Sony Music, Pitman

Former Sony Music optical disc manufacturing plant in Pitman, New Jersey. Originally opened in 1961 by CBS as Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Pitman, the facility was converted into a CD factory in 1988 and expanded in 1992. The Sony Music plant name was used from approx. 1991 until approx. 2005 when it was renamed Sony DADC (entry Sony DADC, Pitman). CDs mastered at this plant from 1995-2005 can be identified by Mastering SID Codes IFPI L421, L422, L423 and L424. CDs and DVDs pressed at this plant from 1995-2005 can be identified by Mould SID Code IFPI 72**(*). Additionally, CD pressings after 1991 can be identified by these stamps embossed in hub: · "CMU P nn" (or nnn) (used through 1997) · "P n" (or nn, or nnn), smaller, located near the hole (used through 2001) Sony Music, Pitman CD matrix characteristics: Dark matrices with blocks were used until early 1995 with these identifiers: ① [number+letter] [cat#] [2-digit number] [letter] (1991-1992) (example matrix 1A ZK47116 01 B) ② [number+letter] [cat#] [2-digit number] [letter+number] (1992-1995) (example matrix 1C CK67060 25 D1) Bright matrices with 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 was introduced along with the mastering SID approx. beginning of 1995 (example matrix E2 3A BK66657 04). Another different matrix style was used with mastering SID IFPI L421 (1995-1996). This SID is very small, located just above or below the matrix circle. 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 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.). Sony 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 ) 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 matrix. Example: 1A44K77165 01 C2 Eat The Music (1993) From mid 1994 (bright matrix) to early 1996, this letter started the matrix string. Example: E1 3ACSK07321 03 Fantasy (1995) After early 1996, this letter was located in the middle of string after label cat#/DADC code. Example: DIDP-107990 H3 1A 01 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 Sony Music, Pitman introduced mould SID codes around May 1995. CDs pressed by this plant between 1996-2001 also include Sony manufacturing codes on disc faces (all later releases are represses). These codes should only be entered in BaOI. LCCN and BaOI roles: "Glass Mastered At" entry should be 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 "Pressed By" entry may be 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: Scène De Vie 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. Same manufacturing codes were also used by DADC and Sony Disc Manufacturing Springfield, which can be identified by different matrix patterns and SID codes.