Everyone has seen the ongoing feud between James Hype and deadmau5 over their opinions on pre-recorded vs live sets. This has sparked the ongoing discussion of whether pre-recorded sets should be allowed, and whether people who use them should be considered ‘DJs.’
The concept of pre-recorded sets has gradually grown over the past 15 years with some big festivals having it as a rule that DJs are not allowed mix live. This ensures that there are no mistakes, no surprises, and the visuals can be in time. While it is understandable as to why this has somewhat become the norm, it’s also understandable why some fans find this way of DJing to be disingenuous. To be watching your favourite DJs stand behind the decks pretending to mix can seem like a bit of a copout. But is it?
On the flip side you have sets where tracks are being mixed/created live which does require a great deal of skill. It allows you to see DJs pushing their skills on the decks to really get creative with transitions and drops which allows for a unique experience at each set. The downside to this style of set is that syncing up visuals can be quite difficult/impossible which has been the centre of James Hype and deadmau5’s feud. Another thing that can happen in a live set is mistakes which can ruin the set with Grimes’ set at Coachella 2024 being a prime example of what not to do.
Opinions are split on whether pre-recorded sets should be allowed with some people attacking this concept belligerently. However, is it really a big deal? It depends on what you enjoy seeing at a festival/event. Most people at a festival watching a DJ set won’t be able to tell the difference between a pre-recorded set and a live set as they have no view of what’s happening on the decks. If a DJ is performing well, the set will sound good. If the set is pre-recorded, it will sound good. Either way the crowd is going to get to see the DJ they want to see and hear the music they want to hear.
Of course, for some they want to see the DJ performing. The entertainment of watching a world class DJ working the decks with such speed and accuracy is a truly impressive sight. While song choice is the centre of DJing, being able to mix in imaginative ways can elevate a performance to the next level. Along with this if the DJ is mixing live, they can adapt to the crowd so if a certain style isn’t working, they can switch to different music to capture the crowd.
With these things in mind, is it okay to do a pre-recorded set? Yes. Are you entitled to prefer hearing a live set? Yes. Ultimately all that matters is that it’s enjoyable to watch and that whichever direction the DJ goes doesn’t take away from the experience for people. As long as everyone can get lost in the music and live in the moment, then nothing else matters.
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