied to protect the data, then is sent out for printing and packaging.

The advantage of the replication process is a lower unit cost, but the minimum order is usually 1000 disc’s. The standard turnaround time is 7 working days.