Mastering Formats

PMCD and CDR Masters
DDP files and Exabyte DDP
Manufactured CDs
PCM-1630
Special DAT Formats

Using a professional CD mastering format will help insure that your sound is not changed during its manufacturing process.

Some large CD service bureaus give discounts to customers who provide a master in a professional CD mastering format.

PMCD
The pre-master CD (PMCD) was originally developed jointly by Sonic Solutions and Sony. A true PMCD contains the PQ code burst in the leadout area and is made on Sonic Solutions DAW using a Sony CDW-900E CD recorder; the term is often misused.

The PMCD has the advantage of being easily played on an ordinary CD player before glass mastering. Some pressing plants and CD service bureaus require PMCDs and other disk-at-once CDRs to be accompanied by a hard copy printout of the PQ code information in order to document its authenticity. It's also important to submit a CD error report with PMCDs and CDR masters.

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DDP and Exabyte DDP (obsolete)
DDP stands for Disc Description Protocol and is a registered trademark of Doug Carson & Associates, Inc. DDP files may be delivered over the Internet, or physically on CD-ROM or DVD-ROM media (varies by plant). Consult with your pressing plant or CD service bureau before submitting DDP files. Exabyte DDP is an 8mm data tape format containing DDP files, and it is now obsolete.

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Manufactured CDs
CD pressing plants accept manufactured CDs received in good condition as masters.

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PCM-1630 (obsolete)
There is a PQ code burst before audio begins in the PCM-1630 format. Some consider the format somewhat fragile, since the U-matic machine (which contains the data in video format) requires expert maintenance and precise alignment. A similar tape format was promoted by JVC but never gained widespread acceptance. Both formats are obsolete, but some plants may still accept the the 1630 format.

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Special DAT Formats (obsolete)
Historically, there were two special DAT formats which were accepted at certain CD pressing plants: 1) a DAT striped with SMPTE 30hz ndf time code with frame accurate ID codes and frame accurate delivery sheet, and 2) a similar DAT, but with the addition of a PQ data burst during audio lead in (accepted only at some European CD pressing plants). Both formats are now obsolete.

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