Arvato is the former common name of the CD, DVD, SACD and Blu-ray manufacturing plant now again known as Sonopress, previously known as Arvato Digital Services and Sonopress Arvato, as defined by the 'arvato' logo present in the matrix of many discs manufactured by this plant after the adoption of the 'arvato' branding in late 2011.
The 'Arvato Digital Services' branding did persist until at least late 2012 on certain machinery, so please use that entry on post-2011 releases when that logo is present in the matrix.
Please note that the corporate entity behind this pressing plant has been known as Arvato Entertainment Europe and Sonopress GmbH in this same time period - nevertheless, the branding chosen to represent the pressing plant in the CD matrix remained the 'arvato' logo during 2011-2020, so this label page should be used for those releases regardless.
In 2020, the Sonopress brand began appearing in disc matrices again as the Arvato brand and logo was almost phased out by 2021 (see LCCN instructions below).
Typical Arvato CD matrix pattern
CDs from the German plant generally have a matrix in the following format:
[Arvato logo] 5xxxxxxx/YYY ZZ
- 5xxxxxxx is a number assigned by Arvato for internal cataloguing.
- YYY is the catalogue number of the release.
- ZZ is a two digit number, often 21 or 22.
typically in conjunction with mould SID code IFPI 07xx.
Known mastering SID codes:
IFPI LB 45
IFPI LB 46
IFPI LB 47 / LB47
IFPI LP 73
IFPI L021 (Blu-rays)
Please credit Arvato as follows:
Glass Mastered At – Arvato – 5xxxxxxx
An example of how to correctly credit Arvato number is Napalm Death - Utilitarian.
Certain clients such as Sony Music or Warner may replace the Arvato logo with their own, or there may be no logo present at all. Arvato may still be identified on such discs by SID codes listed above, the matrix format and number 5xxxxxxx. This LCCN entry should be used with CD matrix numbers between 5486xxxx-5743xxxx. Arvato may also be used with CD numbers 5752xxxx-5758xxxx (only in conjunction with mastering SID code LB 46). For other numbers, see Sonopress / Arvato Digital Services / Sonopress Arvato and this timeline of plant logos/5xxxxxxx numbers for guidance.
Example release without 'arvato' in matrix: Sepultura - Chaos A.D.
US releases
CDs from the US plant generally have a matrix in the following format:
ccc [Arvato logo] + + nnnnnn2x
typically in conjunction with mould SID code IFPI 10xx. For these CDs, please credit Arvato, USA instead.
CDs manufactured in Mexico are identified by the mastering SID code IFPI LP74. When this code is present, please credit Arvato, Mexico instead.
