Adhesive CD Label Question

[Jamie Tate]

When I make a CD I always label it with an adhesive label. It looks more professional and is easier to keep track of. Last week I was having an album mastered by Hank Williams (no, not THAT Hank Williams) at Mastermix and I noticed Ken Love, one of Hank's other mastering engineers, wrote on the clear, inner part of the CD instead of using a label. I asked him about this and he said the label can cause problems. Hank, by the way, stuck a label on the CD master.

What's some thoughts on this. Steve, how do you label your CDs?

[Holy Zoo]

Not a scientific study or anything, but most of the early CDRs that my brother made (circa 1994-1997) that he put labels on have since died. He stopped the practice around 1999 when those early CDRs started to go belly up.

The explanation I've read elsewhere was that the adhesive used in early CDR labels would react with the lacquer coating on the CDR.

I believe that this problem is now just a thing of the past.

But old habits die hard, and I too only label the inner clear plastic if the CDR in question is something I'm planning on keeping long term (material for my archive).

[Claviusb]

I've had people send me discs with labels on them and they did a really sloppy job. I think any label that isn't centered and/or has wrinkles is going to be a nightmare for the laser to read. Personally, I think labels add a small level of damping, if done right.

Plextor recommends that you don't use labels with CD-Rs, but on the discs I've tested, I haven't seen an increase in block error rates in the short term (though I'm no scientist). In the long term, who can say?

[Jamie Tate]

I've always wondered about the extra weight of the lables especially since the type I use are very thick due to the gold plastic backing and if sloppy lableing can cause nasty things like increased jitter. I did a BLER test using my burner and the Taiyo Yuden discs I use and a very anal mastering engineer here said the results were excellent. That CD had a label on it.

My concern is when the adhesive gets old and dries out will it do any damage to the top of the disc where all the information is.

[Grant]

I don't worry about it as long as I use Neato labels.

The main problem with using labels is that if they aren't centered they will cause the disc to wobble when spinning and cause errors.

I feel much better using labels on silkscreened CD-Rs but the damn brand bleeds through! Besides, labels provide an extra layer of protection because it is actually the label side that is most vulnerable to damage.

I have been using Neato labels since 1998 and have never lost a disc because of it. The earlier labels did tend to bubble if not applied correctly.

Just one word of warning: You should NEVER label a CD-R before you burn it.

[Mike V]

Would you think using a sharpie to write on the label side is OK? I haven't had any problems yet, but find myself questioning it from what I read here.

[Todd Fredericks]

I use the Stomper CD labels and plastic thingie to apply the labels. I've had no problems in the last year or so using this method. I'm pretty selective of the things I label because I still think they charge too much for these things. If I don't bother using a label, I use a CD marker...

Todd

P.S. I do seriously suggest avoiding exotic spray paints or cryons to label/beautify CDs. Maybe buy a used tatoo kit from a parlor going out of business? :)

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Mike V
Would you think using a sharpie to write on the label side is OK? I haven't had any problems yet, but find myself questioning it from what I read here.

I've been using a Sharpie for years with no problem. The company that makes Sharpie has even promoted them for use on CDR.

[Mike V]

Thanks Tangent! I didn't think so.

BTW, those of you using labels, I found them to be MUCH cheaper at the BJ's club, relative to what you'd pay at one of the electronic superstores. I forget which brand though (Fellowes maybe??).

[Sckott]

Yeah, labels on unbranded (nude surfaced) CDRs are unsafe. I have 30-40 CDRs with labels, of all different types, are now almost - to - positively belly up.

If you must use labels, use them on branded, frost coated CDRs like the ones Mitsui uses. Mitsui is the only company that I know that sell a low-cost unbranded but frosted CDR.

I've taken to NOT surfacing my CDRs with anything else but Sharpies by Standford. Those have already lasted longer. Don't forget, most CDRs are very sensitive to light and moisture anyway.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Mike V
Would you think using a sharpie to write on the label side is OK? I haven't had any problems yet, but find myself questioning it from what I read here. I have a whole collection of Sharpies! As long as the marker's ink is water-based and the tip is not sharp, there is no problem.

CD-R isn't as delicate as one may think! You just can't leave them in direct sunlight. Even if you do, the better brands like Mitsui and Kodak should hold up nicely.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Sckott
Yeah, labels on unbranded (nude surfaced) CDRs are unsafe. I have 30-40 CDRs with labels, of all different types, are now almost - to - positively belly up. I disagree here. I have labeled literally hundreds of nude-surfaced CD-Rs with no problem whatsoever!

Don't forget, most CDRs are very sensitive to light and moisture anyway.

THAT'S the problem! I live in a low-humid area of the country so I don't see all of these problems with CD-Rs being ruined. I'm guessing that some brands of labels also buckle (literally) under humid extremes.

[Paul Chang]

Originally posted by Grant
The main problem with using labels is that if they aren't centered they will cause the disc to wobble when spinning and cause errors.
Exactly. It's like spinning an unbalanced tire. This makes it more difficult for the servo mechanism/laser pick-up to track the CD.

[Grant]

Right! But if done carefully, it shouldn't be a problem, anymore than a slightly off-center silkscreened label.

[Gardo]

Originally posted by yesman
I've always wondered about the extra weight of the lables especially since the type I use are very thick due to the gold plastic backing and if sloppy lableing can cause nasty things like increased jitter. I did a BLER test using my burner and the Taiyo Yuden discs I use and a very anal mastering engineer here said the results were excellent. That CD had a label on it....

Quick question: how do you do a BLER test using your burner? I've always been told (but had trouble believing) that it takes a special piece of equipment to look at block error rates.

Much obliged!
Gardo

[PMC7027]

I've burned and put labels on hundreds of CDs and have never had a problem, except the one time I put the label on first. Of course that time I created a coaster because I was burning at 12X and doing too many things on my PC at the same time.

[Fabfourever]

Where does one find Mitsui brand CD-R's? Are they mail order only? I've read where one should NOT use typical markers to write on CD's-so are you saying that Sharpies are different, in that they do not bleed through like most, or is the bleed-through thing overstated? Also, is anyone familiar with the new Yamaha CD burner that touts itself as able to burn a label directly on the disc?

[Grant]

First, Mitsui used to be sold at Fry's Electronics. I suppose there are retailers out there that carry them, but you can order them from their website.

Sharpies are water-based, so they are safe. Other types are not recommended.

Best Buy sells that new Yamaha burner for the same price as a Plextor. The burning in to text looks like a worthless gimmick to me. It's also only good for whatever unused space you have left on your disc, so if you burn a 79 minute CD-R, you can't mark it. Perhaps i'll change my mind when I actually see a disc with it.

[Craig]

Originally posted by Fabfourever
Where does one find Mitsui brand CD-R's? Are they mail order only?

I haven't seen them in stores for quite a while. I get my Mitsui's either online at sites like American Digital (http://www.american-digital.com/prodsite/default.asp) or on eBay (thanks to a tip from either a member here or on the ICE board, can't remember which). I also use Sharpies to mark my discs. There are also a couple of pens made especially for CD-R's that use water-based ink that you can get online from the same places that sell blank media.