FAQs

You have questions, we have answers

General FAQs

Simply order online 24/7 by clicking on any product, select your options and click Add to Cart - just like any other online store. Once you're done click Checkout.

During checkout select your payment method: Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, Interac e-Transfer or Start Now - Pay Later. (What's Start Now - Pay Later? - See next question below)

 As soon as your checkout is complete you will receive an order confirmation email with your order number and a link to the upload page.

Now you can upload your files to complete your order.

Once we have your artwork files we will setup the artwork and send you PDF proofs via email for approval before we start production.

Once you place an order, you'll receive an email with your order number and an upload link. From
there you can upload your content and artwork. We have a HUGE 20GB transfer limit which is more than enough to handle any project. We can also accept the content and artwork all in the same transfer!

Here is the upload link: https://trainrecords.wetransfer.com/

 Note: At any time you can also upload the files to us using the Upload button, it's under the "Resources" tab on the main navigation menu at the very top of all our website pages.

This depends on what you ordered and the complexity of your package. 

Standard production times are as follows:

 •CDs  7-10 Business Days (2 Weeks)

•DVDs  7-10 Business Days (2 Weeks)

•USBs  10-12 Business Days (Just under 3 Weeks)

•Vinyl  30-34 Weeks

If you need your project completed quickly, we offer several RUSH options, the different Production Time options are available on each of the product pages. If you're concerned about hitting a particular date or if you're just a little unsure about the timing, give us a call 416.446.0918 or email sales@trainrec.com.

Replicated discs (often referred to as pressed discs) are created by melting down the plastics and physically pressing your data into the surface of the disc. 

Duplicated discs (often referred to as burned discs) encode your data onto the disc using a laser to burn microscopic holes into the dye layer of a recordable CDR or DVDR, just like your CD/DVD burner in your computer.

Replicated discs are the standard for major commercial releases and a requirement for any commercial retailer selling CDs or DVDs. Replicated discs are all and all a better product, they only suffer from 2 drawbacks:

 1. Replicated discs have a higher setup costs, because of this we only start replication on orders of 250+.

 2. The process for replicated discs takes longer.

Duplicated discs have lots of advantages, too. They don't carry the high setup costs, which makes them a great solution for short runs of 1-249 discs.

They also offer really fast turn around times. We've produced orders of up to 30,000 CDs in 24 hours by duplicating them.

Yes, if you plan to sell your product in stores, you’ll need a barcode. The cost to purchase a barcode from us is $25.00 CAD.

With our "Start Now - Pay Later" option on checkout, yes you can!

Start Now - Pay Later, allows you to place your order on our website before making a payment. Once your order is placed, you'll get an order number and upload link sent to your email. Send us your files and we'll setup your artwork and email you the PDF proofs for approval.

Once we have your approval we will email you an invoice with a simple payment button that allows you to pay using Visa, MasterCard, American Express or PayPal.

Please note, we do require payment in full to move into production.

The only extra costs are shipping and taxes. We've done our best to keep the pricing simple for you. All the packages on our website are comprehensive, meaning they include everything you need to get the project done. All our products offer a complete list of what's included on their product page. 

Please note: There are extras that can be added on at an additional charge, such as graphic assistance, physical hardcopy proofs, test presses, barcodes and more. If you're still unsure about what you're getting give us a call 416.446.0918 or email us; info@trainrec.com.

 

Shipping times will depend on your location and the service you selected on Checkout. Different shipping companies offer different delivery times, shipping can take as little as 6 hours or as long as 2 weeks. Our preferred shipping company is Federal Express.

Contact your Product Specialist 1(877) 237-2432 to get an accurate quote for shipping. For orders of over 3,000 pieces, shipment by truck often offers the best value in terms of time and cost. Just ask your Product Specialist and we’ll help you find a shipping solution that suits your needs.

We've been in business since 1999!

Actually our roots start even before then but we opened our doors to the general public and started replicating CDs officially in 1999. Before that we were an independent music label with manufacturing capabilities. At that time we pressed CDs solely for our own catalogue.

We offer both prices online.

By default our website lists prices in Canadian dollars (CAD). However this can easily be changed to US dollars (USD) by selecting your currency from the Currency Selector on every page of our website.

The great thing about being in the USA is that when we ship from Canada, you don't have to pay sales tax!

That's right, the price you see online is the price you pay (including whatever shipping option you've selected).

Yes. All of our work on your project is done in-house to the most exacting standards in the industry. We guarantee that each disc will be an exact copy of the original. At our discretion, we will either replace or refund you the cost of any discs that do not match the master you provided perfectly.

We are open during COVID-19 ensuring your CDs, USBs, and Vinyl Records get made, however, we are unable to accommodate client walk-ins or pickups. 

Your project can be shipped to an address of your choosing. Thank you for your support and understanding!

1) Failure to remove template guide lines or guidelines are merged with the artwork. Before you send in your job, make sure you’ve removed all the templates lines.

2) Artwork Image resolution is too low (less than 300 dpi) or supplied in RGB instead of CMYK.

3) Insufficient bleed or safety margins on part or all of the artwork.

4) Failure to number or name the WAV files.

5) Failure to supply artwork on the Train Records templates.

Please note: In all the cases above, this results in a delay to your project, and in many cases it may result in additional charges for us to fix things.

When you’re ready to submit your job to Train Records, make sure that you’re including all of the following items:

• Artwork files for each part of the job (insert, tray card, on-disc printing, etc.)

• The DDP or all the WAV files, ensuring the file names have been numbered correctly.

• Any special instructions you may have.

Double check the artwork files are saved as PSD or PDF, are at least 300 DPI resolution, CMYK and most importantly that the template layer is NOT merged or ensure it's removed completely from the files.

Double check you are sending us the correct version of the songs if you have multiple versions.

Do a final proofread of all your text and layouts to make sure everything is accurate and complete.

CD FAQs

The easiest way to upload your music to us is to use the following link:

https://trainrecords.wetransfer.com/

Alternatively, we can accept files from Dropbox and Google drive, just send an email to art@trainrec.com with the links and your order number.

For Audio Masters our preference is to get:

1. DDP Image, if you don't know what a DDP is or you are unable to obtain it, WAV files will work fine too.

2. WAV Files, please remember to number the WAV files so we know what order to put them in. 

For example:

01 Song name.wav

02 Song name.wav

We will also need to know the Track Artist and Album Title for us to properly enter the CD text. 

Once this is all done, send us the files electronically via: https://trainrecords.wetransfer.com/

Please note: We can accept additional file formats such as MP3s but we don't recommend it because generally, the sound quality will be lower. The quality of audio on your discs will only be as good as the original files provided.

By default we DO NOT ADD any time in between the songs. The songs will flow seamlessly from one track into another.

Our recommendation, if you want a certain amount of silence between the songs, is that you build that silence into the end or beginning of the actual WAV files.

If you want to specifically add a couple of seconds of silence in between the songs, we can add this after the fact but the timer on the CD player will show a negative countdown as it starts into the next track.

Did you know that the song information you see on the computer isn't actually contained on the CD?

When album information is displayed on a computer, it is a result of your CD being registered with the Gracenote or AllMusic databases. The Gracenote database provides album information to the following media players: iTunes, WinAmp, Quintessential Media Player, and Finder (Mac OS).  The AllMusic database provides album information to the following media players: Windows Media Player, Rhapsody, and Real Music Player.

You can register your album by following these steps:

Gracenote Registration - Register using iTunes 12 Click Here

AllMusic Registration - https://www.allmusic.com/product-submissions.

A similar but different technology is CD-Text, which shows the album information that is actually encoded on your disc. CD-Text will only display on players that support it. The most common CD-Text capable players available today are aftermarket car stereos.

*Remember CD-Text is not what gets displayed on your computer, read the other FAQ above for further explanation*

We add the CD-Text as part of every order if you are sending us WAV files. We use the file name as the song name, and then if you haven't sent it to us we will ask for the Track Artist and Album title. Once the audio is setup we will take a screenshot and send it to you by email for final approval.

About using samples and other third-party material: If your project contains any material owned by a third-party, we cannot begin replication unless you send in a copy of the proper licensing.

If your master contains any form of sampling you are required to purchase Master Use Licensing and include proof-of-purchase with your project. Sampling a portion of another artist's work, regardless of the length, from TV, YouTube, movies, commercials or music and video clips of any kind, requires Licensing. The owner will generally request information about the number of discs you are making and the countries where you intend to distribute, and will often charge you a fee.

To obtain licensing in Canada contact the CMRRA:

https://www.cmrra.ca/

To obtain licensing in the US you can use a comprehensive service called Easy Song, found here: https://www.easysong.com/

In all cases, whether this is your own music or music licensed by someone else, we do require that you fill out a replication rights form. As part of our ordering process, after you’ve placed an order, you will receive a form from Hellosign via email. This form can easily be completed and signed online.

Yes, you need to get a mechanical license authorizing you to reproduce their composition. You will have to get a separate license for each song and each format configuration (CD, digital download, vinyl record). 

To obtain licensing in Canada contact the CMRRA: https://www.cmrra.ca/

To obtain licensing in the US you can use a comprehensive service called Easy Song, found here: https://www.easysong.com/

In all cases, whether this is your own music or music licensed by someone else, we do require that you fill out a replication rights form. As part of our ordering process, after you’ve placed an order, you will receive a form from Hellosign via email. This form can easily be completed and signed online.

The ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is the international identification system for sound recordings and music video recordings. Each ISRC is a unique and permanent identifier for a specific recording, independent of the format on which it appears (CD, audio file, etc) or the rights holders involved. Only one ISRC should be issued to a track, and an ISRC can never represent more than one unique recording.

ISRCs are used in digital commerce by download sites and collecting societies. An ISRC can also be permanently encoded into a product as its digital fingerprint. Encoded ISRC provide the means to automatically identify recordings for royalty payments.

For more information on how to register for an ISRC code in Canada visit: https://connectmusic.ca/isrc/apply/

For more information on how to register for an ISRC code in the USA visit: https://www.usisrc.org

For additional information check out our full blog article by clicking here>

An ISRC code (International Standard Recording Code) is not required to be encoded on your CD, but if you provide us with the code we can add it into the specific CD-Text field on the CD for you.

Yes, if you want us to embed ISRC codes onto the DDP for you we can do it.

Please note: We will need to add a small charge for audio engineering to your quote to accomplish this.

Although it's not our preference, yes, we can accept physical master CDs. 

Please mail the master to:

Train Records

5250 Satellite Dr. Unit 3

Mississauga, Ont. 

L4W 5G

Please note that mailing the CD will add several days to the production process, this does not take into consideration the additional time it takes to ship the disc to us.

The maximum length for CDs is 79:45 minutes.

A release/catalogue number is a short alphanumeric code used by distributors and record companies to identify, track, and catalog specific recordings. It's usually found on the spine of a CD or at the back tucked away in the fine print.

Unless you have multiple titles you may not need to create a catalogue number. However, you can always make one up to make you look bigger than you are!

For example, Train Records first release would be TR-001.

Yes, anyone can send your audio and(or) artwork using the following link:

https://trainrecords.wetransfer.com/

Please make sure they include, your order number and your name so we can match the files to your order.

Disc Description Protocol or DDP as it's commonly referred to, is the industry standard and preferred format for CD replication. It's typically prepared by a professional mastering engineer using specialized software.

The “file set” typically consists of 4-5 files that contain the audio, track ID information, and optionally CD-Text information. The DDP format is well suited for electronic delivery as it can be easily uploaded through our website and delivered directly to the plant. There is no loss of quality when using this format which makes it ideal.

CD Quality is 44.1kHz and 16-bit.

Artwork FAQs

The templates have been designed to ensure that your job will move quickly and smoothly throughout our print and packaging departments. Differences as little as 0.1 cm can cause problems in printing and packaging.

Any file that is not provided on our templates may incur a $50 out-of-template fee to cover our labor for adjusting your files.

Click here to see the difference between a CD with a white mask and without.

The white mask refers to the base we print on the CD. All CDs start silver, we then either print the image directly on the silver surface or we add a white mask (also known as white flood) to make a base. After the white mask is applied we print the colour on top. Having a white mask will be more true to what you see on the screen.

Think of it as being similar to printing on white paper, as opposed to printing on the silver surface of the CD, which would be like printing on grey paper.

No. A jewel case or DVD case from Train Records may look the same as every other at first glance, but each company has slightly different dimensions. Even a slight deviation from Train Records specification's can cause problems in the printing and packaging process.

We can accept anything that is Adobe Photoshop compatible.

Please ensure that the final file is at least 300 dpi and in CMYK.

Also ensure that you keep the template as a separate layer, DO NOT FLATTEN THE TEMPLATE INTO THE ARTWORK.

Here is a list of file formats we can accept: Adobe Photoshop (.psd), Adobe (.pdf), JPEG (.jpg)

Fonts: If you do not flatten the image and would like vector based fonts please include the TrueType fonts. For PC, each TrueType font will be a single .ttf file.

The templates that you've downloaded have been designed to open in Adobe Photoshop and other widely accepted graphic design programs.

You'll need to open the template files and start importing existing artwork or creating the art right in the template. Doing this will ensure that everything will line up right from the start.

Please note: Once you've open the template at 300 dpi and in CMYK, do not make any changes to the template itself. Doing so could mean we have to reformat your work, and there may be additional graphic charges.

The templates on our website are organized according to product and include illustrations to help you determine which templates you need.

You can find the templates by clicking here>

Don't forget, you'll also need a template for printing on the disc itself.

We have placed type safety boxes, crop lines (cut lines), bleed lines, and other items in the templates to help prepare your job for printing.

Bleed line: Extend the background image or colour all the way to this red line.

Crop Line: This is the line where the actual cut of the paper occurs.

Type Safety: Keep any part of the image and all text inside this green type safety line, otherwise it may get cut if come shifting occurs.

Do not delete or move these elements. Guides and overlays are on non-printing layers that can be turned off or sent to the back if they interfere with your design work. Consult your application’s help file for information on adjusting layers. If you alter the template layer, we will have to reformat your job onto the original templates, and you may be billed for this work.

If your project is going to have a barcode on it (recommended for retail sales, additional 25$ charge), we suggest designating a location.

Typically a barcode is placed on the tray card, or the back cover of your DVD case, digipak, sleeve, etc...

Simply place a white rectangle in your design that measures at least 1.25" wide by .5" high and we'll do the rest!

Generally, for your paper print you can go as small as 5 points for black type on a light or white background, 6 points for white type on a dark, black, or complex background (also known as reverse type). This varies depending on the typeface used.

For on-disc printing, we recommend type be no smaller than 6 points, 8 points for reverse type. For smaller type, such as lyrics and credits, we recommend you use simpler typefaces such as Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman.

Display faces—the “fancier” fonts with lots of detail, like Vivaldi or Edwardian Script—are
designed to be used at large sizes, and can be difficult to read even at 10 points.

CMYK and RGB are two different color models, and understanding the difference can mean producing a great-looking insert rather than a muddy, disappointing one.

We’ll have to delve into a little science to explain this difference. The RGB color model is used by monitors, televisions, scanners, and digital cameras. A monitor uses very small bands of red, green, and blue light to generate colors and white.

By contrast, the paper of a magazine, catalog, or CD booklet can’t generate background light like a computer monitor. It has to rely on reflected light and is reliant on the CMYK color model to make up the colors in the image.

All commercial, full-color printers uses CMYK inks. So why is the difference important? Most colors created on your RGB monitor can be duplicated using CMYK inks, but not all. Your RGB monitor is generating light, so it can create some bright colors that can’t be duplicated on any CMYK printing press. Paper can only reflect light, so if you print the super-bright RGB colors in CMYK, they get a lot duller and darker.

If you’re designing artwork RGB, we’ll have to convert it to CMYK to print. Depending on your artwork, the colors might shift a little or a lot. We ask you to provide all your images to us in CMYK. If there are any color shifts, you’ll be able to see them and take steps to correct it before sending us the files.

If you supply RGB images, we’ll make the CMYK conversion here, and show you a proof. If you want to make any changes to your images at that point, your job may be delayed and incur additional charges. It’s much better for you to supply us with CMYK files up front.

Process color uses translucent CMYK inks laid on top of one another to fool your eye into seeing other colors.

A spot color ink is a specially-mixed hue that is not made by combining two or more inks, but rather is a single ink of a specific color. Spot colors can be brighter or more saturated than process colors, or have special properties, such as metallic gold or fluorescent green.

Train Records uses process colors in printing packaging, and either CMYK or spot colors when printing on-disc. Spot colors are available for print package printing for an additional fee.

All packaging is printed in process (CMYK) color, while standard on-disc printing is done with spot (PMS) inks.

While many spot inks and their process equivalents look similar, some colors—blue and orange in particular—look very different. In general, the spot inks used on the disc are brighter and more saturated than their CMYK equivalents.

If matching the disc to the rest of the package is important to you, you should design with a Pantone solid-to-process guide handy. That guide will show you which PMS spot colors have close process equivalents. If you upgrade to four-color offset printing on your disc, you will greatly increase the chances of your disc matching the rest of your packaging. Since the packaging will be printed using offset lithography, which is a different process than the silkscreen or offset printing used on the discs, we still won’t be able to provide you with an exact match.

You should note however that our years of experience in the trade have made us very effective at providing a very close match.

Discs are printed with a different process than the rest of the packaging. Booklets, digipaks, and jackets are printed
with process (CMYK) inks, using a high-quality process called offset printing. Discs are printed with spot colors, and are silkscreened. There are a couple of key differences to keep in mind:

• The tonal range that we can hold while silkscreening the discs is 15-85%. Tones lighter than 15% may blow out to zero, and those darker than 85% may fill in completely. As a result, we do not recommend using very dark or very light photos on the disc.

• High-contrast images work best. Subtle changes in tone can be lost in the silkscreening process.

• Gradients or blends do not print well, and can look uneven or blotchy. We strongly recommend avoiding gradients or blends on the disc.

 No. While inexpensive, ink-jet printers use same CMYK ink model that our printing presses use, the actual inks are not identical. If you printed your design on an HP inkjet or a Canon color laser printer for example, they would all look at least a little different, because each company manufactures their inks a little differently. Since your printer and our press are not calibrated to each other, we cannot accept your printout as an accurate color guide. We will send you a Adobe pdf proof and if colour matching is critical you can request and Epson high-quality proof of your job
for you to approve before it goes to press. This proof will be a reliable indicator of final print quality and colours but carries a charge of 80$ per proof.

You don’t need to make your image round to fit on the disc. All the templates come with a circular area for masking any rectangular image. Each application handles this differently, so consult your software’s help file for information on masking your images into the template.

Bleed is extending any color, photo, or design elements past the cut line.

Our print shop trims printed pieces in stacks of hundreds of sheets at a time. This is much faster than trimming individual pieces, at the cost of a little accuracy. Bleed gives the print shop a margin of error when trimming, so that if the cut is a little off, the white of the paper won’t show along the edge.

We request you add at least 1/8-inch of bleed to your layouts. Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much bleed you need to add to your layouts. These are generally the outermost red guide lines.

Type safety margins are the opposite of bleed. If you put important information such as a song title or an important part of a photo right up against the crop line, some of it may get cut off.

We recommend that you keep your type and other important elements 1/8" inside the crop marks. Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much safety margin to allow. These are generally the innermost guides.