Clients are required to properly prepare their audio and artwork files before uploading. It takes time to check your files and generate proofs. Client-generated issues like typos and improper organization can lead to additional fees. We have both audio preparation and artwork preparation packages available. If you wish to add preparation packages to your order, send us an email with your order # and we'll send you an estimate. Otherwise, please read the following instructions before uploading:

AUDIO DUPLICATION

Make sure all audio files have a uniform sample rate and bit-rate

High-speed cassette duplication masters should be provided in WAV or AIFF lossless files with a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz and a bit depth of 16 to 24 bits, whereas real-time cassette duplication can be supplied in any sample rate and bit-rate as long as all files share those same attributes. We cannot mix and match sample rates without sending it to Mastering.
CD pressing requires that all audio files be 16-bit with a 44.1 kHz sampling rate.
Vinyl pressing requires all files to be submitted at a uniform sampling rate with a detailed and exact cue sheet.
Mastering services are available.

Please name the files in their proper numerical order, including side split

To ensure that all the tracks are recorded in their correct order, we ask that you place your files in their correct order. In the case of vinyl or cassette we need to know which tracks appear on Side A and which on Side B, thus we recommend using an A or B prefix to your file names like the image below.
We also recommend numbering the files with two digits instead of one (ex. A01 instead of A1), otherwise the software may read that track A10 appears before track A9.

Cassette orders: there's no need to include additional silence at the beginning of tracks A01 or B01. When duplicating your tapes we add an appropriate amount of lead time to ensure your audio won't get cut off.

GRAPHIC FILES

Add bleed to your image
Bleed is the area that exists outside of the finished printed document. This means that if you have a blue background, adding bleed will ensure that no white appears when cutting the paper. To do this you'll need to have the artwork extend beyond the template trim lines. It's suggested that your bleed area should be at least .125" thick. Here are some tutorials on how to add bleed using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

Push your text away from the edge
Similar to bleed, you'll want to make sure text won't be cut off when trimming the document or package. As such, we recommend that you do not place any text right at the very edge of the document. Instead, place the text in what is referred to as a title safe area. A distance of at least .125" is recommended between the text and the trim edge.

Keep the document size and resolution intact
We have dozens if not hundreds of template files on our website to help you design the most accurate packaging and artwork for your album. It's important that we receive high quality files, so we ask that you do not change the document size or image resolution of the template. If you're creating a template out of scratch, then we recommend providing files at a resolution of 300 dpi.

New! Now when you create a duplication or pressing quote you will receive a private upload link via email. The upload link is to be used for a single project and will expire after 60 days. For access to the shared public upload server click on this link for an instant reply email with the password.   The Web Interface to our FTP Server: Upload your material to a folder on our server: if you are using the shared site click on Create Folder, name your folder with the order number, then go into that folder and click on Add files... Contact us by email, chat, or phone if you would like a private account.   Ftp address: uploads.duplication.com Username and Password: << we must create an account for you, or you can use the shared account - send an email to get instructions >>   Tips Please compress your files before sending using ZIP, RAR, or 7-ZIP. Artwork should be uploaded in a separate ZIP or RAR container from audio files.   Audio masters for Vinyl and cassette: best to send a single WAV file per side with a cue sheet. If you send separate WAV or MP3 files for each song then you have to tell us how to put it back together - how much space between each song... Here is a bunch of technical babble and warnings to inform you about good practices in data transfers (and to cover our behinds!) There is a small chance of data corruption and human error on either end of the transfer process. We'll do our best to do a good job and save you time and money by not having to send a physical master. We don't want to scare you and spend half an hour on the phone training every client how to make checksums when the probability of an error is quite low. If you take the time to send us checksums, we will take the time to verify them. We will proceed without checksums at your risk and without additional warnings to you. Using an archive format like zip, rar, or 7zip will give you most of the confidence of using checksums. Our upload server has protections to ensure content is received correctly and is not truncated. The FTP software will append ".uploading" to the filename until your end completes the transfer. 99.9% of the time everything is fine, but be aware there could be errors in the transfer. If your computer has a faulty RAM chip your data could be corrupted. If transferring a WAV file the audible impact of a single bit error could be nil, but for data transfers a bad bit may affect or halt the operation of your program. Therefore it is customary for technicians, engineers, and software developers to include a checksum with their files. By using a checksum the receiver can be 100% positive the content is received correctly. For example when a DDP is generated, the mastering software should also generate a checksum that can be verified by the receiver. DDP File Sets DDP file sets should be accompanied by checksums. ISO images You should supply a checksum or enclose your ISO within an archive. We will write your ISO image to disc using the default options of the ImgBurn program. We will confirm the disc opens on a Windows 10 workstation. We cannot know if an ISO is truncated. WAV and AIFF files Enclose your files within an archive or supply checksums. VIDEO_TS and BDMV folders You can supply these DVD and Blu-ray folders and we will make a master disc from them. You need to supply a volume label, otherwise we will just use a generic volume label like DVD or Blu-ray. You should supply checksums of the files or store the content within an archive format. Files and Folders We can work with your raw files and folders. Be aware that file systems may have limitations that will cause links in your documents or programs to fail. Long folder and filename paths may not work, and non-English characters may not be recognized the same way on different operating systems and in various software applications. Compressed content MP3, JPEG, MPG, & PDF formats are already compressed and you will probably not save any space by trying to recompress them using a zip archiver. When archiving these formats use the store option instead of the compress option to save time. If you are engaged in regular data transfers and master preparation you definitely want to run a memory testing program every month or two, or use ECC RAM which does error checking.   Include "Made in Canada" on your art (or "Printed in Canada" if you are only doing printed covers). You are contracting us to manufacture or print records, tapes, CDs, or books. You should know as a publisher that most items are required to have the country of manufacture or country of printing marked on the product when shipped into some countries (USA and Canada require it, appears the UK does not). You could try to argue that cassettes are not a commercial product for retail sale, but 1000 CDs or 500 vinyl records should absolutely have the country of origin marking. If you don't put the country of origin, your product could be stopped at the border and you would be responsible for all transport and labelling expenses to apply labels to the product. The country of origin is required not only when we ship to you, it is also required when you ship to distributors, and especially if you try to cross a border with the product in your vehicle. The country of origin marking should be close to your copyright or address line, and in a similar typeface and size. We won't refuse your order if you don't want to put the marking on your product - it is your responsibility as the publisher to know what is required. Do your own research for "country of origin markings" or contact your customs broker or customs office for advice.Tip: Some people put the barcode and the country of origin on a removable sticker which is applied under the shrinkwrap. CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, USB Content Verification Any additional verification such as cross-platform operation (Mac/Windows/Linux), running executable programs, and verifying DVD or Blu-ray menu navigation is available at additional cost. General info about ftp.