American company which operated a tape duplication / CD-R duplication / CD / DVD / CD-ROM glass mastering and replicating / pressing facility in the United States as part of the international Bertelsmann AG group.
Originally opened as a tape duplication facility in October 1984 by RCA and subsequently known as "QTI" (Quality Tapes Incorporated) since 1985.
Incorporated as Sonopress, Inc. Feb. 1990.
Began making optical discs as Sonopress in 1991 and entered full production Dec. 1, 1992 continuing through June 30, 2004 after which it changed its name to Sonopress Arvato. (See Note 4 below)
Cassette tape identification:
Variant 1. A statement on the J-card stating "Duplication By Sonopress" with the USA address. (Example).
Variant 2. Having a Pressing Plant ID on the shell label which is a stylized sideways S and a reference on the release to being made or manufactured in U.S.A. (Pressing Plant ID example 1, Pressing Plant ID example 2).
Please enter the Pressing Plant ID in the BAOI of the release.
CD / DVD and CD-ROM identification:
First-generation discs:
Matrix patterns
Variant 1. SONOPRESS USA ccc 0 z (Example)
Variant 2. SONOPRESS USA ccc 0z (Example)
Please do not enter the [ccc] as the catalog number on LCCN.
― "ccc" is a placeholder of varying length and format for the client's reference number for the release.
― "0z" is a letter and sometimes a second number which may or may not be separated by a space.
Second-generation discs:
Matrix patterns
Variant 1. SONOPRESS USA ccc 0z# + + (Example)
Variant 2. SONOPRESS USA ccc 0z# + + yxxxx (Example)
Please enter this five-digit number yxxxx as the Sonopress USA catalog number in LCCN.
― "ccc" is a placeholder of varying length and format for the client's reference number for the release.
― "0z#" is a two-digit number, often "01" or "02" followed by #, representing the number of the master.
― "yxxxx" is a five-digit number assigned by Sonopress USA.
"y" represents the year the glass master was created. See Note 1 below.
SID codes:
There may or may not be SID codes present on these releases. There are often only mould codes IFPI 10xx.
Third-generation discs:
Matrix patterns
Variant 1. SONOPRESS USA ccc + + yxxxx-0z (Example)
Variant 2. SONOPRESS USA ccc + + [???] yxxxx-0z (Example)
Variant 3. ccc + + yxxxx-0z
Please enter the seven-digit yxxxx-0z code as the Sonopress USA catalog number in LCCN.
― "ccc" is a placeholder of varying length and format for the client's reference number for the release.
― "???" is a three-digit code often beginning with A or 1.
― "yxxxx-0z" is a seven-digit code assigned by Sonopress USA
― "0z" is often "01" or "02", representing the number of the master.
"y" represents the year the glass master was created. See Note 1 below.
SID codes associated with these discs:
Mastering SID codes: IFPI L027, IFPI L028, IFPI LB41, IFPI LB48.
Mould SID codes: IFPI 10xx
Fourth-generation discs:
These discs can be identified by the following matrix patterns which include the distinctive + + in conjunction with the mastering SID codes: IFPI L027, IFPI L028, IFPI LB41, IFPI LB48 and Mould SID codes: IFPI 10xx and reference to made or manufactured in USA on the release. See Note 3 below.
Matrix patterns:
Variant 1. ccc ['Sonopress' logo] + + yxxxx-0z (Example)
Variant 2. ccc ['Sonopress' logo] + + yxxxx0z (Example)
Variant 3. ccc ['Sonopress' logo] + + [???] yxxxx0z (Example)
Variant 4. ccc ['Sonopress' logo] + [???] + yxxxx0z (Example)
Variant 5. ccc + + yxxxx0z (Example)
Variant 6. NNN ccc + + yxxxx0z (Example) See Note 2 Below
Please enter the seven-digit code yxxxx-0z or yxxxx0z as the Sonopress USA catalog number in LCCN.
― "ccc" is a placeholder of varying length and format for the client's reference number for the release.
― "???" is a three-digit code often beginning with A or 1.
― "yxxxx-0z" or "yxxxxx0z" is a seven-digit code assigned by Sonopress USA. See Notes 1 and 4. Below
― "0z" is often "01" or "02", representing the number of the master.
― "NNN" is a client name (logotype) See Note 2 Below
"y" represents the year the glass master was created. See Note 1 below.
SID codes associated with these discs:
Mastering SID codes: IFPI L027, IFPI L028, IFPI LB41, IFPI LB48.
Mould SID codes: IFPI 10xx
EMI Jacksonville pressings
In the early 1990s EMI Jax pressed its own CDs using glass masters from various sources.
On these pressings the glass masters from Sonopress USA do not follow any of the patterns mentioned above.
They can be identified by the letter code SP just before the Father - Mother - Son number in the matrix assigned by EMI JAX. Often accompanied by master SID L027 or L028
eg: SP 1-3-2 EMI JAX (example)
Notes:
1. "y" represents the year the glass master was created. 3 = 1993, 4 = 1994, 5 = 1995, 6 = 1996, 7 = 1997, 8 = 1998, 9 = 1999, 0 = 2000, A = 2001, B = 2002, C = 2003, D = 2004. These years do not represent the release year, which can not be determined by the matrix data alone. The glass mastering date is the earliest year the disc could have been pressed, but it could have been pressed from the same master in a subsequent year. It is not unusual to find glass mastering dates later than initial pressing release date as new glass masters are made to replace old ones or to supplement extra production.
2. On releases having the client name appear as the "NNN" part of the matrix the Pressed By credit should be given to Sonopress USA.
3. Mould SID code 4Wxx is said to be associated with the Duncan NC plant, but has not yet been verified.
4. The change of name to Sonopress Arvato officially took place on July 1, 2004, however the timing of change to the new name on the discs produced was gradual and varies by Laser Beam Recorded. Earliest verifiable appearances of the Sonopress Arvato (USA) name in the database as of time of writing are:
L027 Cat. No. ?
L028 Cat. No. D771902
LB41 Cat. No. D807601
LB48 Cat. No. D770601
History:
Sonopress USA began in 1984 as "QTI" Quality Tape Incorporated, owned by RCA / Ariola. The new plant in Weaverville NC was built to replace cassette production at the RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis. In 1985 QTI, along with RCA / Ariola, was bought by Bertelsmann AG. Sonopress Inc. was formed in 1990, continuing to make cassettes and began making Optical discs as Sonopress USA in 1991 and entered full production Dec. 1,1992. Arvato Storage Media GMBH became involved in Sept. 1996. The name was changed from Sonopress to Sonopress Arvato, USA in 2004 and Arvato Digital Services LLC was formed in April 2008 operating as Arvato Digital Services Bertelsmann, USA, and later as Arvato, USA. The firm shut down CD DVD production in April 2016 but continued other avenues of business.
