The content uploader can be launched from the "Add Disc Content" step of the project assembler or from the My Content section of your account. It will launch in a new window, be aware that some browsers may block pop-up windows and prevent the content uploader from launching. If this is the case, you will need to allow pop-ups.

If you are uploading an Audio album, be sure the "Audio Upload" tab is selected in the uploader. Likewise, if you are uploading a Data album, be sure the "Data Upload" tab is selected.

Currently, all DVD projects require a master to be mailed in.

Once uploaded, an album may be added to a project. Uploading an album only adds that album to your library, before placing an order you must add the content to your project. You can also reuse the same content in a different project, in the case of revised artwork, for example.

The content uploader is designed to run on computers running Windows, Mac OS, as well as Linux. The content uploader is a Java applet. If your browser does not have the Java plug-in installed, the upload tool will ask permission to install the required plug-in - a free download from Sun Microsystems. We recommend using a computer with at least 256 MB RAM and 1 GB of free hard drive space.

The time required to upload an album depends on several factors including the size of your album, the speed of your internet connection and your computer's processor and available memory.

*Audio CDs requiring CD-Text, Data CDs requiring Mac OS native file systems, multi-session CDs, and hybrid CDs are not currently supported for uploaded content. You must mail in your master for production.

Audio File Requirements

The content uploader accepts either .WAV or .MP3 files. .WAV files should be saved as 44.1 kHz, 16 bit, stereo files. .MP3 files should be encoded between 128 and 320 kbps with non-variable compression (VBR off). Audio files with other settings will result in order delays. .WAV files are recommended for the best audio quality.

*CD-Text is not currently supported for uploaded content. If you require CD-Text you must mail in your master for production.

Uploading an Audio Album

Make sure you have the "Audio Upload" tab selected and start out by giving the album a name. Click "Add Track" to start adding your audio files, you can select all your files at once at a time by holding down the shift key and selecting the first and last files in the list. Once you have the files added, you can use the up and down arrow buttons to sequence the tracks in the order you want as well as the "Delete" button to remove tracks that you've added. You may additionally change the names of your tracks in the uploader before clicking "Upload Now".

Addition or deletion of a track from an album, re-sequencing tracks, or renaming tracks or albums is not possible once an album has been uploaded. If you change anything, you will need to re-upload the album with those adjustments.

The size of an audio album may not exceed 79 minutes of listening time. Files in an audio album must all be of the same type, they must all be .WAV files or all be .MP3 files.

Uploaded audio albums used in projects will create a (Redbook) standard Audio CD, playable on nearly all Audio CD players as well as computer based media players like iTunes, Windows Media Player, Winamp, etc.

An audio album may include only audio files, data files cannot be included in the album. You must mail in your master for Enhanced CDs (CD-Extra / CD-Plus), do not use the content uploader for your project.

Uploaded content is not altered in any way, the audio quality provided will be the audio quality of your final product. Any static, clicks, pops, skips, etc. in the original files will be faithfully reproduced. By providing us with content, you are responsible for the quality.

*CD-Text is not currently supported for uploaded content. If you require CD-Text you must mail in your master for production.

Previewing Uploaded Tracks

Low-resolution previews are made available for you to quickly listen to your uploaded audio content. Previews are created at 64 kbps and do not reflect the quality of your original uploaded tracks.

Previews are available in the My Content section of your account as well as the "Add Disc Content" step of assembling your project. They may take as long as an hour to generate and not available for listening immediately after uploading. This does not represent an immediate problem with your content.

Displaying Artist and Track Information on Computers / CD Players

There are two different ways this is accomplished.

Gracenote / CDDB: You can submit your CD to an online database of CD artist, album, and track information. Some applications / programs, such as iTunes, will download and display this information upon disc recognition. It is not uncommon for there to be multiple artist / album matches for a CD. The information displayed will be incorrect until it is submitted to Gracenote.

Visit www.gracenote.com for more information.

CD-Text: CD-Text allows capable players to display artist and track information without being connected to the internet. CDs can be authored using the CD-Text options in applications / programs such as Toast or Nero. The content uploader does not currently support CD-Text. If you do require it, you will need to mail in your master, be sure to note on the master that it contains CD-Text.

Gapless Playback (Continuous Mix CDs)

If you are uploading your content, we neither add or remove space between tracks. Any space / silence between tracks is a result of the supplied audio file, even if it's just a microsecond. Gaps may appear between tracks depending on how the files are created, oftentimes when CDs are "ripped" a space may be introduced at the start or end the resulting file. Alternatively, If you wish to add gaps or silence of any specific length between your tracks, you must insert the desired space / silence to the end of the file after the track ends. You cannot use the content uploader to add or remove gaps between tracks. If you are concerned that your audio files are not set up properly, we recommend that you author a master CD, test it thoroughly, and mail in your master.

Uploading a Data Album

We advise you to compile a test disc and test it thoroughly, you should be comfortable that the file structure performs exactly as you expect it to before uploading your data.

Make sure you have the "Data Upload" tab selected and start out by giving the album a name. Click "Add File" or "Add Folder" to add your data files and folders. Use the "Clear Selected" button to remove content if you need to. You may add any file type you can view on your own computer, files could include Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Powerpoint presentations and PDFs to name a few. You may additionally change the names of your files and folders in the uploader before clicking "Upload Now".

File names must be unique; the same file name cannot be used in multiple sub-directories. If you must copy the same file to more than one directory you must rename it before uploading. If you must have multiple copies with identical names, you must mail in your master.

Do not use special characters within the naming of data files such as slashes ( / , \ ) apostrophes ( ‘ ), !, @, #, $, %, etc. Use of underscores ( _ ) and dashes ( - ) is acceptable.

Addition, deletion or renaming of files and folders from an album is not possible once an album has been uploaded. If you need to change anything, you will need to re-upload the album with those adjustments.

The size of a data album may not exceed 700 MB, there is no limit to the number of files or folders that may be included on an album.

Data albums uploaded using the content uploader will create an ISO9660 (Yellow Book) CD. Data CDs of this type are Windows OS native, and are also readable on MacOS and Linux computers. If you require a special format (Hybrid, multi-session, V-CD, MacOS native) you must mail in your master, do not use the content uploader for your project.

Uploaded content is not altered in any way, if files are corrupt or placed in the wrong location in your data album, these conditions will be faithfully reproduced when your CD is produced. Customers are held responsible for the accuracy of their uploaded content.

Verifying Uploaded Data

Your album's detailed structure is made available for you to view quickly in the My Content section of your account as well as the "Add Disc Content" step of assembling your project.

Specifying a Volume Label / Disc Name

A volume label is the name a data disc displays when inserted in your computer. On Windows PCs, volume names are visible via My Computer. On Macs, they are visible on the desktop. The content uploader does not allow users to assign volume label. If you require a volume label, you must mail in your master.

Autorun Data CDs

For Windows OS CDs, you may use the content uploader to add autorun files. The autorun file must be at the root level in the directory, ensure that the files are in the proper location and contain the correct syntax prior to uploading the files and saving your data album. It is recommended that you create a physical CD and test it on other computers to ensure that autorun functions as expected.

Including Hidden Files

Currently, all DVD projects with content require a master to be mailed in. We recommend submitting an order before mailing in your master, please include a mail in master form along with the master to avoid processing delays.

We advise thorough testing of your mail in master, you should be comfortable that the master performs exactly as you expect it to before sending it in for production.

We also recommend submitting an order before mailing in your master, please include a mail in master form along with the master to avoid processing delays.

Mail in masters are non-returnable. Please do not send your only copy to us.

DVD-5 (4.7 GB Single Layer)

Content for DVD-5 (4.7 GB Single Layer) orders can be provided different ways depending on production method.

Duplication Orders: Your master must provided on a single layer 4.7 GB DVD-R as an authored, playable DVD for all duplication orders. Rewritable (RW) media is not accepted.

Replication Orders: Your master can be provided on a single layer 4.7 GB DVD-R as an authored, playable DVD, a DDP image or a DLT tape for replication. Rewritable (RW) media is not accepted.

DVD-9 (8.5 GB Dual Layer)

Your master can be provided on a single DVD-R DL, 2 DDP images (one for each layer) or DLT tapes for replication. Rewritable (RW) media is not accepted.

NTSC, PAL, Region encoding

Your supplied master should be authored with the desired standard and region codes. Supplied content is not altered in any way.

DVD Video / Data Quality

Supplied content is not altered in any way, the video quality provided will be the video quality of your final product. All properties of the original video or data will be faithfully reproduced. By providing us with content, you are responsible for the quality.

Be sure to thoroughly test your master, you should be comfortable that the master performs exactly as you expect it to before sending it in for production. We also recommend submitting an order before mailing in your master, please include a mail in master form along with the master to avoid processing delays.

Be sure to ship your master with ample padding/protection to ensure it arrives to our facility undamaged. Do not send your only copy to us, mail in masters are non-returnable.

Mail in masters are not displayed in your account, however they are kept on file as specified in our content retention policy. If your content has expired, you will not be allowed to place a reorder without supplying a new master.

Supplied content is not altered in any way. Audio / video quality, data files and their structure will be faithfully reproduced when your project is produced. Customers are held responsible for the quality and accuracy of their supplied content.

Audio and Data CD Formats on CD-R

Red Book: CD-DA – Digital Audio extended by CD-Text Yellow Book: CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA Orange Book: Multisession and some Hybrid Formats White Book: VCD (Video) CD-Bridge – hybrid discs, e.g. CD-Ready SVCD (Super Video) Blue Book: CD-Extra, E-CD (Enhanced), CD+ (Plus), CD+G (Plus Graphics) including CD+EG and CD+XG

DVD-5 (4.7 GB Single Layer)

Content for DVD-5 (4.7 GB Single Layer) orders can be provided different ways depending on production method.

Duplication Orders: Your master must provided as playable DVD-R for all duplication orders. Rewritable (RW) media is not accepted.

Replication Orders: Your master can be provided as a playable DVD-R, DDP image on DVD-R and a DLT tape for replication. Rewritable (RW) media is not accepted.

DVD-9 (8.5 GB Dual Layer)

Your content can be provided as a playable DVD-R DL, 2 DDP images on 2 DVD-Rs (One for each layer) and DLT tapes for both duplication and replication. Rewritable (RW) media is not accepted.

An IPR form is required for all replication orders. Contact us and we will provide the forms necessary for your project. View our IPR policy here.