Rules?

          I don't have 'rules', when we are setting up a trade we can tell each other what we want and how we want it done. 

           I'm always open to suggestions.

          However this is what I prefer:

  • Let's NOT send jewel cases. It keeps the package thin and the postage costs low. Use cardboard to 'sandwhich'the CDs to prevent damage.
  • I'd rather have color copies of the artwork done by a proffesional copy service but hi-res scans (300 dpi or better) are fine too. We could send these attached to an email or on a separate CDR.
  • Whatever we do let's agree on what, how and when first!

      Technicalities

  • Always(!) record Disk At Once (DAO) and make sure the pause between the tracks is set on "0" (0 seconds). It's very annoying to hear two seconds of silence between every track on a live CD. Recording Track At Once (TAO) is never an option as far as I am concerned because even on CDs which already have silence between the tracks one can hear 'pops' or 'clicks' when recording this way (on some CD-players anyway). TAO just doesn't comply to Red Book (audio CD) standards.
  • Quite some bootleg CDs are badly mastered (some of the official CDs too by the way). I've experienced 'pops', 'clicks', drop-outs and static noises (which aren't on the source CDs) when recording these CDs 'On The Fly'(from CD to CD). Because I never know if a CD is going to turn out faulty I usually grab the audio to HD first then listen to a couple of tracks and finally burn the CD. Often grabbing at full speed will do fine but sometimes I have to grab the audio at 1x to get good results. Every now and then I get CDRs from a trade that have these disturbing sounds. Please check'em before you send 'em out.
  • Of course things can always go wrong (with most CDs I copy I don't listen to all of the tracks before I burn them) so please let me know when things are not to your satisfaction. I'll do the same.