At 50/50 the SACD cost should be much lower than described
To: Janet
From: Paul
RE: Excerpts from SACD Guide for Artist & Producers
Date: 21 July 2008
Note: If you look at the cost to produce a SACD and price it is sold for, it does not make any sense. It is clear that the increase in the costs to produce a SACD is in studio time. We will build a studio specifically for the purpose of producing a SACD and sell it for a profit at a price compatible with regular CDs and or advantage is we will be burn protected and offer superior sound quality
Selling Super Audio CDs
Super Audio CDs are sold where regular CDs are sold – more or less. The “less” is physical
Retail; high-resolution sections are small, and SA-CDs share space in them with DVD Audio
Discs. Because hybrid discs are single inventory, most titles are found under the artist’s section with their CD releases. The “more” is Internet sales. At the cutting edge of SA-CD acceptance, early adopters are often audiophiles, or other committed listeners who have grown accustomed to finding their music online. Sony helps the seeker find SACD titles with a well-organized on-line store (below). Per-disc prices for SA-CD releases range from $16 to $24 – and
Occasionally more.
Preparing a Budget for Your SACD Release
In this brief, we’ve identified a number of variables that will affect the budget for an SACD
Project: pure DSD vs. traditional production strategies, stereo vs. stereo + multi-channel,
Hybrid vs. single-layer. At some peril, we offer these broad guidelines for budgeting:
• For a hybrid stereo release, plan to spend 1.5X to 2X what you would spend with a pro
Mastering lab for a standard CD release.
• For a hybrid stereo and multi-channel release, plan to spend 3X to 4X what you
Would spend with a pro mastering lab for a standard CD release.
The cost increments are due to increased studio time; the higher cost of the AIT tape
Used for master and archive parts; and the additional time to QC multi-channel masters.
SACD Manufacturing Costs
The categories of expense at the manufacturing stage are:
• Authoring ($300-$500 per title) this may also be available from your mastering lab;
Air show offers authoring.
• Glass Mastering (up to $500 per title)
• Test pressing (optional, often bundled in the glass mastering charge)
• Manufacturing (hybrid or single-layer)
• Packaging (“super jewel box” or conventional) as domestic manufacturing ramps up,
Prices will change. For now, expect to pay around $2.00 per packaged disc, depending,
As with CDs, on packaging choices and especially, on quantity. Check frequently for
Updates. The best-planned budget is one developed following consultations on production, mastering and manufacturing. Because so many aspects of this new medium are in flux, we recommend a budget and schedule reality check for every project.