CD Replication or CD-Rs?

The best way to understand the difference between Replicated CDs and CD-Rs (recordables) is to think of CD-Rs as blank Audio Cassettes. You buy blanks and then record data (music) onto them later. 'Pressed' or 'Replicated' CDs are like records, in that a record is manufactured with the data (music) imprinted on it. The common link between copied CD-Rs CDs made by Replicating is that once they are written or pressed, there is no going back. If your master is not correct we can not re-record.

CD-Rs are ideal for short CD Duplication runs or urgent orders because they don't incur the high set-up costs and longer turnaround times associated with CD Replication. However for large CD Duplication runs of 500 or more, they cost more than 'Pressed' CDs. This is because the 'duplication' is a separate stage in the production process and CD-R blank media costs more to manufacture and has higher printing costs.

Replicating CDs is great when you have a CD Duplication run of 500 or more CDs and have longer than a week to do them. While the set-up costs to Replicate CDs are initially high, over a large number of units the cost per CD is lower then CD-Rs.