Today's churches are looking to spread the word to their worshipers and those outside their congregation through various media, and many wonder if producing CDs and DVDs is economical and feasible.

With so many options in the CD/DVD duplication and printing market, many churches are overwhelmed. Is it more economical to produce the CDs and DVDs in-house or does it make more sense to outsource?

I want to address some of the top questions asked by churches when making a decision on whether they want to purchase a duplicator.

Many churches currently offer their parishioners cassettes or VHS tapes for the distribution of audio and video. Is it more expensive to distribute this information on CD/DVD?
Duplicating CDs and DVDs is almost always less expensive than duplicating cassette and VHS tapes. Not only that, but the quality is also much better. The cost to produce a CD or DVD is inexpensive at just $0.50 per disc or less.

Why are CDs and DVDs the media of choice?
There are many reasons, but mostly because discs are easy and fast to produce and are inexpensive. Perhaps just as important, discs are "transportable." For example, hundreds of millions of automobiles have CD players. Just as many DVD players are in homes. CDs and DVDs can also be used in notebook and laptop PCs, whether or not an Internet connection is available. Discs can also be easily passed along to people who cannot leave their homes, such as those in nursing homes and hospitals.

Is it more cost-effective and time-efficient to purchase a disc duplicator and produce the discs in-house, or would it be cheaper to outsource?
It is important to mention prices of duplicators have come down dramatically over the past five years. Previously, prices were so high that only production studios and large corporations bought their own duplicators. Today, fully automated CD and DVD disc publishers start at less than $1,500. With this low cost, owning your own duplicator can pay for itself in no time.

Beyond distributing church services on disc, many churches are now exploring the use of in-house recording and duplication systems to reproduce ceremonies, special events, and Sunday school classes. They are finding producing discs themselves is far more cost-effective and has a much faster turn around time than outsourcing.

What are our options when looking to purchase a duplicator?
Churches usually choose one of two types of duplication and printing systems:  (1) a tower duplicator with a CD/DVD AutoPrinter or (2) a fully automated CD/DVD disc publisher. 

A tower duplicator is an upright box (much like a tower PC case) that includes a stack of drives for recording and one drive for the master. In this case, discs are usually pre-printed by an automated CD/DVD printer. A CD/DVD printer prints directly onto the surface of CDs and DVDs. This is a good choice for churches that require many copies immediately after a service or event.

For churches not on a time crunch, fully automated CD and DVD Publishers can be a better choice. A CD and DVD publisher integrates both a recorder and printer in one machine. First, the discs are burned by the built-in, high-speed recorder. Then, the discs are printed. The entire process is automatic and "hands-free."

In the past, this process involved a time-consuming, three-step process of burning, printing, applying sticky labels, or even the use of a permanent marker. This can lead to a disc that looks unprofessional and messy at best and unreadable and unplayable at worst.  

The idea behind CD and DVD publishers is that it is a one-step system where any church leader can start a job, walk away, and the publisher will do the work for them. The key is finding one that is fast, reliable, cost-effective, and produces an end product with a professional look that everyone feels comfortable handing out to their congregation and prospective parishioners.

Are there different disc capacities available?
There are many options when it comes to the amount of discs you want to produce hands-free. Duplicators are available with capacities as few as 20 discs, or you can purchase a tower or even rack-mount duplicators and printers to produce up to thousands of discs at a time. There are many choices for all sizes of churches.

How else can I use the duplicator to help justify the cost?
While churches may only send out their service on CD or DVD, there are many other opportunities to get the most from your duplicator. Many churches either charge for the discs or ask for donations. This can help to offset the cost of the machine.

Many churches are using CD and DVD duplication and printing systems to present Bible study classes and special speakers to those who can't attend an event. Churches can also present a disc to couples getting married, distribute syndicated television and radio programs, or make DVDs of mission trips or service events and then sell the DVDs as a fundraising item.

The list of uses for CD and DVD duplication equipment is endless. Once you're burning and printing discs in-house, you'll likely wonder how you ever got along without it. Regardless of which brand, model, and capabilities you choose, the immense versatility of a duplication system at your church is a wonderful way to help you share the spoken word, music, videos, and much more.

This article is the courtesy of Kellie Garber of Primera Technology, Inc. in Plymouth, Minnesota. Primera Technology is a leading manufacturer of automated duplication and printing equipment, www.primera.com.