hey tom breed and other people who make albums

John Coffee · 07-30-2012, 11:22 AM

my band is getting ready to release our first full length and it has kinda been left up to me to figure out how were going to package and print the cd. i've never done anything like this so i'll take any advice you guys have. i just want the cheapest method possible that doesn't look like shit. i'm not totally against going the diy route as long as it still looks sharp.

right now i'm thinking custom stamp of the band name on plain white for the cd, but i'm completely lost with packaging.

oh and i should probably mention, my friend is doing the artwork which includes the front, back, and a one page insert.

free cd for anyone who can offer GOOD advice from personal experience.

Breed · 07-30-2012, 03:04 PM

www.kunaki.com

VERY cheap, easy to use, and good quality for the money. I think its like, $1.25 per CD. You get a one page cover/inset, CDs printed with art, and the back and sides of the CD case as well.

It's what I use every time I do a physical release, and I haven't found anything close to it. Most places you need to make orders of like 100 units and it's super expensive, but these are made to order, you can upload your project once, and then order more units as you want. Very convenient. I think it stays up for like 180 days without an order too.

Breed · 07-30-2012, 03:33 PM

also www.cdbaby.com is the standard for getting your tunes on iTunes, Napster, etc. I think it's like, 50 bux a year? Personally I don't get many iTunes sales (I didn't even put my last Drivemouth album on there) but it's definitely a good idea to put your music in as many places as possible, especially if it's produced well and something people would want to pay money for.

Breed · 07-30-2012, 03:33 PM

I'LL BE TAKING THAT CD NOW

John Coffee · 07-30-2012, 07:55 PM

wow! kunaki seems too good to be true. most companies charge nearly that much just for duplication and printing. only red flag i see is that all of their samples look like stuff you'd find in the discount bin at dollar general, but i suppose that's an issue with graphic design not the packaging itself.

i thought you had cool artwork for your album. does it look good in person? like not dollar store-y?

also, no one else reply to this thread. i only meant to give one cd away.

Breed · 07-31-2012, 08:09 PM

The art looks great in person, especially on the CDs. A lot of that has to do with the artist obviously, but it looks great in print, definitely, and it's definitely worth the money. They give you a free sample for your first (and only first) upload, so DEFINITELY try it out.

The only bad thing in my opinion is that the cover art is on a one-page inset, so it's just the cover art and the art behind it.. I would have liked a 4 page or even more, or even the option, but yeah it's one page two sides, totally worth the money (a little over ONE DOLLAR per CD not including shipping) and it's made to order, DEFINITELY perfect for small bands like yourself.

Don't go springing on the high end stuff until you are selling tickets and can't stop selling albums btw. Big mistake I made in high school.. ;p

James Burgon · 08-01-2012, 10:52 PM

i used www.tunecore.com for my hip hop ep years back
That put it on itunes etc and all that for a small fee.

Slime · 08-01-2012, 11:13 PM

how much have you guys made selling your music online
if thats a personal question dont answer thats fine

James Burgon · 08-01-2012, 11:45 PM

I made like £80, mostly from Japan sales.
I only put it up for a year then let it diminish, look forward to having something decent to put up though.

Breed · 08-02-2012, 12:12 AM

Since Drivemouth I've made a few hundred bucks. Totally nothing noteworthy in the long run. But at least people are supporting the cause :3

John Coffee · 08-10-2012, 08:39 AM

Thanks for the advice, you guys. our artist went ahead and hand made the first 50 cd jackets and they look pretty dope. breed, do you still live at the same address? if not pm me your info... and anyone else who wants one i guess.

Breed · 08-10-2012, 03:06 PM

do you have my address? D:

John Coffee · 08-13-2012, 01:55 AM

i sent you the chain letter!

Breed · 08-13-2012, 02:13 AM

oh. Then I'll need to send you a new one!

07-30-2012, 11:22 AM	#1
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	hey tom breed and other people who make albums my band is getting ready to release our first full length and it has kinda been left up to me to figure out how were going to package and print the cd. i've never done anything like this so i'll take any advice you guys have. i just want the cheapest method possible that doesn't look like shit. i'm not totally against going the diy route as long as it still looks sharp. right now i'm thinking custom stamp of the band name on plain white for the cd, but i'm completely lost with packaging. oh and i should probably mention, my friend is doing the artwork which includes the front, back, and a one page insert. free cd for anyone who can offer GOOD advice from personal experience.

07-30-2012, 03:04 PM	#2
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	www.kunaki.com VERY cheap, easy to use, and good quality for the money. I think its like, $1.25 per CD. You get a one page cover/inset, CDs printed with art, and the back and sides of the CD case as well. It's what I use every time I do a physical release, and I haven't found anything close to it. Most places you need to make orders of like 100 units and it's super expensive, but these are made to order, you can upload your project once, and then order more units as you want. Very convenient. I think it stays up for like 180 days without an order too.
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768

07-30-2012, 03:33 PM	#3
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	also www.cdbaby.com is the standard for getting your tunes on iTunes, Napster, etc. I think it's like, 50 bux a year? Personally I don't get many iTunes sales (I didn't even put my last Drivemouth album on there) but it's definitely a good idea to put your music in as many places as possible, especially if it's produced well and something people would want to pay money for.
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768

07-30-2012, 03:33 PM	#4
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	I'LL BE TAKING THAT CD NOW
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768

07-31-2012, 08:09 PM	#6
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	The art looks great in person, especially on the CDs. A lot of that has to do with the artist obviously, but it looks great in print, definitely, and it's definitely worth the money. They give you a free sample for your first (and only first) upload, so DEFINITELY try it out. The only bad thing in my opinion is that the cover art is on a one-page inset, so it's just the cover art and the art behind it.. I would have liked a 4 page or even more, or even the option, but yeah it's one page two sides, totally worth the money (a little over ONE DOLLAR per CD not including shipping) and it's made to order, DEFINITELY perfect for small bands like yourself. Don't go springing on the high end stuff until you are selling tickets and can't stop selling albums btw. Big mistake I made in high school.. ;p
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768

07-30-2012, 07:55 PM	#5
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	wow! kunaki seems too good to be true. most companies charge nearly that much just for duplication and printing. only red flag i see is that all of their samples look like stuff you'd find in the discount bin at dollar general, but i suppose that's an issue with graphic design not the packaging itself. i thought you had cool artwork for your album. does it look good in person? like not dollar store-y? also, no one else reply to this thread. i only meant to give one cd away.

08-01-2012, 10:52 PM	#7
James Burgon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 8,689	i used www.tunecore.com for my hip hop ep years back That put it on itunes etc and all that for a small fee.

08-01-2012, 11:13 PM	#8
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891	how much have you guys made selling your music online if thats a personal question dont answer thats fine
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891

08-01-2012, 11:45 PM	#9
James Burgon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 8,689	I made like £80, mostly from Japan sales. I only put it up for a year then let it diminish, look forward to having something decent to put up though.

08-02-2012, 12:12 AM	#10
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	Since Drivemouth I've made a few hundred bucks. Totally nothing noteworthy in the long run. But at least people are supporting the cause :3
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768

08-10-2012, 08:39 AM	#11
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	Thanks for the advice, you guys. our artist went ahead and hand made the first 50 cd jackets and they look pretty dope. breed, do you still live at the same address? if not pm me your info... and anyone else who wants one i guess.

08-10-2012, 03:06 PM	#12
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	do you have my address? D:
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768

08-13-2012, 01:55 AM	#13
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	i sent you the chain letter!

08-13-2012, 02:13 AM	#14
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768	oh. Then I'll need to send you a new one!
Breed Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7,768