Since computer recording and editing software is affordable and most brands are relatively intuitive to operate, many independent musicians opt to do their CD recording themselves. With traditional recording studios charging by the hour, it's easy to see the economic appeal in going it alone, but there are advantages to booking time at a studio. When you rent a recording facility, you are also paying for the expertise of the resident producer/engineer. This can be invaluable, especially if you're a novice. Having state-of-the-art software is one thing, but getting quality results from it isn't guaranteed. Having an experienced professional with an expert critical ear guiding you through the recording process can make a world of difference to the quality of your CD.
Rather than recording a full-length CD of 12 or more songs, many artists opt for mini-albums or EPs usually consisting of 4 to 6 tracks. Choosing the format is often an economic decision, since for an EP, recording costs are effectively cut in half, but it's also worth considering an EP from an artistic standpoint. Having a CD with 5 high-quality songs is likely to be a more engaging listen than a full-length CD with several filler tracks.
Mixing is a vital part of the process of recording a CD and is best left to someone with experience. Musicians tend to be very close to their own music, and their pre-conceived ideas about how their songs should sound may not always be in the the best interest of their audience. Paying for the services of an experienced mixing engineer can pay dividends, since as a skilled yet impartial listener, the engineer is able to mix the music in a commercially viable and sonically pleasing way.
Mastering is the final audio polish that you add to your music. After you have a collection of expertly mixed songs for your CD, they have to be processed so that they all fit and flow together seamlessly rather than just being a selection of songs thrown together. Smooth sequencing, with effective fades and appropriate silent gaps between songs, is important to the flow, as is maintaining a consistent volume level across all tracks. Careful use of compression, reverb and equalization (EQ) also add a professional sheen and sparkle to the mastered CD. Mastering software is readily available, but mastering is another specialized skill that takes years of practice, so to make your CD competitive in the marketplace, it's worth paying for the services of a mastering professional.
High-quality artwork won't rescue a poor-sounding CD, but a shoddily packaged CD with low-resolution photographs and typo-laden sleeve notes can easily put off a casual browser. If you want your product to compete in the marketplace, then you have to have professional-quality artwork. If you're not a graphic artist, pay one to design your sleeve. If you've spent time and money making sure that your CD sounds professional, it makes little sense to represent it with amateurish artwork.
When having your CDs manufactured, you have the option of ordering either replicated or duplicated discs. Replicated discs are manufactured using a glass master that stamps the CDs. The set-up cost for this is quite expensive, so there's usually a minimum order requirement of 500 CDs. With higher volume orders, the cost per unit decreases substantially, so it may be a good bet if you're an artist who plays lots of live shows and are confident in your ability to sell product. If you're looking for a short-run order of CDs, say 50 to 100 units, then duplication may be the best bet. Duplicated CDs are simply CD-R copies of the master CD that you send in to the manufacturer, and there's usually no set-up cost or minimum order requirement.