Product Description
"The Standard Black Folder is a durable, lightweight, ergonomic folder with options available to suit a wide range of requirements. This is one of the best folders available for singers; an elegant lightweight folder at good value. It is a frequent choice of large groups who present a consistent appearance with all folders open to the same angle in concert.
One of the more important features that differ our folders from other folders is the bottom strap, which is attached at the outside base of the folder. This gives three benefits: more room inside; page turns that don't scrape against the strap; and lastly, a bookmark: that bottom strap angles in at 45 degrees when closing the folder, to act as a bookmark for impromptu bows during concerts - with no panic at the next upbeat - because you're on the right page when the folder opens again. Note that the base strap in the Standard Black Folder is permanently attached, so it cannot open flat.
The folder has a comfortable hand strap at back for you to hold it securely, and the deeply-textured leatherette aids in dissipating perspiration from your hand if you are performing under hot stage lights. A lightweight aluminum hinge is riveted securely inside, to give the folder superior rigidity and durability, and these folders come with a minimum of 10 lengths of elasticized cord. You can slide each piece of your opened music score behind a cord in the middle, to hold it in concert order, impossible to drop, and faster to find during rehearsal. Extra cords, and ring adaptors for hole-punched paper are also available choices as you order.
Expandable pockets store surplus music. All folders include a name card pocket and name card, left and right pencil holders, and they hold US Letter, and A4, and all common score sizes with ease. Larger works or hymnals can rest in the folder, sure not to slip out because of the bottom strap, or you can put multiple cords in different places in the music to flip to that point or to skip sections quickly, using each cord like a bookmark.
Finally, a popular option is a clear pocket that overlays the existing left pocket. You can read your concert program or church service bulletin through the transparent pocket, instead of having to pull it up to see the lower portion of the page. It's also handy for notes such as changes in standing order and rehearsal plans for directors. Photos, especially from choirs that tour, tend to end up in that clear pocket too."
Product Specifications
Dimensions (width x height): (10 7/8 x 12 7/8)in. or (276 x 327)mm
Weight: 13.9 oz. (395g)
Two pencil holders
Cross strap at the base of the folder
Angles in when closed to become a bookmark for mid-concert bow
Durable, lightweight black leatherette
Wide inner aluminum hinge with 10 elasticized cords to hold scores
Metal corner protectors to protect from wear and tear
Business card pocket with name card
Expandable pockets
Holds North American and international paper sizes
Hand strap on the back for secure grip
Product Videos
The Standard Black Folder
Removable 3 Ring Adaptor
Customize Your Options
Volume Discounts (per identical line item)
Individual orders: Yes! You can order just one... but consider taking two, or a few with friends, to quickly save when sharing shipping.
Group orders: When you place an order for as little as 15 (identical) folders, we extend quantity discounts.
| Number of Folders | Discount |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 50 | 28% |
| 50 - 149 | 30% |
| 150 - 299 | 31% |
| 300 - 749 | 32% |
| 750 - 1249 | 33% |
| 1250 - 1999 | 34% |
| 2000 or more | 35% |
| Fewer than 15 | Regular Price |
| 15 - 34 | 4% |
| 35 - 49 | 6% |
| 50 - 74 | 8% |
| 75 - 124 | 10% |
| 125 - 199 | 11% |
| 200 or more | 12% |
As you order, set the quantity first if you are customizing many folders with repeated imprinting (i.e. a group name or logo).
Volume Discounts (per identical line item)
Individual orders: Yes! You can order just one... but consider taking two, or a few with friends, to quickly save when sharing shipping.
Group orders: When you place an order for as little as 15 (identical) folders, we extend quantity discounts.
| Number of Folders | Discount |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 50 | 28% |
| 50 - 149 | 30% |
| 150 - 299 | 31% |
| 300 - 749 | 32% |
| 750 - 1249 | 33% |
| 1250 - 1999 | 34% |
| 2000 or more | 35% |
| Fewer than 15 | Regular Price |
| 15 - 34 | 4% |
| 35 - 49 | 6% |
| 50 - 74 | 8% |
| 75 - 124 | 10% |
| 125 - 199 | 11% |
| 200 or more | 12% |
As you order, set the quantity first if you are customizing many folders with repeated imprinting (i.e. a group name or logo).
Start Over?
If you start over you will lose all this folder's configuration choices
You might want one, or even two, to hold the first half of a concert program in one, and have the second half music in your second adaptor...ready to quickly swap in at intermission, so you can spend the time chatting about the performance instead of fussing with paper during your break.
And why carry twice the weight of music through a concert if you have an intermission?
It attaches using the cords that are already in your folder. There's a video demonstration below. People who sing in more than one choir can also use a second adaptor keep music separate. Attaching the adaptor to the folder with the cords adds security, but is not essential, as music couldn't slide out past the bottom strap. You can just drop an adaptor with your set of music into your folder, and be ready to go.
As these ship by weight, you might find that more than half a dozen are still the same minimum quoted shipping cost - feel free to edit quantities in the shopping cart for best total value, and gift a few to friends in your section.
You might want one, or even two, to hold the first half of a concert program in one, and have the second half music in your second adaptor...ready to quickly swap in at intermission, so you can spend the time chatting about the performance instead of fussing with paper during your break.
And why carry twice the weight of music through a concert if you have an intermission?
It attaches using the cords that are already in your folder. There's a video demonstration below. People who sing in more than one choir can also use a second adaptor keep music separate. Attaching the adaptor to the folder with the cords adds security, but is not essential, as music couldn't slide out past the bottom strap. You can just drop an adaptor with your set of music into your folder, and be ready to go.
As these ship by weight, you might find that more than half a dozen are still the same minimum quoted shipping cost - feel free to edit quantities in the shopping cart for best total value, and gift a few to friends in your section.
Extra set of Cords: Double the standard number of elastic cords.
The standard number of cords is 10. You can purchase and extra set to upgrade to 20, if you think that your usual number of scores in a concert will be more than 10.
This does not increase the size of the folder; the extra cords are simply affixed along the existing notches in the hinge so that each of the original strands becomes a double strand. The cords are like tiny Bungee® cords, with many rubber lengths encased in a woven synthetic sheath. They're strong and durable, and thick enough to avoid tearing music.
Singers can use multiple cords to hold a larger masterwork in their folder (and...pro tip...strategically placed, to jump between sections).
Extra set of Cords: Double the standard number of elastic cords.
The standard number of cords is 10. You can purchase and extra set to upgrade to 20, if you think that your usual number of scores in a concert will be more than 10.
This does not increase the size of the folder; the extra cords are simply affixed along the existing notches in the hinge so that each of the original strands becomes a double strand. The cords are like tiny Bungee® cords, with many rubber lengths encased in a woven synthetic sheath. They're strong and durable, and thick enough to avoid tearing music.
Singers can use multiple cords to hold a larger masterwork in their folder (and...pro tip...strategically placed, to jump between sections).
Magazine Holders: A magazine holder is a thin strip of plastic, with a long slot in it and three holes, to clip into your rings when you have a folder that has a 3-ring set of rings. The slot holds up to 11" tall music (not the taller A4 size).
- You can open your music score flat, and slide it in through the slot, close it around the magazine holder, then clip it in the exact spot it needs to be in your concert programme.
- It's also good for using borrowed music without holes, which you're not permitted to hole-punch.
- And for those who just prefer not to punch holes in their music, especially when it will hit a music staff... and want the organizational convenience of a ring binder system.
- It should be noted that while this WORKS, it's not without some fussiness and it's not perfect. Small unbound scores of a few loose pages can slide inward in annoying fashion; it works at its best with larger works that have a staple or bound edge. You can mitigate this with a piece of tape or paper clip, or staple.
Clear Leaflet Pockets: Large (9" w x 4" h) clear plastic pocket.
On folder types which already have 2 expanding pockets, the Clear Pocket is affixed right on the front of the left inside expandable pocket; and also possible at both left and right, using two clear pockets. Folders which have no pockets such as the Basic Choir RingBinder have a slightly different Clear Pocket with flexing edges, attached directly to the board.
Information is visible right to the bottom of the page for your concert program or service leaflet, through the transparent pocket... you no longer need to pull your concert program out of a pocket to find (and show the audience that you don't know) what you're singing next... it's easily accessible to read through the plastic with this handy option.
This is for
- Directors to hold rehearsal planning notes
- Church choirs - for singers to hold service leaflets
- For any singers, to hold programme containing concert order and/or special directions for changes in choir standing position, etc.
- Storing name tags
The Clear Pocket keeps information secure, visible through the plastic, and discreetly accessible...
Clear Leaflet Pockets: Large (9" w x 4" h) clear plastic pocket.
On folder types which already have 2 expanding pockets, the Clear Pocket is affixed right on the front of the left inside expandable pocket; and also possible at both left and right, using two clear pockets. Folders which have no pockets such as the Basic Choir RingBinder have a slightly different Clear Pocket with flexing edges, attached directly to the board.
Information is visible right to the bottom of the page for your concert program or service leaflet, through the transparent pocket... you no longer need to pull your concert program out of a pocket to find (and show the audience that you don't know) what you're singing next... it's easily accessible to read through the plastic with this handy option.
This is for
- Directors to hold rehearsal planning notes
- Church choirs - for singers to hold service leaflets
- For any singers, to hold programme containing concert order and/or special directions for changes in choir standing position, etc.
- Storing name tags
The Clear Pocket keeps information secure, visible through the plastic, and discreetly accessible...
Track your valuable new assets with permanent foil-stamped numbering.
- This allows for easier organization,
- is less expensive than imprinting singer's names, and
- lets you determine, without any question, who to bill if a choir folder goes missing!
The standard numbering location is the top right corner of the front of the folder, the font is 36 pt. Times Roman, and the usual colour is gold.
Blind debossing (imprinting the numbers into the folder without any colour) is an option at no additional cost, and other customized locations are possible.
Standard costs:
$0 setup, $2 per stamped folder.
At 50 and more, $1.75 per folder.
Custom locations: +$1.00
There is a $5 minimum numbering charge with standard settings.
Tip: enter the total quantity of folders to be numbered first, to get an accurate per-folder cost in the Product Summary.
Text Imprinting
Letterpress Text Imprinting
Letterpress Text imprinting is imprinting with moveable type, ready for us to do in-house right away with no die-casting or logo etching processes to slow things down. Turnaround time is usually 1 to 3 business days. We offer both upper and lower case letters for excellent legibility, in either the standard 36 pt. Times Roman font, or in an elegant script-like font called Brush.
The setup costs are minimal and the per-folder stamping cost is also low; see the table below.
The usual location for choir name imprinting is centered, in the upper portion of the front of the folder, approximately 3 to 4 inches (8-10 cm) down from the top. The usual location for imprinting a singer or music director name is at the lower right front corner of the folder.
| Letterpress Text Pricing | One-time Setup | Stamping cost per folder | Stamping cost when 50 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| One line, maximum 30 characters | 3.00 | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Two lines, maximum 30 characters each | 6.00 | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Three lines, maximum 30 characters each | 12.00 | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Pricing for Extended line lengths up to 45 characters (any longer line requires a different press): | |||
| One line, over 30 characters | 6.00 | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Two lines, any one over 30 characters | 9.00 | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Three lines, any one over 30 characters | 15.00 | 2.50 | 2.00 |
Die-cast Text Imprinting (August, 2024 - currently unavailable - machine down)
This ancient technology machine is currently offline and people who service it all retired.
However, remember that ANY font can be used when produced as an image (as a logo).
Die-cast text imprinting uses type slugs cast from molten metal, and you have a greater flexibility in choice of size and font. We have 15 choices across various popular fonts. As you may expect, setup costs are higher, and turnaround time is typically 3-6 business days. However, the stamping cost per-folder is the same. Die-cast text, therefore, is also a very reasonable choice for repetitive imprinting of choir names since the somewhat higher setup cost spreads out nicely across a choir-size order.
For a single folder order, where a singer chooses a font for their name which they really like from the die-cast text choices below, the imprinting may cost more than the folder! However, given the quality and longevity of our folders, people do, and are very happy with the result. Given the higher setup cost compared to Letterpress text imprinting, we see this style of imprinting more often on individual orders which are gifts.
Note that if none of our listed fonts matches your existing typestyle, we can print anything in any font when it is done graphically as a logo (details are in next folder customization tab for logos).
Here are the font choices for Die-cast text imprinting:
N.B. Don't trust the screen or print size which you see to be precise, but rather, note that we have listed the point size of each font.
| Die-cast Text Pricing | Setup | Stamping cost per folder | Stamping cost when 50 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| One line, maximum 30 characters | 30.00 | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Two lines, maximum 30 characters each | 40.00 | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Three lines, maximum 30 characters each | 50.00 | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Pricing for Extended line lengths up to 45 characters (any longer line requires a different press): | |||
| One line, over 30 characters | 40.00 | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Two lines, any one over 30 characters | 50.00 | 2.25 | 1.75 |
| Three lines, any one over 30 characters | 60.00 | 2.50 | 2.00 |
Imprint Locations:
- Mid-top front; centered
- Upper right front; right-justified
- Lower right front; right-justified
- Inside folder in upper top left
- Upper left back outer edge; left-justified
- Mid-top back; centered
- Lower left back outer edge; left-justified
Logo Imprinting
We can imprint your folders with a logo, or imprint any text layout in any font exactly as you want, because it is done as an image.
These can look amazingly elegant whether in colour (gold is the standard option) or blind debossed (i.e. indented into the folder using heat and pressure but no colour).
Your image is printed to film then exposed under UV light on a coated plate, then etched, to produce the hot-stamping die which is carefully leveled on the press to produce an even imprint. There is a setup charge, then a stamping cost per folder.
The setup charge is based on area. Math is not your friend here, as you may recall that doubling the sides of a square quadruples the area, and the cost. 1 inch=2.54cm for the metrically inclined; the print industry here still uses Imperial measurements.
Depending on the logo, you do want sufficiently large area to prevent fine detail from being obscured, or small detailed spaces filled in, when printing on the textured leatherette material. Our maximum imprint area without outsourcing is 5"x12" (or 12"x5") but logos with good line separation can be done very nicely at a 2x2 or 3x3 size, for example. Roughly 90% of the logos we print are between 4 and 12 square inches, mostly at the higher range. A school might have a crest with text beneath it, for example, and 3" wide by 4" high is usually ideal.
| Logo Image Pricing: | Setup | Stamping cost per folder | Stamping cost when 50 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 square inches or less (e.g. 2"x2.5") | 50.00 | 3.00 | 2.50 |
| More than 5 square inches: | $10/square inch (rounded up) |
3.00 | 2.50 |
Enter the specifications for your logo as you choose your folder options. You can upload your file now or e-mail your file (minimum resolution must be 300 dpi) to sales@musicfolder.com referencing your order. If you're not a graphics expert you can send us more than 1 file, ideally the originals even if in colour.
Preferred format is PDF. EPS, TIFF, GIF, JPG may also be acceptable. The printing process needs *monochrome* black and white, not grayscale (which people also call 'black and white'). There is no shading with foil- it's there, or it's not.
- The best place for logos is mid-top front, centered.
- If you need formatting or design help or want an opinion on how well your logo will work and what size we recommend, email us all types of files that you have, and we'll respond.
- If you’re designing a logo, typically people put text below a crest or graphic element.
- Stacking 2 lines of text is preferable to having a very wide single line, as setup price corresponds to the area of a rectangle drawn around the total print area.
- It’s typically much less expensive and very much better for registration accuracy to combine the text (in any font you want) with a crest or graphic element as one logo with everything in it, than to attempt separate text imprinting in step 3 and logo near it in step 4.
- Larger logos may have some positioning restrictions as the surface must be perfectly level, so we can't come too near the boundary of a pocket or its expanding edge below, for example.
- Mid-top front; centered
- Upper right front; right-justified
- Lower right front; right-justified
- Inside folder in upper top left
- Upper left back outer edge; left-justified
- Mid-top back; centered
- Lower left back outer edge; left-justified
Usual position for choir name imprinting is mid-top front center of the folder.
The next most popular is bottom right front for smaller logos but we have to be well clear of any edge unevenness like that from the pocket pleat underneath the cover. Hot foil stamping is very pressure sensitive and requires even, equal pressure.
Depending on how busy we are we can assist with logo creation or file preparation at reasonable cost, or shop it out to graphics professionals.
Base Price:
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Imprinting fees:
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Logo setup fees:
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Subtotal:
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Finished Customizing?
Please wait for the shopping cart, while your choices are compiled.
Do you want to copy imprinting from previously added folder?
Individual Folder Custom Imprinting Preview
${previewTextImprintData.top.textA}
${previewTextImprintData.top.textB}
${previewTextImprintData.top.textC}
${previewTextImprintData.middle.textA}
${previewTextImprintData.middle.textB}
${previewTextImprintData.middle.textC}
${previewTextImprintData.lower.textA}
${previewTextImprintData.lower.textB}
${previewTextImprintData.lower.textC}
Please be advised: This preview is mainly for your peace of mind in approximate positioning.
- The beautiful sheen of the foils isn't evident in ${'Color'.toLowerCase()} approximations.
- Foil-stamped type often has no computer font equivalent; typestyles aren't matched.
- The foil-stamp font sets are extremely limited in diacritical markings too: read our Intro to this section, and workarounds for exact text reproduction.
Pre-Order Information
Pre-Orders reserve future production for you in our current allocation of B2C (direct sales to musicians: 50%+) and B2B (sales to music stores, up to 50%), from each production run.Full disclosure:
We are currently producing thousands of folders each month for you. We typically produce 2000-3000 of one type of folder at a time and cycle through about 5 types of our most popular folders. So, it might be a few weeks to a few months if 'your' folder is in an upcoming production run (that is not already fully reserved). Or it might be 3-6 months if the next production run of a few thousand folders is ALREADY filled up and we cycle through building 10,000-15000 other folders before doing 'your' type again.
Our this-year goal is to ramp up to about 6000-8000 folders/month which should meet demand and catch up. That's a lot of folders.
Thanks for your patience and understanding of this fair system of reservation that we are implementing.