In the kind of volume you're talking, everything is going to be a "homemade" CD-R of sorts. At that level all companies will be using some form of inkjet direct to disc printer (hopefully, as labels look cheesy as hell). Any inside booklet/etc will be produced on some kind of laser printer, not dissimilar to what someone like Kinko's will use.DrummerMan wrote: I feel like homemade cd-rs with computer printed labels tend get filed under "doesn't have their act together", at least that's what I get from the looks on their faces.
Getting a digipak produced is probably not realistic, or at least you'd have to inquire with someone that actually makes those (but I imagine their minimums will kill). Making a normal jewel case is more economical in small runs.
If you can get 50 for $200 I'd say that's pretty fair and likely as good as you will get.
When I used to have a band that gigged locally we were DIY. I have an Epson printer that prints direct to discs, and I'd buy the CD-Rs that are made for that (you can get white finish or silver, I prefer the look of silver). I have a big box full of die-cut chipboard CD sleeves that I would use (which would be expensive as hell to get done, but I acquired them from someone else). I also work in the printing industry, so I printed out a color label and stuck it on the front of the chipboard sleeve, and then I printed out a color insert and stuck it with the disc. Between the cost of the printer, discs, ink, and time to produce...by the time I made 50 discs I'm sure I was out over $200. But that is another option.