Glossary

• Analogue: The method by which audio is stored in a continual wave form. This may be in the form of magnetic patterns on tape or in grooves on a vinyl record. Analogue preceded digital recording but is still used today.


• AMCOS: Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society. Tied in with APRA, AMCOS gathers and distributes royalties on behalf of music publishers.


• APRA: Australasian Performing Rights Association. The organisation that gathers and distributes royalties on behalf of composers and songwriters (see AMCOS for music publishing royalties).


• Authoring: The process of formatting a DVD to ensure it can be read and ‘understood’ by a DVD player. This includes the linking all menus, buttons and chapters together.


• Blue Book: The universal specifications to which DVDs are manufactured (replicated) to ensure consistency and compatibility with DVD players.


• Blu-Ray: An optical disc medium that can hold up to 50GB with a dual layer. Because of its high storage capacity Blu-Ray discs are commonly used to store high-definition videos and Playstation 3 games.


• CD: Compact Disc. An optical disc that can hold approximately 600MB of content. Commonly used to store music and data.


• CD-R: A blank CD that can have data burnt to it. Once data has been written to a CD-R, it cannot be changed or erased. A common form of data storage.


• CD-RW: Similar to a CD-R, but rewritable.


• Digital: The method by which audio is stored in a discontinuous form. 0s and 1s represent data on a digital medium, which is read by a device (such as a CD player) and translated into sound.


• DLT: Digital Linear Tape. A form of magnetic data storage. This is often the format from which a DVD stamper master is created.


• DSR: Direct Stamper Recorder. The machine that stamps the data from the master provided by client onto the stamper master, ready for pressing.


• Duplication: The process by which data is copied (burnt) onto a pre-manufactured CD-R or DVD-R. Both CD-Rs and DVD-Rs have a layer of blue dye which enables information to be written on to the disc.


• DVD: Digital Video Disc/Digital Versatile Disc. An optical disc that can hold up to 18GB of data (approx). Commonly used to store movies and TV shows. DVDs can be made of up multiple data layers and can be twin-sided.


• DVD-R: A blank DVD that can have data burnt to it. Once data has been written to a CD-R, it cannot be changed or erased. A common form of data storage.


• DVD-RW: Like a DVD-R, but rewritable.


• DVD+RW: A double-layered, larger capacity DVD that can have data written on it (then altered and erased as required).


• Injection Molder: The machine that presses CDs and DVDs from melted polycarbonate.


• ISRC: International Standard Recording Code. The international identification standard for audio and music video recordings. The ISRC code is embedded in the master prior to reproduction and acts as a unique identifier for the purpose of collating royalty information.


• Mastering: The process of transferring the final audio/video recording onto the ‘master’ (storage device) from which subsequent copies will be reproduced.


• Metallizing: The process of coating a pressed polycarbonate disc in aluminium (as well as silver for DVDs) to ensure reflectivity.


• Offset Printing: A printing technique ideal for reproduction of photography. Ink is transferred from plates onto rubber rollers, then on to the CD face. This results in a smooth, high-quality print finish.


• Optical Disc: A media storage device (such as a CD, DVD or Blu-Ray disc) that holds audio, video and other data within an aluminium, silver or gold layer in the disc. When the disc is illuminated by a laser diode the data on the disc is transmitted by a laser to an optical pick-up. Electronic circuitry then decodes the information on the disc.


• Polycarbonate: The transparent plastic used to make CDs and DVDs. It is renowned for being lightweight and reasonably scratch resistant yet incredibly tough to break. Other uses for polycarbonate include face shields, bullet-proof windows and lenses.


• PPNZ: Phonographic Performances New Zealand. PPNZ gathers and distributes royalties on behalf of record companies and artists. Royalties are distributed to artists and record companies via the RAP fund.


• RAP fund: The scheme by which royalties are gathered and redistributed to artists and record companies based on airplay. Royalties are collected from parties licensing music for usage (eg. Advertising agencies and their clients) or from business such as cafes, shops, gyms and music venues that play music in to the public on their premises. The RAP fund is administered by PPNZ.


• Red Book: The universal specifications to which CDs are manufactured (replicated) to ensure consistency and compatibility with CD players.


• Replication: The manufacturing process whereby a CD or DVD is manufactured from polycarbonate plastic and all data is stamped onto the disc. This is different to duplication or burning.


• RIANZ: Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Represents the interests of NZ record companies (both major and independent). RIANZ is also the national allocator of ISRC codes and is responsible for producing the Tuis as well as other NZ music initiatives.


• Screen-printing: A printing technique that utilises mesh screens as stencils. Ink is forced by a squeegee through the fine mesh to print onto the surface underneath.


• Sputtering: See metallizing.


• Stamper Master: The master from which all CDs and DVDs are pressed in an injection moulder.