The budget breakdown

[Gold]

The only software I know of that puts the ISRC's in the right place in mp3 files is Jaikoz http://www.jthink.net/jaikoz/
Most of the time the aggrigators prepare the files from supplied wav files. I work with a couple of labels that self distribute files. I prepare them with ISRC's but the bit rate of the mp3 must be specified.

[@?,*???&?]

The only software I know of that puts the ISRC's in the right place in mp3 files is Jaikoz http://www.jthink.net/jaikoz/
Most of the time the aggrigators prepare the files from supplied wav files. I work with a couple of labels that self distribute files. I prepare them with ISRC's but the bit rate of the mp3 must be specified.

Awesome information!!

I LOVE this board.

[jkelly222]

Silly silly thread. Loads of bullshit up in here. I should have stopped reading on page one haha.

[JGriffin]

zzzzooooombieeee threeeeadddd....

[hank alrich]

These days I'd chop out the $2500 for replication and release it digitally, because no one is buying physical product anymore.

But I realize I'm drastically oversimplifying the situation.

The stats don't support the assumption that nobody is buying physical product anymore. That's a line the digirati want us to swallow, but while the download sales figure does continue to grow, a surprising amount of physical product is still moving.

It also depends on one's audience. In the more acoustic/folk/etc. niches, plenty of folks want a physical product. Next week I'll order another thousand units. It's a paltry amount of product, but it's paying for itself, and it was done in pro settings, Cedar Creek for tracking and mixing, Terra Nova for mastering (both in Austin TX).

References:

http://digitalmusicnews.com/stories/101 ... tX2hnnOMYg
http://digitalmusicnews.com/stories/101 ... GSJaYf4YMg
http://digitalmusicnews.com/stories/081 ... o6uRZGHHOQ
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/uploads ... rt2010.jpg

[Gregg Juke]

Spot on, accurate, succinct analysis, Hank.

Good documentation as well.

GJ

[Tim A]

I am going to work backwards from the number of $5,000.

Here inlies the main problem with your thinking. Your implying that the cd's the music is printed on is more important than the music itself.

If I were a semi serious band trying to record an album for under $5000 I would work my arse off to play and write the best that I could. I would ensure that the money was spent well in the write places (recording/mixing/mastering), then look around for some kind of distribution deal.... you know... if I really believed in the music i was making.

[hank alrich]

It's cool to look for a distro deal, but if you're going to lay down five grand I think you should have a backup plan to DIY, if you really believe in the music. By the time you drop the coin audiences will have told you whether or not the music is credible.

Commit the money once you can see your path to potential recovery (nothing is certain in this realm), which may include a distro deal, but also may not.