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No. This is not currently available through Lulu, but we are looking at making this an option in the future.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

• Audio CD: This is a typical music CD like the kind you would play in your car's CD player. All tracks in an audio CD must be at least 16 seconds in length.
• Data CD or DVD: This is a CD or DVD containing data files which can be read by your computer.
• Video DVD: This is a disc you can put in the DVD player hooked up to your TV or the DVD player on your computer to watch video.
• Audio DVD: DVD-Audio is a format which stores audio samples at a much higher sample rate than standard audio CDs.

Lulu CDs are 700MB CD-Rs. Lulu DVDs are 4.7GB DVD-Rs. All discs must contain a minimum of 2MB of data. If the content you upload is smaller than 2MB, please add additional content to reach this 2MB limit.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

The only difference is their capacity. CDs can hold 700MB and DVDs can hold 4.7GB (4813MB). All discs must contain a minimum of 2MB of data. If the content you upload is smaller than 2MB, please add additional content to reach this 2MB limit.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

To create an audio CD your audio tracks must be in .WAV, .MP3, or .AIF (same as .AIFF) format. If you have files in your project that are not one of these formats, your disc will be created as a data disc containing your source documents. During the conversion step of the publishing process, you should see a progress message indicating that your .MP3 or .AIF files are being converted to .WAV. Other formats will be supported in the future.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

MP3 files are highly compressed audio files. To create a Audio CD, these files must be converted to a uncompressed WAV file that will be considerably larger in size than an MP3.

WAV files that are created from a lower bitrate, single channel, low sampled MP3 produce a larger sized WAV file than from what a higher quality MP3 would.

So if you're running into errors about exceeding disc space, try formatting your files like this:

For MP3

• Biterate: 192kps
• 2 channel stereo
• Sample rate: 44khz.

For WAV

• 16 bit
• 2 channel stereo
• Sample rate: 44khz
• Audio Format: PCM

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

Audio CDs are burned DAO (disc-at-once) so there are no gaps between the tracks. If you would like to have pauses between your tracks, it is up to you to add those pauses to the ends of previous tracks.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

Upload the audio tracks to your project. In the Upload & Convert step of the publishing process, you will see a list of the audio tracks you have uploaded. The order in which they are listed is the order the tracks will play on your audio CD. You can move tracks up and down in this list by clicking on the up/down arrow next to each track.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

A .cda file format is not a recommended format for Lulu music. This file only describes the file to Windows operating systems, and doesn't actually contain any audio. To encode a CD track to MP3 at 192k bitrate, you have to get an application that can "rip" the tracks to audio. CDex is a free tool for doing just that.

To install CDex:

1. Download CDex and save it to your desktop. When the download has completed, click Open or double-click the cdex_150.exe file saved on your desktop.
2. Install the CDex software. Choose the Full Recommended install and click Next.
3. Choose a directory for installing the application. The default is normally fine. Click Install.
4. You don't need to view the README file.

To start CDex and use it to encode an MP3 from a WAV audio file:

1. Double-click the CDex shortcut on your desktop.
2. Click on Options>>Settings (or press F4 to open the settings window)
3. In the Encoder Options portion of the Settings window, set the BITRATE to 192. Click OK.
4. Drag and drop the WAV audio file you wish to encode into the main window.
5. Click on Convert>>Convert WAV file to compressed audio file (or press F11) to begin converting from WAV to an MP3 file.
6. Look for your finished MP3 file in your My Documents or My Music folders. It should be in a folder called MP3, in a folder inside that called Artist Name, and a folder inside that called Album name.

Upload the resulting MP3 file to Lulu.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:55 | Back to top

DVD-Audio is a format which stores audio samples at a much higher sample rate than standard audio CDs. DVD-Audio allows for 5.1 surround sound, whereas audio CDs are stereo only. If you want to create an audio DVD, you will need to create your own DVD-Audio image and upload it as your single source document. For more info, see http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/question344.htm.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

The same process is used to create both data CDs and data DVDs. To maintain complete control over the layout of your data disc, create an ISO-9660 disc image and upload it as your source document. This image contains the layout of all the files and directories which will be present on the burned disc.

All discs must contain a minimum of 2MB of data. If the content you upload is smaller than 2MB, please add additional content to reach this 2MB limit.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

If you don't know how to create an ISO-9660 image or don't care to create one, you have two options:

• Upload the various files you want to be on the data disc just like you would for any other project on Lulu. These files will be burned to the disc's root directory.
• Upload a single archive (.zip or .tar) file containing the directory layout you want on your data disc. This archive will be decompressed and the file structure contained within it will be burned to the disc.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:49 | Back to top

To create a video DVD you will need special software which creates the files necessary for your disc to be recognized as a DVD-Video disc. DVD-Video discs are made using an ISO-9660 image file which has two directories in it: VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS. Some DVD creation software can automatically create an ISO-9660 file which contains these directories and the files in them which contain the video and menus. If you have this software, you can simply upload the .ISO file as your project's source document.

Other DVD creation software will only create the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directories and will not create an .ISO file out of them. If you are using a program like this, simply create a single zip file containing the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directories and upload the zip file as your source document. The Lulu converter will decompress your archive and create an ISO for you out of these two directories.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

If your video files are in any of the formats listed above, you will need to use one of the many DVD-image creation applications to create a video disc image which you can upload to Lulu. If you have a DVD burner in your home computer, it probably came with an application which will do this for you. Usually it involves selecting the files you want to be on your video disc and selecting the "Save as video image..." option or something similar. Once you have done this you should see one of two things where you saved the video image:

• An ISO file such as my_video.iso. You can simply upload this file as the single source document for your project.
• Two directories named AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. You can either create an ISO-9660 disc image containing these two directories or you can create a zip file containing both of these directories. Upload either the ISO or zip file you created as your single source document, and the Lulu converter should take care of the rest.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:49 | Back to top

No. ISBNs are only for books. We are working on an expanded distribution program for CDs and DVDs with UPC codes. We hope to be able to offer this in the future, but it is not available at this time.

Note: In an effort to streamline our CD and DVD manufacturing process, Lulu has implemented the use of barcodes. They will be added automatically to all new and previously published disc content to assist in the print and production process. These barcodes are very small and will appear on all printed matter of the finished CD and DVD product and are not intended for use in retail sales.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

Artwork prints directly on the disk using a thermal heat transfer process.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

CDs are packaged in standard jewel cases. The standard jewel case contains a case insert and a case traycard. The case insert is a two-panel card which slips into the front of the jewel case. The traycard is placed underneath the seat that holds the disc. This card has spines on either side which are visible through the sides of the case.

DVDs are packaged in the standard oblong DVD case you are accustomed to seeing in stores. It has a single cover which is slipped inside the plastic around the case. This is very similar to a book cover with a fixed spine width.

The artwork you upload for your disc must be in JPG, PNG or GIF format.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

No. Lulu discs do not come in shrink wrap.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:49 | Back to top

These templates are available for you to create your disc art to the precise dimensions needed for printing. There is a Photoshop(PSD) file and a GIF file. The ZIP file contains both. Right-click or Control+click on the link and "Save as Target" or "Save Link as".

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top

You should be able to pick one up at your local software store, or you can purchase one online. Burnworld.com has a list of DVD creation software you can view here: http://www.burnworld.com/software/dvdburning/dvdauthoring.htm. They also have loads of information regarding the creation of DVDs.

There are some free DVD-image creation packages out there such as BurnOn CD/DVD (http://www.burnworld.com/burnoncddvd/). Usefulness may vary.

Last updated: 2008-05-06 15:09:48 | Back to top