The objective is to create a legal and legitimate translation or dub of a Drama CD title. The audio tracks would be presented primarily online in a "radio play" format. After a period of time the drama or dramas would be compiled into a CD available for sale via the web. Time periods would be dependent on the length of the dramas. At the start we would assume an annual offer, with perhaps a compilation of several dramas.

Costs Involved:

Option 1: Pressing and Distributing the CD ourselves

Price per 1000 cds (minimum order on most sites)

Cd with no packaging .79 each at $790 total

Retail ready CD with full color traycard (back side) and two sided insert (front color, inside black and white) $1.26 each at $1260 total

Retail Ready CD with full color traycard (both sides) and two sided insert (full color both sides) $1.34 each at $1340 total

Retail Ready CD with full color tray card (back side) folded insert card (full color front, b&w inside) $1.42 each at $1420 total

Retail Ready CD with full color traycard (both sides) and folded insert card (full color front and inside) $1.54 each at $1540 total

Retail Ready CD with full color traycard (back side) and 6 panel booklet (Full color front, b&w inside) $1.66 each at $1660 total

Retail Ready CD with full color traycard (both sides) and 6 panel booklet (full color front and back) $1.82 each at $1820 total

Retail ready = packaged in a jewel case, shrink wrapped in plastic and ready for sale.

Option 2: MP3.com

Offering CDs through MP3.com

Base price per CD to us: $0
CDs are produced on demand by the consumer so there is no limit to the amount of product that can be produced. Each CD is shipped with a traycard (back full color, and a two sided folded insert that can be customized.

Base price per CD to consumer: $3.99 plus shipping
We can up that amount by any increment. Anything beyond the $3.99 base price we get %50 percent of any profits. For example, if we upped the price to $4.99, we get .50 for each CD sold. ($4.99 - $3.99 = $1.00, half of which is $.50)

MP3.com handles all production, shipping, fullfilment and distribution leaving us with an extremely streamlined production. We also don't have to worry about pressing and storing CDs that might not sell. If we pressed the CD ourselves we would have to set up a means of distributing it. Options that we can explore are a S.A.S.E option via orders through email. We could go with a shopping cart option as well, which I would find preferable. The ability to take multiple forms of payment (credit cards, paypal, ect) would be a plus. This may require a merchant account. There are also several online stores such as Earbuzz (http://www.earbuzz.com) and cdbaby (http://www.cdbaby.net) that cater to independent artists and labels. We could send them copies of our CD, and they handle taking the orders, payment and fullfillment. Earbuzz promises 100% of the profits go to the artists (minus a reasonable 3% credit card fee) but has an annual fee of $45 to the artist. CDbaby keeps $4 per cd sold (requiring us to at least charge $4 though they say the price can be anything) and has a one time set up fee of $35 dollars.

Web Costs:

The drama could be broadcasted for free via live365.com as radio shows. The end cost to both producer and consumer is $0. MP3.com also allows artists to put up their tracks for download via their website (at no cost) so the shows could be downloaded there track by track for free.

Methods of Presentation:

There are a couple of methods in which we could present the drama itself. On option would be to have the drama unaltered with the original japanese voice actors and providing a translation sheet for the dialouge for the cd version, and perhaps using subtitle captions for an online version. The second would be to translate the drama and cast the parts with VA's from the amatuer dub community. We could also combine the two options making both available.

What I've glossed over and why:

The whys and hows of actually producing the audio tracks, especially with english VAs. I know ZIP about sound editing. I don't even know where to start to ask questions. Most likely any cast we'd be able to assemble would not be local to each other. Can a high quality production be created with primarily home computers? On the messageboard, HanaPearl posted this relevent message that asks a lot of the necessary questions with some possible answers. But we still need a lot more knowledge.

What we still need to know:

1. Costs and procedure associated w/ obtaining a license for a drama CD.
2. Costs to translate a typical drama cd
3. How to assemble and record a vocal cast at reasonable quality.
4. What are the common problems and pitfalls that turn up in fandubbing projects? What do we need to prepare for that we are unaware of?

If you think you know the answers or where to find the answers to any of these questions, please email me at merrow@randomfandom.com or comment on the message board.

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