Final Digital Format for CD reproduction

(edited message after Lagerfeldts' reply)

Here's some info about DDP:

http://www.justmastering.com/article-ddpfileformat.php

In what digital format would it be best to send off mastered tracks to a CD reproduction plant?

As a DDP. That's the only format they will accept.

Some (generally smaller) places will accept a Red Book compliant audio CD for small duplication runs.

If you send a Red Book compliant audio CD for replication it will be converted into a DDP first and then turned into a glass master, so you might as well send a DDP to begin with. Safer as well since it is error corrected. Almost no-one sends physical Red Book CDs today.

Sending off WAV files will require the plant to compile a DDP and this would require editing, meta data, etc. - if they have the facilities and personnel to do it at all. You are better off doing that yourself or preferably get a mastering engineer to do it.

Waveburner in logic studio 9 exports to DDP and renders a folder with 5 files....

audio.dat

cdtext.bin

DDPID

DDPMS

Subcodes.dat

Is there a way to check these files before sending them off to the CD reproduction plant?

WaveBurner is bugged and will not receive an update. You will not be able to export a correct DDP. Obviously that means do not use it in any circumstances.

For similar capabilities as WaveBurner I suggest you check out HOFA DDP, DSP Quattro or AE Triumph. For very simple jobs (no editing) Sonoris DDP Creator will do.

You can verify a DDP by checking its MD5 checksum, most DDP creator software can make and check MD5. Any other verification of the files will have to be done manually.