Former Sony Music optical disc manufacturing plant in Pitman, New Jersey, USA. The Sony Music plant name was used from 1991 until approx. 2005, when it was renamed Sony DADC (Sony DADC, Pitman).
Originally opened in 1961 by CBS as Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman, the facility was converted into a CD factory in 1987, and expanded in 1992.
DVD production started around 2003.
SID Codes / Plant ID
Mastering SID Codes
CDs mastered at this plant from 1995-2005 can be identified by Mastering SID Codes IFPI L421, L422, L423 and L424.
Mould SID Codes
CDs pressed at this plant from 1995-2005 and DVDs from 2003-2005 can be identified by Mould SID Code IFPI 72** and 720**.
Note: Mould SID Code IFPI 5100 may appear on releases glass mastered at this plant following the closing of Sony Disc Manufacturing, Springfield in April, 2003. Since it has not been determined where these discs were pressed, a Pressed By credit cannot be assigned, nor can they be added as variants to releases where the pressing plant is known.
Example: Billy Joel - Piano Man
Pressing Plant ID
Additionally, CD pressings may also include these stamps embossed in disc hub:
· "CMU P nn" (or nnn) (1991-1997)
· "P n" (or nn, or nnn) (approx. 1992-2001; smaller, located near the hole)
CD Matrix Characteristics
Matrices with dark mirror band and blocks were used until early 1995 with these identifiers:
① [number+letter] [cat#] [2-digit number] B (1991-1992; "b" also used rarely in 1991)
(example matrix 1A ZK47116 01 B)
② [number+letter] [cat#] [2-digit number] [letter+number] (1992-1995)
(example matrix 1C CK67060 25 D1)
Matrices with bright/silver mirror band and barcode appeared in second half of 1994, introducing a new pattern:
③ [letter+number] [number+letter] [cat#] [2-digit number] (1994-1996)
(example matrix D2 1ACSK06645 01)
· A slightly different font with crossed 0 was introduced along with the mastering SID approx. beginning of 1995 (only used with IFPI L422 and L423).
(example matrix E2 1A CK67510 05)
· Another different matrix style was used with IFPI L421 (1995-1996). This mastering SID is very small, usually located in the circle above or below the matrix text.
Last two pattern changes occurred during 1996 and early 1997:
④ [cat#] [letter+number] [number+letter] [2-digit number] (1996-1997, promos until 2000)
(example matrix EK-67293 F2 2A 02)
⑤ [Sony Disc Manufacturing code] [letter+number] [number+letter] [2-digit number] (1997-2005)
(example matrix CTDP-000218 F2 1A 01)
2-digit number indicates the plant master number (01=first, 02=second, 03=third, etc.). This number reset with pattern ⑤ in 1997.
Sony Disc Manufacturing code (aka DADC code) contains a 4-letter prefix, hyphen and a 6-digit sequential number. List of matrix prefixes used by Sony Music, Pitman starting in 1997 and numbers by August 2005, approximately when the plant became Sony DADC:
· CDRM (CD-ROM)
· CPDP (Sony labels)
· CPDX (non-Sony labels) up to 115000
· CPTP/CTDP (Sony labels) up to 121000
· CTDX (non-Sony labels) up to 002000
· DIDP (Sony labels) up to 121000
· DIDX (non-Sony labels) up to 115000
· PSRM (PlayStation CD-ROM)
The same manufacturing codes were also used by DADC and Sony Disc Manufacturing, Springfield, which can be identified by different matrix patterns and SID codes.
Specific letters were linked to manufacture dates.
· From 1991 to early 1995 (dark matrix), this letter (highlighted in bold) was located at the end of the matrix. Example: 1A44K77165 01 C2 Kate Bush - Eat The Music (1993)
· From mid 1994 (bright matrix) to early 1996, this letter was at the beginning of the matrix. Example: E1 3ACSK07321 03 Mariah Carey - Fantasy (1995)
· After early 1996, this letter was located in the middle of the matrix. Example: DIDP-107990 H3 1A 01 Mary Mary - In The Morning (2002)
Letters with corresponding manufacture (glass master) years:
B = 1991-1992
C = 1993-1995 (overlapped with D)
D = 1994-1995
E = 1995-1996
F = 1996-1998
G = 1998-2002
H = 2002-2003
J = 2003-2004
K = 2004-2005
The number attached to above letters corresponds to the last digit of mastering code (noted exception below):
_1 = IFPI L421 (SID used mid 1995-late 1996, only with letters E and F)
_2 = IFPI L422 (SID used end of 1994?-2005)
_3 = IFPI L423 (SID used mid 1995-end of 2003)
_4 = IFPI L424 (SID used late 1996-2005, started with F after L421 ended)
Note: IFPI L422 also matched with _3 in 1995
LCCN and BaOI roles:
Glass Mastered At
· Used for all CDs with above matrix patterns from 1991-2005 (see exceptions for letter K below). When a Sony manufacturing code is present in matrix (CDs mastered 1997-2005), it should be added as a Catalog Number for Sony Music, Pitman. Example release: Epic Proportions. Matrix patterns with and without manufacturing code can not be variants (i.e. ⑤ and ④ must be separate releases).
Exceptions for letter K:
Please note that matrix pattern ⑤ with letter K was also used by Sony DADC, Pitman after 2005. For 2005 releases, see above sequential numbers to credit proper plant. Reissues of older Sony CDs (DIDP-0xxxxx with letter K) should be without plant credit as it can not be determined if mastered before or after the Sony DADC rebranding.
Pressed By
· Used for CDs with "CMU P" and "P" hub stamps manufactured 1991 or later. These numbers are not unique, so they should NOT be added to the Pressed By Catalog Number field. Complete codes should be entered in BaOI as Pressing Plant ID. Example release: Patricia Kaas - Scène De Vie
· Used for CDs manufactured 1995-2005 with Mould SID Code IFPI 72** and 720**.
· Used for DVDs manufactured 2003-2005 with Mould SID Code IFPI 72** and 720**.
Other Identifiers
CDs pressed by this plant between 1996-2001 typically have a Sony manufacturing code (aka DADC code) printed on the disc face (all later releases are represses). These codes should only be entered in BaOI.
