CD Text - again

[Darius van H]

A client wants me to put links to his website and myspace in the CD Text.

Is this possible?

Is there any point? (i'm thinking not)

Another question: Is anyone here charging extra for CD Text? (i'm thinking about it because it takes longer and tends to lead to lots of extra emails and hassle)

[jdg]

there is a "Custom text message" area in the CD-text spec.. if your soft gives you access to this area, then put the link in there.

i once had a client want me to put "CD READ ERROR" in the message area.

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by Darius van H

Another question: Is anyone here charging extra for CD Text? (i'm thinking about it because it takes longer and tends to lead to lots of extra emails and hassle)

Sure, normal rate on the clock!

Unless it's a regular long time client who deserves a few perks.

JT

[joerod]

Originally Posted by Darius van H

A client wants me to put links to his website and myspace in the CD Text.

Is this possible?

Yes, but they will not hyperlink...

Is there any point? (i'm thinking not)

We warn people to expect this not working on all CD players.

Another question: Is anyone here charging extra for CD Text? (i'm thinking about it because it takes longer and tends to lead to lots of extra emails and hassle)

If this is a good old client, I would probably give him/her that free of charge. Otherwise, if you don't advertise this as a free option, you should charge more...

[24-96 Mastering]

Same here as at Jerry's place, no extra charge but clock keeps running. It's usually done within 10 minutes anyway, assuming they provided accurate information, all in one document.

I usually ask clients from countries with "special" letters to supply a complete and 100% checked list in electronic format, so that I can just copy and paste because using character map can take ages (it's ok with french, spanish or danish, but think of having to input cyrillic manually, for example).

As for communication, yes, it's a pain sometimes, having to wait to finish a project because of missing cd text information, but missing ISRC and EAN/UPC codes are just as annoying. Something always comes in late, so what does it matter.

Either way, I usually encourage artists to put CD text on the discs, just because I, as a consumer, really appreciate my car stereo or home CD player telling me song names. I don't see any downside.

As for your original question: there's custom message (as someone already said), but I'm not sure if all players that show CD text show all filled out fields (maybe someone on the board has some previous experience with what which percentages of players display).

Of course there's nothing stopping you from just putting the URL in the artist name field (for example in brackets behind the actual song title). That may look a bit cheap, but it'll get the message across.

i once had a client want me to put "CD READ ERROR" in the message area.

That's hilarious. Did he/she go through with it?

[Darius van H]

All good info, thanks!

Jerry, do you measure emailing time per project?

[joerod]

Originally Posted by Darius van H

Jerry, do you measure emailing time per project?

LOL

[Darius van H]

Originally Posted by joerod

LOL

You may well laugh, but seriously, a while ago i had a 1 track upload / download mastering, and when i looked back, there were 37 emails regarding this project!........if people are gonna be dumb-assed enough that they need to email 37 times about 1 track, then i might just have to start charging them for it!

[hv_]

I usually throw cd text on without being asked. Helps me get song orders right. And to identify instrumental tracks when auditioning on my Sony player. It originally being a Sony thing. I usually name the files on daw export using the song names and then use Sony's CD Architect for authoring which throws them in automatically anyway. Also, if I pick up a client and preview it in the car, they're major impressed to see their own name in bigtime font... newer GM cars with the navigation system consoles now display cd text.

I'm trying to imagine how an email address or link in cd text might be useful. Maybe for folks who toss the packaging, artwork, and liner notes.

Howard

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by Darius van H

Jerry, do you measure emailing time per project?

Ha ha ha... No, I'm not quite that much of a miser!

But recently had a high maintenance client that I must have spent 5-6 hours composing emails to answer questions & explain details. We had numerous revisions and over 30 tracks, so just entering and proofing CD-Text was actually kind of a PITA. It was a flat rate job so I couldn't bill for "consulting" time!

Cheers - JT

[OldSonic]

Originally Posted by 24-96 Mastering

(it's ok with french, spanish or danish, but think of having to input cyrillic manually, for example).

Cyrillic not supported officially, AFAIK.

[24-96 Mastering]

Originally Posted by OldSonic

Cyrillic not supported officially, AFAIK.

Doh' ... you got me there. Just wrote cyrillic to make it more interesting. It's been enough of a pain with spanish, french and the other european "special" signs.
Just did a box set for a spanish client; 70 song titles in a language you don't understand with signs not on your keyboard is enough to make having a list in electronic form a real convenience.