When you are preparing a CD/DVD project for duplication or replication, it's important that you prepare the master disc correctly to eliminate any problems or delays. Your master disc should be an exact copy of what you want produced. Make sure you have tested the copy you're going to send on several different players to assure they play as expected. Sometimes older burning software is used and the master will not play across a variety of players due to the software so make sure your disc plays in systems other than the one it was burned on before you send it in. Below are the basic rules you need to follow to assure your project goes smoothly:

With so many cheap brands or media out there, it's important to use a quality brand for the master. After all, the master is what all your other copies are going to be made from. Some of the higher quality brands are Mitsui, Maxell, and Taiyo Yuden. If you're not sure what to use, ask the company doing the project what brand they prefer you use. This will assure you produce a quality master.

Duplication and replication facilities deal with numerous accounts and many different masters. There is nothing worse for them than getting a master that is not identified. It can delay your project. Clearly label your master with your company name and the project name either by using disc labels or markers approved for writing on the surface of the disc. Doing so will save you and the dupe or rep houses headaches down the line.

Duplication houses will not test your master on various players. They instead will use a bit by bit verification system and test the copies to the master to assure that they are an exact copy of the master. This is why it's important for you to test your master in several different players to assure it plays as expected. Don't just test it in the system that you burned it on. In some older burners, they can produce a master that will only play well in the system it was created on. If you test it other systems, you will assure it has no playability issues.

Vendors are in the business to perform a service for you and if you have any questions about the mastering process, ask them. Taking a few extra moments to produce and test the master correctly will assure that your project is as trouble free as possible.