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Dave Pensado

Dave Pensado
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationMix engineer
Years active1970s-present

Dave Pensado is a Grammy Award-winning mix engineer.[1] His career began in Atlanta in the 1970s and 1980s doing live and studio sound engineering. He has lived in Los Angeles since 1990.[1]

He mixes between 200 and 250 songs a year at Larrabee Studios in Los Angeles.[1] When recording he usually records at Echo Bar Studios in North Hollywood.[citation needed]

On September 12, 2011, Pensado started a weekly show called Pensado's Place, together with Herb Trawick, his manager and business partner.[citation needed] The first part of the show is about audio engineering techniques; Pensado evaluates - sometimes assisted or replaced by a guest speaker - plugins, outboard gear like microphones, and demonstrates how to improve the mix. The second part is an interview of a mixing engineer, master engineer, producer, label CEO or singer-songwriter.[2][failed verification][better source needed]

On July 20, 2013, Pensado and Trawick hosted an event at Vintage King Los Angeles called "Pensado Gear Expo 2013".[3] More than one thousand people from around the world attended. 22-time Grammy Award-winning engineer, Al Schmitt, Steven Slate, Alex da Kid, Ryan Hewitt, and Robert Duncan were a few of the featured guests of the expo.

Equipment

At first, Pensado occasionally demonstrates outboard analog gear, but later on, he only processes/edits audio tracks with his computer, which is also called mixing 'in the box', before sending his mixes to a mastering engineer. For all demonstrations he uses Pro Tools as his DAW (digital audio workstation), and the show is sponsored by audio companies he respects.[1]

Awards

Pensado won a Grammy Award, alongside fellow engineers Jaycen Joshua and Kuk Harrell, for Mary J. Blige's 2008 Best Contemporary R&B Album, Growing Pains.[4]

Pensado was the recipient of the 2020 NAMM TEC (Technical Excellence & Creativity) Hall of Fame Award. Pensado was officially inducted into the NAMM TEC Hall of Fame at the 35th Annual NAMM TEC Awards, held on January 18 in Anaheim, California during the NAMM Show.[5]

Discography

Year Title Artist Role
2016 Sounds of the Sea The Cetacea Boys Mixing
R&B Anthems Mixing
2015 Golden Moments Jill Scott Mixing
Rub Peaches Mixing
The Story Continues After Romeo Mixing
2014 Happy Hour: The Greatest Hits T-Pain Mixing
Holiday Earth Mixing
Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse Mariah Carey Mixing
The Lyricists' Opus Chrisette Michele Mixing
The Way Macy Gray Mixing
Xscape Michael Jackson Mixing
2013 Write It On A Wall Xai Mixing
Break the Pot Rich Boy Mixing
Now, Then & Forever Earth Mixing
Rocks and Honey Bonnie Tyler Mixing
2012 Breathless/At Last... The Duets Album Kenny G Mixing
Greatest Hits, Chapter 1 Kelly Clarkson Mixing
R&B: The Collection [Rhino] Mixing
Decode Exilia Mixing
2011 1977 The-Dream / Terius Nash Mixing
A Family Business Brandy / Ray J Mixing
A.N.T. Farm Mixing
Contact Boney James Mixing
Gloria Gloria Trevi Mezcla
Killer Love Nicole Scherzinger Mixing
Roy: Tribute to Roy Orbison Damien Leith Mixing
The Light of the Sun Jill Scott Mixing
Heal Andrea Renzullo Mixing
2010 Calling All Hearts Keyshia Cole Mixing
Charice Charice Mixing
Greatest Hits... So Far!!! P!nk Mixing
Just Dance, Vol. 3 Mixing
Love King The-Dream Mixing
Luna Nueva Debi Nova Mixing
Monkey Business/Elephunk/Bridging the Gap The Black Eyed Peas Mixing
Pulse Toni Braxton Mixing
StarStruck Disney Mixing
Still Standing Monica Mixing
The Love Trilogy The-Dream Mixing
Twenty Ten: Greatest Hits Guy Sebastian Mixing
Uni5: The World's Enemy Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Mixing
Wear My Kiss Sugababes Mixing
2009 Above and Beyoncé: Video Collection & Dance Mixes Beyoncé Mixing
Charmbracelet/The Emancipation of Mimi/E=MC2 Mariah Carey Mixing
D.N.A. Mario Mixing
Days Difference Days Difference Mixing
Deeper Than Rap Rick Ross Mixing
Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back Mixing
Differently Cassie Davis Mixing
Evolution of a Man Brian McKnight Mixing
Fantasy Ride Ciara Mixing
Fight for Love Elliott Yamin Mixing
Forever in a Day Day26 Mixing
Guilty Pleasure Ashley Tisdale Mixing
Hits Seal Mixing
How to Be a Lady, Vol. 1 Electrik Red Mixing
I Look to You Whitney Houston Mixing
Just Dance, Vol. 2 Mixing
Just Go Lionel Richie Mixing
Lady Love LeToya Mixing
Let It Beat Shwayze Mixing
Let's Get Crazy Cassie Mixing
Love vs Money The-Dream Mixing
Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel Mariah Carey Mixing
My World Justin Bieber Mixing
P!nk Box P!nk Mixing
Ready Trey Songz Mixing
Round 2 J. Holiday Mixing
Ruthless Ace Hood Mixing
She Wolf Shakira Mixing, Mixing Engineer
Soft White Mack 10 Mixing
Still BeBe & CeCe Winans Mixing
Stronger with Each Tear Mary J. Blige Mixing
Sweet 7 Sugababes Mixing
The Rebirth Bobby V Mixing
This Is Us Backstreet Boys Mixing
This Is the One Utada Mixing
Toussaint St. Jean: From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion Wyclef Jean Mixing
Untitled R. Kelly Mixing
2008 A Different Me Keyshia Cole Mixing
A Long Time Coming Wayne Brady Mixing
Best of Hilary Duff Hilary Duff Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing
Best of the Best: Love Songs Diana Ross Mixing
Black Summer Party: Best Of, Vol. 5 Mixing
Brutha Brutha Mixing
Call and Response: The Remix Album Maroon 5 Mixing
Colby O Colby O'Donis Mixing
Cookie Jar The-Dream / Gym Class Heroes Mixing
Departure Jesse McCartney Mixing
Discipline Janet Jackson Mixing
Doll Domination The Pussycat Dolls Mixing
Dream a Little Jimmy Demers Mixing
E=MC² Mariah Carey Mixing
Exit 13 LL Cool J Mixing
First Love Karina Mixing
Girlicious Girlicious Mixing
Here I Stand Usher Mixing
I Am...Sasha Fierce Beyoncé Mixing
I'll Be Home for Christmas Brian McKnight Enhanced CD Audio Creation
Intuition Jamie Foxx Mixing
Just a Rolling Stone Donnie Klang Mixing
Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits Christina Aguilera Mixing, Audio Production, Assistant Engineer
Music in My Soul Leigh Jones Engineer, Audio Engineer, Mixing
OnMyRadio Musiq Soulchild Mixing
Playlist: Woman Mixing
Prima J Prima J Mixing
Raven-Symoné Raven-Symoné Mixing
Shwayze Shwayze Mixing
Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams Solange Mixing
Texas Playradioplay! Mixing
The Best Love...Ever! Mixing
The Hits Kelis Mixing
The Quilt Gym Class Heroes Mixing
The Truth Cherish Mixing
Theater of the Mind Ludacris Mixing
True to the Game Mixing
Turbo 919 Sean Garrett Mixing
Uncle Charlie Charlie Wilson Mixing
Yours, Mine and the Truth Sterling Simms Mixing
2007 All in My Blood Wiz Khalifa Mixing
Big Macy Gray Mixing
Bratz [Original Soundtrack] Bratz Mixing
Ghetto Passport Famouz Mixing
Greatest Hits Groove Armada Mixing
Growing Pains Mary J. Blige Mixing
Just Like You Keyshia Cole Mixing
Look What You Made Me Yung Berg Enhanced Recording
Love Is Wicked Brick & Lace Mixing
Love/Hate The-Dream Mixing
P!nk Box [2007] P!nk Mixing
Souljaboytellem.com Soulja Boy Tell Em Mixing
Soundboy Rock Groove Armada Mixing
Spirit Leona Lewis Mixing
Strength & Loyalty Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Mixing
System Seal Audio Engineer, Mixing
Taking Chances Céline Dion Mixing
The Best of Me: Yolanda Adams Greatest Hits Yolanda Adams Mixing
The Cool Lupe Fiasco Enhanced Recording
The Real Thing: Words and Sounds, Vol. 3 Jill Scott Mixing
The Rise and Fall of Keite Young Keite Young Mixing
Trey Day Trey Songz Mixing
Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls Tyler Perry Mixing
We Ride (I See the Future) Mary J. Blige Mixing
2006 A Mary Mary Christmas Mary Mary Supervisor
A Public Affair Jessica Simpson Mixing
Aura Yvonne Catterfeld Mixing
B'day Beyoncé Mixing
Back to Basics Christina Aguilera Mixing
Be Without You Mary J. Blige Mixing
Christina Aguilera/Stripped Christina Aguilera Mixing
Club Bangers Mixing
Coming Home Lionel Richie Mixing
Dance Revolution The Slumber Party Girls Mixing
Director Avant Mixing
Heart to Yours/Do You Know Michelle Williams Mixing
I Don't Need a Man The Pussycat Dolls Mixing
In My Own Words Ne-Yo Mixing
Kelis Was Here Kelis Mixing
Light Poles and Pine Trees Field Mob Mixing
Live in London The Pussycat Dolls Mixing
Loose Nelly Furtado Mixing
Maneater Nelly Furtado Mixing
My Book K-Ci Mixing
My Friends & Me Dionne Warwick Mixing
Point of No Return Shareefa Mixing
Reflections (A Retrospective) Mary J. Blige Mixing
Step Up Mixing
Ten Brian McKnight Mixing
Testimony, Vol. 1: Life & Relationship India.Arie Mixing
2005 #1's Destiny's Child Mixing
Beautiful Life/Just As I Am Guy Sebastian Mixing
Check on It [Single] Beyoncé / Slim Thug Mixing
Cool Traxx!, Vol. 2 Remixing
Day by Day Yolanda Adams Mixing
Desperate Housewives [TV Soundtrack] Mixing
Divorcing Neo 2 Marry Soul Jaguar Wright Mixing
Gemini Brian McKnight Mixing
Girl, Pt. 1 Destiny's Child Mixing
Hero Kirk Franklin Mixing
I Am Not My Hair India.Arie Mixing
Illumination Earth Mixing
In Public Kelis Mixing
In This Life Together Kindred the Family Soul Mixing
In the Mid-Nite Hour Warren G Mixing
In the Mix [Music from the Motion Picture] Mixing
Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen Mixing
Lost and Found Will Smith Mixing, Composer
Missundaztood/Can't Take Me Home P!nk Mixing
PCD The Pussycat Dolls Mixing
Sweatsuit Nelly Vocal Mixing
The Breakthrough Mary J. Blige Mixing
The Way It Is Keyshia Cole Mixing
This is Me Jully Black Engineer
Tilt Ya Head Back Nelly Vocal Mixing
When Love Is Gone Martin Nievera Mixing
2004 At Last...The Duets Album Kenny G Mixing
Barbershop 2: Back in Business Mixing
Beautiful Life Guy Sebastian Mixing
Believe in Angels Believe in Me Angel Mixing, A&R
Cherie Cherie Engineer, Mixing
Destiny Fulfilled Destiny's Child Mixing
Do You Know Michelle Williams Mixing
Grammy Nominees 2004 Mixing
I Changed My Mind Keyshia Cole Engineer
Just for You Lionel Richie Mixing
Let's Talk About It Carl Thomas Mixing
Never Keyshia Cole Mixing
Outrun the Sky Lalah Hathaway Mixing
Shark Tale Mixing
Sweat Nelly Vocal Mixing
The Collection Dina Carroll Mixing
The Ultimate R&B Album Mixing
The Very Best of Macy Gray Macy Gray Mixing
Throwback Boyz II Men Mixing
Tiffany Villarreal Tiffany Villareal Mixing
Walkin' in the Shadow of Life Neville Brothers Mixing
2003 Biker Boyz Mixing
Chasing Time II Martin Nievera Mixing
Emosoul D.J. Rogers Jr. Mixing
Fallen Mya Mixing
Falling Uphill Lillix Mixing
In This Skin Jessica Simpson Mixing
Low Kelly Clarkson Mixing
Miss Independent Kelly Clarkson Mixing
Moodring Mya Mixing
My Love Is Like...Wo Mya Mixing
Rose Falcon Rose Falcon Mixing
Solo Star Solange Mixing
Tasty Kelis Mixing
Thankful Kelly Clarkson Mixing
The Fighting Temptations Mixing
Trouble [Import CD] P!nk Mixing
Try This P!nk Mixing
U Turn Brian McKnight Mixing
2002 Amor Secreto Luis Fonsi Mixing
Austin Powers in Goldmember [Original Soundtrack] Mixing
Dirrty Christina Aguilera Mixing
Dirty Child Rosey Mixing
El Cool Magnifico Coolio Mixing
Emotional K-Ci & JoJo Engineer, Mixing
Family Portrait P!nk Mixing
Fight the Feeling Luis Fonsi Mixing
From There to Here: 1989-2002 Brian McKnight Mixing
Full Circle Boyz II Men Mixing
Full Moon Brandy Mixing
Fun Rose Falcon Mixing
Get the Party Started [Australia CD] P!nk Mixing
Go-Get-Her/Nowhere Vi3 Mixing
Greatest Hits Jon B. Mixing
Justified Justin Timberlake Mixing
Love & War Jerzee Monet Mixing
Moulin Rouge [Original Soundtrack] Mixing
Scooby-Doo [Original Soundtrack] Mixing
Simply Deep Kelly Rowland Mixing
So Tight Vi3 Mixing
Stole [4 Track Single] Kelly Rowland Mixing
Stripped Christina Aguilera Mixing
This Is the Remix Destiny's Child Mixing
Transporter [Original Soundtrack] Mixing
Virginity TG4 Mixing
2001 8 Days of Christmas Destiny's Child Mixing
A Girl Like Me Emma Bunton Mixing
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (Soundtrack) James Newton Howard Mixing
BBD Bell Biv DeVoe Mixing, Mixing Engineer
Down to Earth [Music from the Motion Picture] Mixing
Dr. Dolittle 2 Mixing
Greatest Hits Ice Cube Mixing
JP Jesse Powell Mixing
Jersey Ave. Jersey Ave. Mixing
Joy Enriquez Joy Enriquez Mixing
Lady Marmalade Christina Aguilera / Missy Elliott / Mya / P!nk Mixing
Legally Blonde Mixing
M!ssundaztood P!nk Mixing
MTV: TRL Christmas Mixing
Pleasures U Like Jon B. Mixing
Pure R&B, Vol. 2 Mixing
Superhero Brian McKnight Mixing
Survivor Destiny's Child Mixing
The Very Best of Dina Carroll Dina Carroll Mixing
The Brothers [2001] Mixing
Victoria Beckham Victoria Beckham Mixing
2000 Black Trash: The Autobiography of Kirk Jones Sticky Fingaz Mixing
Bridging the Gap The Black Eyed Peas Mixing
Fearless Crystal Lewis Mixing
Gift of Love Diana Ross Mixing
Gotta Tell You Samantha Mumba Producer, Mixing
La Colección Crystal Lewis Mixing
Love & Basketball [Soundtrack] Mixing
Men of Honor Mark Isham Mixing
My Kind of Christmas Christina Aguilera Mixing
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Mixing
Paris: New York Marc Laurens Mixing
Remix Plus Christina Aguilera Mixing
Revelation 98° Mixing
The Hurricane [Original Soundtrack] Mixing
X K-Ci & JoJo Mixing
You Can't Resist Jessica Mixing
1999 24-7 Kevon Edmonds Mixing
5 for 1 5 Young Men Mixing
Chocolate Mood Marc Nelson Mixing
Christina Aguilera Christina Aguilera Mixing
Coolio's Crowbar Records Presents a Compilation of New Artists Mixing
Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida" Elton John / Tim Rice Mixing
Enrique Enrique Iglesias Mixing
Hot Coko Coko Mixing
I Love You...Me Cherokee Mixing
I Want It All Warren G Mixing
It's Real K-Ci & JoJo Mixing
Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album Mixing
Northern Star Melanie C Mixing
Pokémon: The First Movie Mixing
Shanice Shanice Mixing
Trina & Tamara Trina & Tamara Mixing
Unleash the Dragon Sisqó Mixing, Mixing Engineer
What a Girl Wants Christina Aguilera Mixing
1998 12 Soulful Nights of Christmas Jermaine Dupri Mixing
4 Bruthas and a Bass Solo Mixing
Behind the Front The Black Eyed Peas Mixing
Bethlehem Brian McKnight Mixing
Breath from Another Esthero Mixing
Fame L.A. Mixing
In Love at Christmas K-Ci & JoJo Mixing
Only You Tami Davis Mixing
1997 BeBe Winans BeBe Winans Mixing
Betta Listen Laurneá Mixing
C U When U Get There Coolio Mixing
Greatest Hits Eternal Mixing
Love Always K-Ci & JoJo Mixing
My Soul Coolio Mixing
Rahsaan Patterson Rahsaan Patterson Engineer Mixing
Samantha Cole Samantha Cole Engineer
Steel Mixing
1996 Back to the World Tevin Campbell Engineer, Mixing
I Am L.V. L.V. Mixing
Light Years Jamiroquai Mixing
Jermaine Dupri Presents: Soulful Nights of Christmas Jermaine Dupri Mixing
1995 Damn Thing Called Love After 7 Mixing
Do You Wanna Ride? Adina Howard Mixing
I Remember You Brian McKnight Engineer
Out of the Blu Blu Producer, Synthesizer, Drum Programming
Reflections After 7 Mixing
We Got It Immature Mixing
1994 Blankman Mixing
For You London Jones Mixing
Hot & Ready Raja-Nee Mixing
Sugar Hill Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Time Atlantic Starr Mixing
Treat U Right Blackgirl Mixing
1993 Afro-Plane Afro-Plane Engineer
Five XI Five XI Mixing
It's Real The Real Seduction Composer
Love's Alright Eddie Murphy Mixing
The Meteor Man Mixing
Whole New Head One II 3 Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Engineer
1992 Countess Countess Vaughn Producer, Mixing, Remixing
Crazy Coolin' The Barrio Boyzz Mixing
On Our Worst Behavior Immature Producer, Mixing, Production Technician
White Men Can't Jump Producer, Engineer, Composer
1991 Freezin' 'Em Level III Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Vocal Engineer, Composer
Live Your Life Be Free Belinda Carlisle Remixing
Livin' It Up [Cassette Single] Trent Dean Mixing
Ricca Ricca Mixing
Spellbound Paula Abdul Engineer
WBBD - Bootcity! The Remix Album Bell Biv DeVoe Remixing
What Comes Naturally Sheena Easton Engineer
1990 Notes of a Native Son Laquan Mixing
Ralph Tresvant Ralph Tresvant Mixing
Tommy Boy's Greatest Hits Mixing
1988 Too Tuff Brick Engineer
Breakdance Party Mixing

Alumni

Some successful audio engineers & producers that have assisted for Dave Pensado in the past include Sylvia Massy, Jaycen Joshua, Manny Marroquin, Dylan "3-D" Dresdow, Ariel Chobaz, Ethan Willoughby, Nico Hamui, and Rafael Fadul.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Tingen, Paul (January 2007). "Secrets Of The Mix Engineers - Dave Pensado". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Pensado's Place". Pensadosplace.tv. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  3. ^ "Backbeat: Pensado's Place Web Series and Vintage King Audio Launch Gear Expo 2013 in L.A." Billboard. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Past Winners Search". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  5. ^ NAMM. "Dave Pensado and Herb Trawick Named as Recipients of The TEC Hall of Fame Award". namm.org.
  6. ^ "Dave Pensado - Credits & Awards". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.