Replication Vs. Duplication.

The two methods of copying CD-Rs, duplication and replication, continue to battle for supremacy. The main issue is economics, especially if applied to DVDs.

The DVD and CD share the same DNA, even though DVDs have 14 times the storage capacity of CDs. Plus, while CDs were developed mainly by Sony and Phillips, Warner Bros. has several patents on DVDs technology.

Replication boasts a higher quality in terms of printing information on the surface of a disc, however the machines are expensive and only practical for companies that need to copy a large quantity of CDs (over 1,000). However, an independent company looking to copy less than 1,000 CDs would most likely opt for the less expensive duplication process.

CD duplication is the logical choice for most small businesses, with equipment costs that can amount to less than $15,000, while replication gear typically goes for $ 500,000.

The two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are indeed different. Duplication is the term used when referring to the creation of multiple copies of CD-Rewritables, while replication is the process of stamping large quantities of CD-ROMs. CD-Ps are relatively cheap to manufacture as compared to CD-ROMs, which is the major cause of the largely divergent prices, notwithstanding the fact that the replication and duplication processes are fairly similar in nature.

While there are quality differences between duplication and replication, consumers usually do not seem to see a difference, hence the popularization of duplication. Unfortunately, this trend has led to piracy problems, since consumers can easily duplicate CDs illegally.

The same solutions and problems apply to DVD-Rs in terms of replication versus duplication although at the present time, a significantly smaller portion of the public has access to any kind of DVD copy system because of the current high prices.

The systems differ in terms of how the copies are made. Replication requires a master disc that it is used to mark the copies and it does not degrade with use. However, typically, the disc costs between US $2,000-5,000. Add that to the high cost of the replication machine and it's enough to discourage pirates.

Duplication does not require a master disc and the machinery is both less expensive and less bulky: some models can sit on one's office desk. Ultimately, the imprinting technology used in duplication is the same as the CD burners that come installed in most modern computers. The only difference here is that duplication is an automated system designed to produce mass quantities of CDs instead of just one CD to share with a friend. In addition to burning the CD, the duplication machine also prints information on the surface of a disc either via labeling or some other surface imprinting technique.