Re: kunaki (was: What does it mean to you, to "release a record"?)

[doc rossi <docittern@gmail.com>]

Those packaging limitations are exactly why I used Tunecore, but like  
I've said before, their colors were much more muted than my test  
printings at a local print shop. The prices are pretty good, though.

Doc

On Dec 30, 2008, at 2:54 PM, Rainer Straschill wrote:

> Mark said:
> "whats this Kunaki.com thing.. gonna check after this..."
>
> Kunaki is a service which makes CDs and DVDs (I'll only focus on the
> CD part here). There is no initial setup cost, and there is a fixed
> price of $1.75 per CD, independently of the number of units ordered in
> one go or over lifetime.
> There are some downsides - to qoute their website's FAQ: "Kunaki
> operates more like a machine than a business and does not offer a
> personalized service. [...] Because Kunaki is highly automated and
> focused on quality, low price, and fast production, we offer a minimal
> range of options."
>
> That's the biggest downside. The only option is a jewel case with
> black tray and 2-page booklet (everything printed in coulor).
> Another downside (for some) is that there are very specific rules and
> a very specific flow for supplying your CD content. You use their
> custom configuration software. It reads the data from a CD in your
> computer, then you select several image documents (TIFF 8bit RGB, NOT
> 16bit like it says on their website), also within the software, and
> the software handles uploading data to their site. Want to give them a
> WAV file and replication report instead? Doesn't work. Want to use
> prepress PDFs? Doesn't work. Want a transparent jewel case, four-page
> booklet, slim case or digipak? Doesn't work.
>
> On the other side, everything they do (including handling your orders
> and providing a web shop where your fans can order your CDs at a price
> set by you) is free except for the cost to you of $1.75 per CD.
>
> Basically, if you can live with the limitations (and the most
> challenging ones for me are the package limitations), it allows for a
> really extremely simple business plan. The only pre production costs
> you have are the time you spend to compile your album and its artwork,
> put it into the format they like and use their software to transfer
> it. Starting from that point, your total income per CD is the
> difference of price you set in their webshop minus $1.75 for the sales
> you do from their webshop, or your selling price minus 1.75$ and
> pro-rata shipping costs (for those you sell e.g. at concerts).
>
> They also dropship to amazon and CDbaby at no additional cost.
>
>            Rainer
>