Step 1: Mastering

Once you've recorded and mixed all the tracks for your CD or cassette, you need to put them in the correct order and make sure the album sounds cohesive when the songs are played back-to-back. This is called mastering, and you can do it one of two ways:

1. You can master in the studio where you recorded. In this case, unless your studio has its own mastering equipment, you will simply be transferring your finished mix from one DAT to another, in the final order you've decided upon, with each song exactly at the volume you want it, and with an appropriate amount of space between each song (typically 3-4 seconds). You can also do a limited amount of "sweetening" (changing EQ and reverb settings on individual songs) in the studio at this point, although it's more awkward to do this here than it would be in a mastering house.

2. You can master in a bona fide mastering house, where you will enjoy many more creative possibilities. Mastering-house equipment allows you to edit your performance on a computer system. (For example: you can replace a poorly-sung chorus with a chorus borrowed from elsewhere in the song almost as easily as you "cut and paste" on a word processor.) It also allows you to add effects like cross-fades from one song to another, and more. But perhaps the most important advantages of going to a real mastering facility are the following: 1) employing a fresh set of professional ears (the mastering engineer) during this last opportunity to tweak the sound of your recording, and 2) the chance to hear your songs on a fresh set of studio monitors (speakers), so you can hear how the mixes sound in a new environment.

When you order an Oasis catalog, you'll receive an Engineer's Checklist/Log Sheet for proper preparation of the master. After your recording is mastered, LISTEN TO YOUR MASTER -- every single second of it -- before sending it off. (Exception: some mastering formats--1630 and Exabyte in particular-cannot be listened to in a consumer setting. And some -- but not all -- mastering facilities frown on your listening to the actual master you're sending. In these cases, you'll need to listen to every single second of the reference dub the mastering house has provided for you, and trust them that the master they're providing is identical to this reference copy.). After you've listened, simply send your master and log sheet off to the CD/cassette manufacturer of your choice and, as far as audio is concerned, you're all set.

 Step 2: Designing the Graphics

How do you choose a graphic artist? How do you communicate your vision, your sense of design, your expectations? Try looking through your own music collection. Pick out covers that are most appealing to you, and make notes about the qualities you're reacting to (colors, shapes, photo, etc.). Go to your local music store and browse through the recent releases in your musical style. Make notes about what you like and what you don't like. If you have a design concept in mind, try to sketch it out. Even a rough preliminary design will save you time and money.

Pay attention to the details as you look at other artists' graphics. Note where their names are located on the front cover (often, at the top so they can be seen in tiered displays) and where the titles are. What information is included on the back? Note that the length of each song is listed (to help DJs with their programming). Have you noticed CD booklets in which the print is hard to read because of fancy graphics?

Talk to other musicians and ask who they've used for graphics and what their expenses were for artwork, typesetting, layout and film.

Now visit some artists. Take along some of your favorite covers and your notes. Look at the artists' work. Do you like it? Compare prices, but note that "free" is often a very bad price-if it's a relative doing it for you for free, you'll end up on the back-burner behind their paying work. Note: you can probably save some money by providing your artist with the text of your liner notes in an electronic form (on disk or by E-mail).

Alternatively, Oasis offers top-quality in-house graphic design. This is priced on a case-by-case basis. Our prices for graphic design are very reasonable.

When Oasis manufactures CDs or cassettes, we include -- at no extra charge -- printing all the artwork, liner notes, etc. that you'll need for your release. Oasis specializes in printing CD and cassette covers, and does it at an extremely-high 175 line-screen -- a full 25% tighter than the industry standard. This means that our printing will look better than most recordings released by the major labels. The other advantage of having Oasis print your booklets and tray cards is that they will actually FIT in the CD jewel box! (Specifications for printing CD booklets must be correct within 1/64th of an inch. If you have the work done by your local printer and they fail to cut the booklet exactly right the robotic equipment that assembles CDs will not be able to insert it, and you'll get hit with a hefty hand-packing charge. Sadly, this is not an unusual occurrence.)

Oasis offers two ground-breaking eco-packaging alternatives: the Oasis Jewel-Free Box, a patented, mailable eco-package and the Oasis Rough-Look, a funky, brown, very-recycled package with a truly unique rustic look.

After your designer has completed the layout for you, the files must be transferred to film. This is what is generally known as "color separations." You can have this done locally, or Oasis can take care of it for you. Film can be made locally at a "service bureau" (just look in the yellow pages under PRINTERS or PUBLISHING-DESKTOP and search for the buzzwords "Service Bureau" and "Electronic Prepress"). We highly recommend having your designer contact our graphics department before having film made locally.

Oasis is now leading the CD industry's transition to direct-to-plate printing! Because of this quality-enhancing technological advance, the "film service" you request may be properly referred to as an "imaging service." This means no more bulky film to clutter our printing press - everything is done digitally! The quality is superb and more efficient. (Note: film must still be made for the on-disc printing; a process that Oasis is more than happy to accommodate).

Please be sure to budget for this stage whether you are having film made or requesting Oasis's film/imaging services. This is just a one-time charge as the materials can be re-used for future reorders. You should allow approximately two weeks for this process.

Step 3: Packaging

Most CDs are packaged in a standard jewel box with a cover and traycard (backliner). However, you may want to consider an alternative to the jewel box, such as the Oasis Jewel-Free Box, Rough-Look, or Soft-Spot package. The advantages to using an alternative package: they are much more eye-catching, they peg your project as unique--not just another release from another musician, they are friendly to the environment, they save on mailing costs, and more. On the other hand, standard jewel box packaging is quite economical and is perfectly suitable for most projects.

Sturdy: The cardboard spines are supported by a patented tray, so they don't get crushed.

Size: It has the same dimensions as a plastic jewel box. It fits in standard CD racks, so DJs and stores love it, and it has thick spines so customers can find your recording or software title.

Special Clips: to hold an additional insert. If desired, place a mail-back response card or an extra booklet with lyrics or merchandise information here.

Lots of Room: for graphics. The disc tray hinges outward, so you get an additional panel to print on.

It's a Mailer: And it requires very little postage, because it's light. No additional packaging is necessary-just put stamps and address labels on the back, and pop it in the mail!

Protective: patented plastic tray with locking

mechanism to protect CD in transit.

- DON CONOSCENTI

Protected: holds your CD like magic no plastic tray, no scratchy cardboard cutout. A true little miracle of modern minimalist design.

Dimensions: DJ- and retailer-approved design. Even with its multipanel design, it folds up perfectly into a package equal in width/height as a jewel box. Fits into standard CD racks.

Eco-friendly: this design uses 100% recycled fiber with an unparalled 70+% post-consumer content.

Sturdy: Heavy brown cardboard protects your CD against abuse.

Print: Letterpress-printing, as on a hand-made greeting card.

Cool Look: The combination of the rough paper and the simple, funky printing makes for an incredibly unusual and appealing appearance.

Add a touch of METAL to your project! Oasis is offering an amazing new look for the plain old jewel box: METAL-COATED jewel box trays. These shiny, mirror-like trays are dazzling design enhancers, adding retail pizzazz to almost any project. These trays are made in small batches by actually pouring an aluminum alloy over a standard plastic tray so there is very limited availability. Get a cool free sample when you request information from Oasis Cd Manufacturing.

Step 4: Manufacturing

By manufacturing, we mean the replication of CDs and the duplication of CDs:

Here are some keys to making sure the CDs you receive are of high quality.

Make sure your CDs are replicated at a facility with ISO-9002 certification. This standard ensures that everything that can be done to preserve quality in the manufacturing process has been taken care of. (All Oasis CDs are manufactured in a facility with ISO-9002 certification.)

Even if you can't afford to have your CDs made in an ISO-9002 certified facility, at the very least make sure they're manufactured using a true replication process, as opposed to the duplication process used by people who make CD "one-offs." While CD one-offs are incredibly handy when you're in a hurry and only need a small number of CDs (and are recommend for this purpose), replicated CDs are significantly more reliable and durable than do-it-yourself one-offs -- which are literally "burned" rather than injection-molded like the replicated CDs that major-label releases use. In addition, bona fide replicated CDs are dramatically less expensive than CD one-offs in anything other than the smallest quantities. (In fact, a finished replicated CD may not cost you any more than the blank MEDIA required for CD one-offs.) Finally, replicated CDs LOOK a heck of a lot prettier--and we all know that appearances are important in the entertainment industry!

Make sure your replicator has financial stability and a long track record. Watch out for companies whose deals sound "too good to be true," and companies whose credit history is spotty. Everybody has a horror-story about under-capitalized, fly-by-night duplicators who folded before a job was done, taking deposit check, masters, and artwork down with them. Sadly, with some companies your job may never be completed, or may not be completed in a manner that represents you professionally. (Oasis has a very high Dun & Bradstreet rating for financial stability. They've been in business for 12 years and plan to be here for a good, long time.).

If you choose to manufacture cassettes it is more important than it ever was to obtain the highest-quality cassettes available because CDs are now the standard by which audio is judged, so listeners are more demanding of the cassette format as well. Oasis cassettes are manufactured with a unique bin-loop process using the best true chrome tape available. Paul Reisler of Trapezoid (who has recorded for Narada and other audiophile labels), says Oasis cassettes "sound as close to the CD as I've ever heard." They provide all cassette clients with a complimentary test cassette, so you can hear and evaluate the quality of the cassettes before receiving the final product.

The answer depends mostly on your musical genre, how much you play out, and your recording and promotional budget.

Jazz and classical music are almost completely dominated by the CD format. Acoustic, folk, bluegrass, and albums for children still have very strong cassette sales. All forms of "pop" music (including alternative, Contemporary Christian, hip-hop, etc.) are selling more in CD format than in cassette, but cassette sales remain strong -- and the people who buy cassettes are unlikely to buy CDs (and vice versa), so neither segment of the market should be ignored.

Sometimes cassettes actually outsell CDs when you go out on a tour and sell from the stage. The explanation for this suprising phenomenon? A) Some people only like you "$10 worth," not "$15 worth," and B) some people want to hear your recording immediately (on the drive home from the concert) and don't have a CD player in their cars.

In any case, you must have CDs available if you have any interest in getting your music played on the radio. Cassettes will not, as a rule, ever get airplay.

For more information on the manufacturing process and the decisions involved, read the highly recommended Diane Sward Rapaport's "How To Make & Sell Your Own Recording." You can buy it through Oasis CD Manufacturing at a discount.

How many CD jewel boxes does it take to tile your bathroom walls? In hopes that you will never discover the answer to that question, Oasis offers you solid tools to promote and market your recording. It's just good business: The faster you sell them, the more audience you'll develop and the sooner you'll be back for more CDs!

It's best not to wait until the cartons of CDs arrive on your doorstep; plan ahead!

1. Plan to make your CD package attract attention visually.

2. Plan to get your CD played on the radio.

3. Plan to make your CD retail-friendly.

4. Plan to make your CD available on the internet.

5. Plan to stay in touch with your customers.

6. Plan to keep on promoting!

Encourage your customers to sign up for your mailing list, both online and at your gigs, so you can let them know when you'll be back in town and when you have a new CD release. Remember to ask for email addresses; emails save the cost of printing and mailing expensive newsletters and postcards. Email addresses change frequently, though, and without notice. Sending occasional "snail" mail to home addresses (address correction requested) is the most reliable way to stay in touch with everybody.

Use Oasis’ Resource Links to tap into the music industry's hidden gems.

Step 6: Distribution

Those CDs and tapes take up a lot of room in your basement. Now that they're here, how do you get rid of them? Here's advice from Peter Knickles of "Basements To Backstage" fame on how to do so. In distribution you have two important jobs. Peter calls these "sell in" and "sell through." "Sell in" is the work you do to convince the manager of your local record store and/or a rep at a national distributor -- to stock your product. "Sell through" is the promotional work you do to convince the average consumer that he or she should seek out your CD. Selling to the local record store or national distributor is difficult unless you can clearly explain your marketing plan to get your target consumer excited about your CD--excited enough to run to the store and purchase it. The more you can do for promotion, says Peter, the more chances the store will stock it.

Oasis offers three complete programs that do much of the "sell in" work for you so you can concentrate on "sell through."

Unless you're signed with a label, the major retailers won't sell your product. You can sell on the internet, but how do you get the world to your webpage? You can sell through small, specialized music sites until - oops - dot.com dot gone. You can sell your CD alongside the major label products at the online Superstores, but they're gigantic - and when you have questions about your account, it can be hard to get anybody to pay attention to you.

(Oasis believes the quicker your CDs sell, the sooner you'll be back for more). Get a FREE premium high-tech shopping cart for your own website, as well as free membership/setup with cdstreet, have a "home" distribution webpage on the beloved, very financially stable, and extremely high-profile indie music site CD Baby and get priority attention from the world's most-visited online retailer, Amazon.com. Amazon is now affiliated with Borders.com, Target.com, Waldenbooks.com, CDNow and Virginmega.com — you sign up just once through the Amazon Advantage program and your music is available at all these popular sites.

* Before you bring your recording to market, make sure you register your copyright for your recording and original songs at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

* Next join (in the U.S. or Canada) ASCAP, BMI or SESAC. They collect fees from radio and TV stations and clubs (among others) for the public use of songs, and they distribute performance royalties to their members who are the copyright holders of those songs.

* For more detailed information on managing your career and marketing yourself as a musician, an excellent book you should have on your shelf is Jeri Goldstein's "How to Be Your Own Booking Agent & Save Thousands of Dollars."

* If you need more specialized information on the legalities of the music business, you may want to contact an entertainment and arts lawyer. Depending on the nature of your question there is likely to be a fee involved in consulting with them, of course.

For more information, or help with your project, contact Oasis CD Manufacturing — the trusted name in CD manufacturing!