Make Your Own CDs

Hi,

I am also working with Delta Blues guitarist, John Shepherd, and he sent me an email about making your own CDs. I thought most of what I said should be a blog post.

Here's my updated copy.

The way I've been making CDs is plain silver media with the info printed on them in a white envelope. If they follow the link on the CD they can download and print the artwork as well as getting the song titles, personnel, etc. I also use the artwork for buttons and web images promoting the CD. I don't like selling brandname CDs.

When selling CDs at a live show carry a permanent marker so you can sign the CDs.

I've been selling HairyLarryLand CDs like this on the web for $5.95. So you could sell them new for $5, undersell the web price, keep the whole profit. You'll move a lot more at $5 too. People are used to paying $10 or $15. But then they get the expensive packaging. Since we can't afford the expensive packaging we get to undersell them. And when you sign the CDs that means more to your fans than color printouts anyway.

It's easy to get set up to print your own CDs on plain silver media. The printer isn't expensive. I use a Signature Z1 which I believe is the same printer as the Uprint. At least I've been using the Uprint cartridges which are fully compatible. Teac also sells this same CD printer.

Casio has entered into the low cost thermal CD printer market too. Their ribbons are cheaper but I don't know how many CDs they print. Both the Uprint and the Casio solutions can be had under $100. My Signature was given to me. Thanks, Uncle Fred. (And no I don't have a rich Uncle Fred, that's his stage name.)

The trick to controlling ribbon costs is to not print too wide on the CD. Make one area good enough, print top or bottom but not both. Use more lines and smaller type to keep the ribbon costs per CD under control. Using the Uprint cartridges I pay a nickle or a dime per CD. Plus you have to amortize the cost of the printer. If it prints 1000 CDs for you (and mine has done more than that) it will add a dime per CD to the cost. If it prints 10,000 a penny. The actual cost is in that range.

My media costs 26 cents a piece with the white envelope. So my CDs, ready to go, cost me less than 50 cents. It's a spiff. I give them away but people are glad to buy them too. A CD is a CD. The reason they buy CDs at a live performance is to let the artist know how much they liked his work.

I use shop4tech.com for my media and consumables.

Anyone with experience with the Casio system please post your observations in the comments.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry