Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation

Last updated
Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation
Company type Subsidiary
Founded1983;41 years ago (1983)
Headquarters1800 N Fruitridge Ave, Terre Haute IN 47804, United States
Parent Sony Corporation of America
Website Official website

Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation (Sony DADC) is a manufacturer of CDs, DVDs, UMDs, and Blu-ray Discs. The company has many plants worldwide. Although it primarily services Sony Music Entertainment-owned record labels, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, it also manufactures discs for other labels, home entertainment distributors, and video game publishers.

Contents

History

Sony DADC's first plant, in Terre Haute, Indiana, opened May 2, 1983, [1] and produced its first CD, Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. , in September 1984. [2] It was the first CD manufacturer in the United States, is the company's principal CD manufacturing facility, and is the company's research and development center. [1]

The plant was initially a subsidiary of CBS/Sony Group, but Sony bought out CBS's stake in October 1985. [3]

When Sony bought CBS Records in 1988, it acquired that company's manufacturing facilities, some of which later became part of Sony DADC. Among these are the plants in Pitman, New Jersey (closed in 2011) [4] Terre Haute, Indiana; Toronto, Ontario, Canada (plant closed in 2011); Mexico City (plant closed 2015); Salzburg, Austria; Mumbai, India; and Manaus, Brazil—all of which were originally manufacturers of vinyl gramophone records. These plants began manufacturing CDs later: Pitman in 1988, Manaus in 1992, [5] and Toronto [6] and Mexico City [7] in 1994.

LaserDiscs, primarily 12-inch disc prints of feature films and concerts, were manufactured by Sony DADC in the 1980s and 1990s. Some of the laserdiscs made at DADC currently show laser rot, more than those from any other manufacturer. [8]

Sony DADC now manufactures the majority of CDs sold in the United States.[ citation needed ] In November 2008, the company bought the American disc-manufacturing capabilities of Glenayre Technologies, which manufactured the discs of Universal Music Group. [9] In the summer of 2009, the company assumed the physical distribution of EMI's North American operations. [10] This left WEA as the only major label whose discs are not manufactured by the company,[ citation needed ] as its discs are manufactured by the operations of the former WEA Manufacturing that were sold to Cinram.

On August 8, 2011, a Sony DADC distribution center in Enfield was destroyed during the 2011 England riots. [11] [12] The warehouse was used by independent music distributor PIAS Entertainment Group to distribute CDs, LPs, and DVDs for over 100 European independent labels. [13] The total stock loss in the fire was reported to be between 3.5 million [14] and 25 million units. [15]

On January 17, 2018, the DADC plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, announced that they would be laying off 375 employees, and shifting manufacturing of audio discs to another manufacturer, Sonopress. It was later determined that manufacturing of most audio discs would be facilitated by CDA Inc. The majority of audio discs manufactured for Universal Music Group US and Sony Music Entertainment US are presently manufactured by CDA Inc, while the discs are packaged and assembled into jewel cases in the US. Technicolor sometimes also assists in the facilitation of disc manufacturing for Universal Music Group US.

On January 13, 2022, the DADC plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, announced that they would be laying off 100 employees, and shifting gaming and disc manufacturing capacity out of Terre Haute to Salzburg, Austria. Assembly and distribution will remain in Terre Haute, Indiana. [16]

Manufacturing plants

ParentSubsidiaryLocation [17] Status
Sony DADC Japan Inc. [18]
DADJ-Y (Yoshida) Shizuoka Operational
DADJ-O (Oigawa)
DADJ-I (Ibaraki) Ibaraki
Sony DADC Americas [19]
Sony DADC US Inc. Pitman, NJ Shut down (2011)
Terre Haute, IN Operational
Sony DADC Americas Distribution Bolingbrook, IL Shut down (2021)
Sony DADC Canada Co. Toronto Shut down (2011)
Sony DADC Brasil Industria,
Comercio e Distribuicao Video-Fonografica Ltda.
Manaus Shut down (2018)
Sony DADC México S.A. de C.VSony DADC México Mexico City Shut down (2015) [20]
Sony DADC International [19]
Sony DADC Europe GmbH (formerly Sony DADC Europe Limited, Zweigniederlassung Österreich) Thalgau Operational
Anif Shut down (2019)
Salzburg Operational
Sony DADC UK Limited (formerly Sony DADC Europe Limited) Southwater Shut down (2018); Re-opened (2020)
Enfield Shut down (2020)
Derry Street Shut down (2020)
Rathbone Place Shut down (2015)
Market Place Shut down (2013)
Sony DADC France S.A.S. Paris Operational
Sony DADC Iberia S.L. Alcorcón Shut down (2021)
Sony DADC Czech Republic s.r.o. [21] Uherce Shut down (2022)
Prague Operational
Pilsen Operational
Stenovice Operational
OOO Sony DADC Russia [22] Borovsk Shut down (2020)
Sony DADC Manufacturing India Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai Shut down (2016)
Entertainment Network Scandinavia AB Boras Operational
Sony DADC China Co. Ltd. Shanghai Non-Operational Holding Co.
Shanghai Epic Music Entertainment Company Ltd.Operational
Sony DADC Hong Kong Ltd. Hong Kong Shut down (2015)
Sony DADC Australia Pty Ltd. Eastern Creek, NSW Operational
Erskine Park, NSW Operational
Huntingwood, NSW Shut down (2018)

Manufacturing codes

Printed on the discs or packaging of Sony DADC-manufactured CDs are codes indicating master copies (matrix numbers) of discs. These codes begin with a 4-letter prefix followed by a series of digits. Common prefixes include the following:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compact disc</span> Digital optical disc data storage format

The compact disc (CD) is a digital optical disc data storage format that was co-developed by Philips and Sony to store and play digital audio recordings. It uses the Compact Disc Digital Audio format which typically provides 74 minutes of audio on a disc. In later years, the compact disc was adapted for non-audio computer data storage purposes as CD-ROM and its derivatives. First released in Japan in October 1982, the CD was the second optical disc technology to be invented, after the much larger LaserDisc (LD). By 2007, 200 billion CDs had been sold worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optical disc</span> Flat, usually circular disc that encodes binary data

An optical disc is a flat, usually disc-shaped object that stores information in the form of physical variations on its surface that can be read with the aid of a beam of light. Optical discs can be reflective, where the light source and detector are on the same side of the disc, or transmissive, where light shines through the disc to be detected on the other side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compact Disc Digital Audio</span> Data format used for audio compact discs

Compact Disc Digital Audio, also known as Digital Audio Compact Disc or simply as Audio CD, is the standard format for audio compact discs. The standard is defined in the Red Book technical specifications, which is why the format is also dubbed "Redbook audio" in some contexts. CDDA utilizes pulse-code modulation (PCM) and uses a 44,100 Hz sampling frequency and 16-bit resolution, and was originally specified to store up to 74 minutes of stereo audio per disc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Video CD</span> CD-based format meant for digital video distribution

Video CD is a home video format and the first format for distributing films on standard 120 mm (4.7 in) optical discs. The format was widely adopted in Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, Central Asia and West Asia, superseding the VHS and Betamax systems in the regions until DVD-Video finally became affordable in the first decade of the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Audio CD</span> Read-only optical disc for high-fidelity audio storage

Super Audio CD (SACD) is an optical disc format for audio storage introduced in 1999. It was developed jointly by Sony and Philips Electronics and intended to be the successor to the compact disc (CD) format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optical disc drive</span> Type of computer disk storage drive

In computing, an optical disc drive (ODD) is a disc drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic waves within or near the visible light spectrum as part of the process of reading or writing data to or from optical discs. Some drives can only read from certain discs, while other drives can both read and record. Those drives are called burners or writers since they physically burn the data onto on the discs. Compact discs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are common types of optical media which can be read and recorded by such drives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DualDisc</span> Double-sided optical disc

The DualDisc is a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including MJJ Productions Inc., EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It featured an audio layer intended to be compatible with CD players on one side and a standard DVD layer on the other. In this respect it was similar to, but distinct from, the DVDplus developed in Europe by Dieter Dierks and covered by European patents.

Cinram International was a Toronto, Canada-based manufacturer of pre-recorded Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, CD-Audio, CD-ROMs, VHS tapes and audio cassettes. It was an affiliate of the Arizona-based Najafi Companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Criterion Collection</span> American home video distribution company

The Criterion Collection, Inc. is an American home-video distribution company that focuses on licensing, restoring and distributing "important classic and contemporary films". A de facto subsidiary of arthouse film distributor Janus Films, Criterion serves film and media scholars, cinephiles and public and academic libraries. Criterion has helped to standardize certain aspects of home-video releases such as film restoration, the letterboxing format for widescreen films and the inclusion of bonus features such as scholarly essays and documentary content about the films and filmmakers. Criterion most notably pioneered the use of commentary tracks. Criterion has produced and distributed more than one thousand special editions of its films in VHS, Betamax, LaserDisc, DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray formats and box sets. These films and their special features are also available via The Criterion Channel, an online streaming service that the company operates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optical storage</span> Method to store and retrieve computer data using optics

Optical storage refers to a class of data storage systems that use light to read or write data to an underlying optical media. Although a number of optical formats have been used over time, the most common examples are optical disks like the compact disc (CD) and DVD. Reading and writing methods have also varied over time, but most modern systems as of 2023 use lasers as the light source and use it both for reading and writing to the discs. Britannica notes that it "uses low-power laser beams to record and retrieve digital (binary) data."

Disc rot is the tendency of CD, DVD, or other optical discs to become unreadable because of chemical deterioration. The causes include oxidation of the reflective layer, reactions with contaminants, ultra-violet light damage, and de-bonding of the adhesive used to adhere the layers of the disc together.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blu-ray Disc recordable</span> Blu-Ray Disc that can be written to using an optical disc recorder

Blu-ray Disc Recordable (BD-R) and Blu-ray Disc Recordable Erasable (BD-RE) refer to two direct to disc optical disc recording technologies that can be recorded on to a Blu-ray-based optical disc with an optical disc recorder. BD-R discs can only be written to once, whereas BD-RE discs can be erased and re-recorded multiple times, similar to CD-R and CD-RW for a compact disc (CD). Disc capacities are 25 GB for single-layer discs, 50 GB for double-layer discs, 100 GB ("XL") for triple-layer, and 128 GB for quadruple-layer.

Versuni is a privately-owned Dutch company, headquartered in Amsterdam, which produces consumer electronics and small appliances. Formerly a subsidiary of Dutch electronics conglomerate Philips, it was sold to Chinese private equity firm Hillhouse Investment in 2021. Versuni sells their products under the Philips brand name, as well as under the brands Preethi, Gaggia and Saeco, Senseo and L'Or.

WEA Manufacturing was the record, tape, and compact disc manufacturing arm of WEA International Inc. from 1978 to 2003, when it was sold and merged into Cinram International, a previous competitor. The last owner when the plant closed was Technicolor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DVD</span> Optical disc format

The DVD is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind of digital data and has been widely used to store video programs, software and other computer files. DVDs offer significantly higher storage capacity than compact discs (CD) while having the same dimensions. A standard single-layer DVD can store up to 4.7 GB of data, a dual-layer DVD up to 8.5 GB. Variants can store up to a maximum of 17.08 GB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blu-ray</span> Digital optical disc format

Blu-ray is a digital optical disc data storage format designed to supersede the DVD format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released worldwide on June 20, 2006, capable of storing several hours of high-definition video. The main application of Blu-ray is as a medium for video material such as feature films and for the physical distribution of video games for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The name refers to the blue laser used to read the disc, which allows information to be stored at a greater density than is possible with the longer-wavelength red laser used for DVDs, resulting in an increased capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HD DVD</span> Obsolete optical disc format

HD DVD is an obsolete high-density optical disc format for storing data and playback of high-definition video. Supported principally by Toshiba, HD DVD was envisioned to be the successor to the standard DVD format, but lost to Blu-ray, supported by Sony and others.

In the history of optical storage media there have been and there are different optical disc formats with different data writing/reading speeds.

The DVDplus is a dual-sided disc similar to the DualDisc. It is an optical disc storage technology that combines the technology of DVD and CD in one disc. A DVD and a CD-compatible layer are bonded together to provide a multi-format hybrid disc. DVDplus, like DualDisc, is not a new format as such: it combines two existing formats, DVD and CD, to produce a new product.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sony DADC - Terre Haute, Indiana". Archived from the original on 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  2. "indianabusinessnews.com". www.indianabusinessnews.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  3. "Sony-CBS Deal", New York Times, 1985-10-19, retrieved 2017-01-06[ page needed ]
  4. "NJ Sony Plant Closing After More Than 50 Yearse". 13 January 2011.
  5. "Sony DADC - Brazil". Archived from the original on 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  6. "Sony DADC - Toronto, Ontario, Canada". Archived from the original on 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  7. "Sony DADC - Mexico City". Archived from the original on 2008-11-14. Retrieved 2009-11-05.
  8. Laserdisc Databank - Laser Rot, 2012-10-19
  9. "Fisher's Distribution Company Sold to Sony" (3 November 2008). Retrieved from Inside Indiana Business.com Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine on December 15, 2009.
  10. "EMI to Outsource Distribution" (1 April 2009). Retrieved from All Access.com on March 2, 2011.
  11. Davoudi, Salamander (8 August 2011). "Indie labels hit by warehouse arson attack". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  12. "More than 1.5m CDs destroyed in Sony warehouse fire". BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat . BBC. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  13. "Labels react to Sony/PIAS warehouse fire". Pitchfork Media. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  14. "Independent record labels detail fire recovery plans". BBC News . 18 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  15. Smirke, Richard (15 August 2011). "BPI establishes fund for indie labels impacted by London riots". Billboard . Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  16. "Sony DADC to consolidate operations, lay off 100 employees". MyWabashValley.com. 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  17. "Sony DADC Locations Worldwide Services". sonydadc.com. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  18. "Sony DADC Japan Inc. - Company Profile". sonydadc.co.jp. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  19. 1 2 "GROUP COMPANIES OF SONY DADC". sonydadc.com. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  20. "Sony DADC closes Mexico plant". dvd-and-beyond.com. 3 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  21. Christina Schobesberger (16 January 2012). "Sony DADC Austria AG strafft Produktionsprogramm in Europa" (in German). ots.at. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  22. "Sony DADC starts local PlayStation®3 (PS3™) disc manufacturing in Russia". sonydadc.com. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.